Reflecting

Reflecting on this journey so far and the personal challenges that I have faced in this module, in this modern day of sensory overload through technology, short form content and fast pace living; I find reading particularly challenging.

I get easily distracted, I often have to read a paragraph multiple times to understand what is being said, and even when I have read a text, I don’t necessarily retain the information for long. Even now, writing this blog, I’m in a noisy pub with headphones on with the volume levels set just right so that I can still hear the other punters and pub playlist but not be distracted, with my own music keeping me in the zone. 

For me, I learn through engaging with the physical environment and through listening. I like to be doing something with my hands, to be able to process my thoughts. It’s the art of distraction by intentionally not concentrating on something, I am able to understand not better.

I listen to podcasts whilst cooking or driving, and absorb that format much better than spending an hour trying to read a couple of pages of a book. Knowing this about myself, I have focused on getting more artistically engaged this semester with pattern cutting, screen printing and pottery as a means of “doing” to encourage my creative thought process for this project. 

Whilst refining my research topic, I opted to listen to multiple episodes on the Clotheshorse podcast, attended several exhibitions including ‘The Fabric of Democracy’ at the Fashion and Textiles museum, over checking books out of the library. I’ve watched YouTube videos, and turned to sustainable agencies and influencers on Instagram. This is reflective of society and how and where we are consuming information in evolving technological landscapes.