Around 5:45 on Monday night, I got nervous. Not about the performance, not that anything would go horribly wrong, not that I would mess up, not that I would start my box on fire, nothing like that. I became nervous about reactions. I know a lot of people who, well, are boring. They like to eat at the same time, from the same line, with the same friends, and then rush off to the same meetings. They don't like art, they don't like darkness, they don't like things that could potentially harm them or their structured life. (Come to think of it, I'm not sure why I'm friends with these people.) Now I know that we are intentionally creating a derive, but I feared that some people would be seriously frightened or angry about the event. I was nervous because I was so excited and I just wanted a receptive audience. For our final show, we parked ourselves at a table and I look up to see my friend Sally (not her real name). In my mind I'm saying "Oh shit Sally! Why didn't you go to dinner earlier! You must be so uncomfortable! PLEASE DON'T HATE ME FOREVER." Well, we did the show, and left the caf. And I got my things and I was still thinking about Sally. I was so preoccupied with Sally that I was having a hard time feeling as proud of the performance as I wanted to. I pulled out my phone to find a text from Sally. This is what it said.
Sally: What was that??? It was amazing!
Sofia: Creating Spectacle
Sally: It was really cool. Thanks for the entertainment :)
I guess that was just a really round about way of saying. Nice job guys. We really made someone's night who really hates things like that.
Also, I had fun performing, but I actually think I had more fun getting ready. Everything about Monday was great. I loved doing the finishing touches and final rehearsals in the Pause and then distributing our tags. I even ended up drawing giant spectacles in the snow around the quad after class because I was so excited (woo PR idea- Sidewalk chalk in the spring?). Then dressing up and finally waiting in the hallway. I loved watching the anticipation build within the class. I guess you can call me an adrenaline junkie, but I live for that feeling. And even more so when shared with others. I liked our show, it was neat, but the process and the amount of thought that was put in to it was even more impressive and satisfying for me.
I thoroughly enjoyed this and I can't wait to see what sort of shenanigans we create in the future.
We should always try to seriously frighten or anger boring people!
ReplyDeleteI appreciate that you speak to the whole process here-- because it really is a process, it's not just about the final performance. We're doing documentation today, and that too is part of the process, and part of the performance. We do not need to be so focused on the consummate moment of performance as if that is the "art" and the rest is the rehearsal. All the collaboration involved in the process and everything each of you gains from the process--therein lies the art.
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