ARM's Conference on Carework and Caregiving: Theory and Practice went very well. Professionals and academics from diverse fields gathered and presented papers and discussed the practice of carework from many angles. I'm still integrating much of what I learnt.
My daughter's been intensively working on a school project on our currently "one" computer - the iMac, which has never crashed nor come down with any viruses, and I managed to slip in to say hi. There was an excellent response to my two presentations, which is all leaving me wondering, once again, if I really do belong in academia. Oh, sigh...
Sheath of feeling. Words groping to touch air.
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Wonderful! Welcome home. The excellent response does not surprise me. Nor do the wonderings, for that matter. ;-)
ReplyDeleteMB, thanks... I was very surprised at how well my pieces were received. Now isn't it something about allowing compliments to nourish and inspire us? Why is that so hard to do? I've felt awkward since posting this, yet feel positive feedback is something to be celebrated (in whatever way it occurs :)
ReplyDeleteyou, of course, need the widest audience we can find you. No, people need you to have the widest audience. Of course it was well-received. Ahh, yes.
ReplyDeleteKen, who knows what's less important, or more. Glad to have you back.
ReplyDeleteNarrator, oh, you are, umm, the best moral boost I can think of! In my academic piece, no, I wasn't close to the keynote speakers, or the ones with fabulously prepared powerpoint presentations of studies they'd done, but as I fretted and barely slept for a week trying to write this little thing on philosophy, with no academic background in that area, and before some 'real' philosphers, older, tenured, eeeks, my turn, and standing in front of everyone, I found a post in my blog on essentialism in neuroscience for them to look at, then put my papers away and simply spoke. Then read the extract from my novel. The questions and responses were good, and I felt such relief at the feedback later, from women I admire greatly. The points I had to make were comprehended. Being able to put the paper I'd written away and simply talk left me feeling that I could teach. &etc. Thank you for your support, it's always appreciated!
The more hours spent reading "research papers" the more I realize that it is nonsense. Not that research is nonsense, but the thing is, it all comes down to narrative (Google a guy named Clio Cherryholmes if you get the chance). The ability to say what we need to say to people in convincing ways, in ways that touch, that connect, that build knowledge and empathy. You have that ability. I just want you to use it to the max.
ReplyDeleteCleo Cherryholmes - oops
ReplyDeletenarrator- wanna be my coach? :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link. I remember way back in undergrad & even in grad school that the times I was too stressed for time to write everything out and just went with notes to talk from were, in fact, better received. But it takes courage to leave the safety of the written text.
The next best thing is to spend as much time looking at the audience as you can while reading a prepared paper.
It's all about connection, which in turn is all about intimacy...