Teresa Contino
5
Reflection on embodiment and materiality
plain
2020-12-09T17:38:10-08:00
34.0259° N, 118.7798° W
11/21/2020
Here, I am sitting at my desk with my laptop and a couple of pages of notes from last week's readings. I enjoy writing among people instead of alone in my room, because I usually get inspiration from other people's (in this case my family's) energy. My laptop's always open, but I always carry a pen and paper nearby to jot thoughts and definitions down, which helps me feel more connected with the material. These days, it is so easy to feel isolated and detached from what I'm learning in class because it is translated entirely through my screen. While I feel inspired and moved by the content of my classes, it's weird not seeing people in person and building community outside of Zoom and Canvas. However, Fancher reminds us to see the screen as a place where one not only composes texts but also "composes themselves" in order to make themselves "visible."
By using Scalar, I am making personal design and composition choices that other networks will connect with and (hopefully) discover meaning through. I keep thinking back to when Rhiannon Giddens reminded us of the importance of channeling one's emotions to guide art and writing. Putting the person at the center of archival research and thinking of ourselves in relation to that person and society at large is part of the process of our work in this class. By attempting to understand the complex lived experiences of women from different geographical locations and historical time periods, we are enacting the intersection between feminist and design practice. Through intentional, responsible, and critical design practices, we can grow closer to others via the screen, getting to know them as they get to know us. I want to continue to practice this process, long after this anthology project, throughout my life as a student, writer, and feminist.
