Welcome to the one-hundredth issue of this newsletter, and a clean update, and a new banner. I hope the font isn’t too much of an adjustment, that the contrast isn’t too heavy. I hope that you had a good break, I know many will be back at work and some may still have a few days before heading back. Thank you for taking a moment to read this newsletter. I want to say hello to some of the new people who subscribed, welcome to the Spaces in Between.
Snow arrived in the night and neighbors outside are busy clearing and knocking ice from doorways. I love how the world sounds when there’s snow, every accent punctuated with a mark, knock, shuffle, crunch. I sprinkled rock salt on the stairs and kicked my boots against the door frame on my way in. Now for a cup of tea and a bit of writing.
It’s the end of the first week of the year, everyone is at work or school and the house is mostly empty. I am hoping that this omicron surge flattens out, it is overwhelming hospitals, disrupting the start of the year, many more people are dying or severely ill. I heard a more optimistic view that this strain will burn out and that the spread will eventually lead to increased immunity and ultimately a way out of this whole thing. Not before it causes more hardship, especially where people are vulnerable, in care homes, and amongst those with pre-existing conditions. Boosters are so important, I hope that you’ve managed to get yours.
Welcome to the new year, same as the last year?
Stephan
Spaces to Connect
This used to be the teaching & learning section, but since I’m on sabbatical (did I mention that?…) I thought I could talk about some of the new projects and ideas that I’m exploring.
I’ve changed all the categories for my emails and calendar appointments, rather than teaching, prep, meetings, research, etc. I now have making, reading, writing, playing, traveling, which is a refreshing change and helps to add a bit of shape to my week, so that I’m not continually asking “what now?” and having to refer back to my long list of tasks and projects.
This week I’ve been reading some of the many articles and papers that I had previously downloaded and have been sitting in a folder that would induce feelings of shame and guilt every time it caught my eye. I’ve been using the send to kindle app, which looks unsupported and a bit clunky, but does the trick and means I can leave the computer and sit on the futon in the corner to read. At the moment I’m going through Multiliteracies: New Literacies, New Learning by Bill Cope and Mary Kalantzis revisiting the work of the New London Group and Intercultural Cities: Policy and Practice for a New Era edited by Bob W.White, both of which are a refresher on concepts and areas where my work is situated, but feel that it is time to revisit them.
If it sounds like I’m taking stock, then you’re right. This is time to reset and step back. It’s a joy to have proper time to read and now I don’t feel guilty when I’m reading for pleasure when I’m thinking that I really should be tackling something more academic. As a detour, you should read Nick Parker's “On Reading” which has a heap of useful advice that will make you a better reader, mostly good advice about skipping the boring bits or not trying to finish books that you’re not enjoying. It’s a relief to hear someone else say it.
My travel plans have been pushed back by a month, I was hoping to head out towards the end of January, but it makes sense to wait and hopefully it will be safer and there will be less disruption. It will mean taking a chance on some last-minute bookings, especially conferences which might need to go online again. If this happens, then I might have to record my talks as videos, and I would rather not give a slide show presentation in zoom. If it comes to it, then I’m going to offer audio-only, or even try and edit a little sequence, make a short film on the topic. Let’s see what happens, it already seems that my colleagues will be remote-teaching for the first two weeks of the semester and I don’t envy them as they prepare their lessons.
Life Lessons
I’m not sure where we’re going this year, I’ve started listening to politics shows on the radio and podcasts, and it makes me anxious.
There’s a clear divide now between people who want democracy and others who feel the time is right for authoritarian leadership, the kind we see in Hungary, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Brazil. It’s a chilling thought, and I’ve seen so many articles warning about the dangers and the failure of imagination on the left that might mean this country sleepwalks into this future, but I’ve also read some articles that might convince me otherwise, that we’re witnessing the death throes of nationalism and fascism, that all their kicking and screaming can’t hold back the future they fear, of a more progressive, democratic and open society.
Draw
Here’s to a year of drawing mostly faces, I suppose it was something I wasn’t very confident with, preferring plants, fruit, buildings and now it seems I’m assembling this cast of characters, some from photos that I find online on reference sites or photosets. I always thought I would have a messy sketchy style like Ralph Steadman or Felix Scheinberger but I’ve arrived at this line and I suppose that’s what I have to work on.
Lost and Found
We had a quiet holiday, we didn’t feel much like traveling and used the time at home to recharge, unplug and just enjoy being in the house. Between wrapping (and unwrapping) presents, cooking up several dinners, and heading out for walks and short trips, I found time to read and watch some movies, and spend some time drawing in my sketchbook and making lino prints. It’s been a productive spell and I’m looking out in the sales for a few more art supplies, to keep me going.
I received some lovely gifts, a few books, nice coffee, socks, and t-shirts. Also a small portable record player, one of those that come in a suitcase and plugs into speakers. Up until a few days ago I only had one record, which as Father Ted fans will know, isn’t quite enough to have a collection. Luckily the library has a vinyl section and I’ve been plundering it for the greats, Beatles Revolver and Rubber Soul (my favorites), Led Zep, Dylan, and Neil Young. I’ve been transported back a few decades. It’s bizarre, this vinyl resurgence, and I have a new rule that I won’t buy anything I already own in any other format, including digital.
I’m just coming to the end of my first book of the year, David Sedaris’ Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, which is brilliant and induces shoulder heaving sniggering on the sofa. I’m already looking forward to the 1619 Project by Nikole Hannah Jones and then There There by Tommy Orange.
I finally finished Teaching Machines by Audrey Watters, following B.F Skinner and his attempts to create a product that would revolutionize education and help America regain the ground lost by Sputnik. It’s a satisfying read for those critical of today’s edtech industry, history reveals itself so clearly to be very much part of the present, even if that might be inconvenient to those in Silicon Valley selling disruption, ignoring what’s been before to sell their latest solution to the crisis in teaching & learning.
Finally, a couple of articles caught my eye, one on the longevity of language learning apps, and another on translation. If you’re looking for new year resolutions, then this list of ways to slightly improve your life might be fun. I was heartbroken to read about a teacher who has founded a charity to buy beds for her school children, there is appalling inequality in Britain, the accumulation of great wealth by a few people when there are so many in need.
I thoroughly enjoyed this episode of Netflix’s abstract with designer Cas Holman. She’s steeped in Piaget and the philosophy of play, her creations are for open play and I could see parallels in the loose limbs theory that we talked about in Issue #87. It’s fascinating to learn about Cas’ work, there’s an excellent presentation on Vimeo you can dip into if you’re looking for more.
I’m sorry to jump around from one topic to another, I should have a list of what I read, watched, and listened to, but I’m not one for lists.
Thank you
I can’t quite believe that it is 2022, time is moving so quickly, and can’t believe that it has been so long, almost two years since we hugged our folks and spent time in their company. We are hoping to travel back to the UK for a visit in the summer, it’s got to happen or it will feel like a setback.
In the meantime, there’s plenty to be getting on with, after I finish typing I’ll go out and clear a path to our front door.
I hope this next year is good for you, I know that we’re all so battered and bruised, we’ll need some time for reflection and also some time to lose ourselves in play and exploration. Just don’t push too hard, that’s a reminder for you.