Rhizomatic Learning and Thinking.
In the Welcome paragraph of the Module 1 Handbook "Rhizomatic Learning" is mentioned. Not knowing what this was I decided to do some research to better understand the term and to see if I could relate it to how I think about my practice and the course.
What is a Rhizome?
"A continuously growing horizontal underground stem which put out lateral shoots and adventitious roots at intervals." - Definition from Oxford Languages.
Basically a Rhizome is a plant/organism with no centralized root. It is an interconnected web of continuously changing and growing roots that all make up part of a whole. A Rhizome does not consist of units but dimensions and directions.
The Rhizomatic Learning Module implies that learning is most effective when it allows participants to react to constantly evolving circumstances. In Rhizomatic Learning the community is the curriculum everything is fluid and non-linear.
The community is the curriculum.
This phrase has really stuck with me and has helped me to understand the course better. I now have a better grasp on why we write and how we should use the blogs and Skype calls.
Each person participating in the BAPP is part of the collective whole. We should use the blogs/skypes to draw on and investigate ideas to better our knowledge and also the knowledge of others.
Rhizomes and My Practice.
I believe the idea of a rhizome can also be related the Acting Industry.
Being an actor at the moment is incredibly difficult. With theatres closing and the government not giving us the support or guidance we need a lot of actors are starting to feel lost or voiceless.
This is where Rhizomatic Thinking is a very useful thing to understand.
There is no central leader or “root” speaking for actors. We are all one part of a community and we need to come together to make our voices/ideas heard and our issues dealt with and discussed.
I have noticed this recently on social media with the creation of the #wemakeevents movement which spawned from the government saying our practice/profession was not viable.
It’s comforting knowing that everyone is coming together for the benefit of the whole and that there is strength in numbers especially in this uncertain time.
For more info on Rhizomatic Thinking/Learning I suggest these two Youtube Videos:
Hi Tom, I really enjoyed reading your post and learning about rhizomatic thinking. It's a great metaphor to describe the way we are currently learning and connecting to the arts, especially in the present. It's been amazing to see people on social media coming together to support the industry and share the love. The video you shared as well was also very insightful as he compared the rhizomes to the tree (being the right way of thinking). I will definitely use this when reflecting on my practice during Module One. x
ReplyDelete