03/20/11: Intertext - The Seasons Change

In my academic institution, the calendar divisions follow approximately the turning of the seasons. Thus with the Spring Equinox I conclude my first season of training, which lasted only eight short weeks.

This quarter I experimented with several modes of documenting this highly experiential research, and have ended up with three separate archives:

1) This blog, which records simply, if not objectively, what transpired
2) A video recording of each training session, thus far not shared online.
3) A series of “Tiny Imaginary Plays” written immediately after each training session, in which I attempted to capture at least a few drops of the unconscious material that arose during the session. You can find those plays on my other blog, Parapraxis.

I shared some of these materials with colleagues at Stanford last Friday at an open studio showing. The blog was made available, one of the six videos was projected on a large wall, and I asked attendees to read several of the Tiny Imaginary Plays out loud. I enjoyed sharing the work itself and appreciated the opportunity to discuss the significance and urgency of theatrical practice as research.

My weekly practice will continue in the spring quarter after a short break.

02/25/11: Solo Training Session #7

Embarrassed about the amount of procrastination involved in actually getting to the studio today. Relieved the room is available. Looking forward to exploring some of my new internal sensations of what this training is about. Pleased to be here. Pleased to be documenting myself being here. Feeling confident and happy.


CONTEMPLATIVE PRACTICE (7 minutes):

Meditated in half-lotus against the wall, room dark, eyes open, facing the mirror.

WARM-UP (20 minutes):

Long-form sun salutations, breathing deeply.

Sang "When the River Meets the Sea" a capella in front of the mirror while doing "infinity arm circles."

100 jumping jacks followed by body scan to find body part to work with today. Found my xiphoid process (aka metasternum, the cartilaginous end of the sternum which attaches to the diaphragm muscles and is related to breathing).

TRAINING (35 minutes):

Almost no speaking for the entire time.

Yoga poses to stretch region around xiphoid process.

Extensive work with mirror.

Explored shoulder and arm choreography. Right angles.

Drew blue dot on xiphoid process to isolate it more clearly.

Worked shirtless for a time in order to have access to xiphoid process, was slightly uncomfortable and switched to a small scarf around my breasts.

Mime-type exercises including pulling an invisible rope through my body.

Explored grotesque faces and body positions, particularly invoking archetypes of old men and women (like Pantalone character in commedia)

Explored soft and hard facial gestures, which led to a few words about gender and embodiment.

Camera ran out of memory, last 5 minutes unrecorded.

Short, extreme emotional experiences characterized the (unrecoreded) end of the session - confusion and anger. They subsided as soon as the alarm sounded for the training's end.

NOTE-TAKING (5 minutes):

Sat in studio. Took brief notes about session and found I could not remember very precisely what had transpired. Decided to watch session video to recreate notes (this plan was later foiled as an error occurred and the footage was lost). Wrote Tiny Imaginary Play #7.

02/03/11: Solo Training Session #4

Afraid that someone will need to use this room and kick me out if it. Weirdly paranoid that someone is going to peer in the windows at me. Worried that the room is too small or too cluttered or full of stale energy. Aware that I still have no idea what I'm doing. Excited to do training two days in a row. Excited to have time alone.

Contemplative Practice (10 minutes):
Meditated, lights out, eyes closed, half lotus, back up against the wall to feel strength in my back. Tried to balance energetic focus in space between eyes.

Allergist called. Bloodwork has determined that I am not allergic to shellfish! Will eat shrimp tonight to test it.

Warm-Up (15 minutes):
Turned on camera (closer to it than usual in this small room). Arranged cluttered room to make a better shot. Cold. Ran back and forth on diagonal of room, talking non-stop, inner monologue. Did a lot of shaking - hands, arms, shoulders. Thought about tension as apparati of capture in the body, how to break it apart. Rubbed skin with hands to warm and awaken it. Jumped up and down. Did headstand and shoulder stand.

Training (40 minutes):
Did push ups on wall and on floor. Sang through "When the River Meets the Sea."

Danced to a song that someone was singing in the hallway.

Did modified cat/cow and sun salutations while singing.

Moved while speaking about the difference between cause and cure. Moved while speaking about Plato/Derrida's pharmakon.

Got quiet at the end. Moved slowly and sensually.

Caressed self.

Did rocking motions in a variety of positions.

Video card on camera ran out of space so the last 10 minutes were undocumented. I turned out the lights and continued working. I enjoy a bit of unrecorded training time.

Note-taking (5 minutes):
Sat in room, where I'd meditated at the beginning of the session and jotted down notes. Wrote Tiny Imaginary Play #4 (click here to read)