Some thoughts on our first Provocation as the outline is being written.
Anna and I discussed what we could do several times and came up with a few ideas. We sort of settled on Beauty v Truth, and had some versions of how we would do the provocation. Maybe I would start with Truth and she would back beauty? Maybe start with one side for each and end up on the other during the debate? Maybe leave it open ended?
I had become ill during this time and completely lost my voice by the second week, so we continued our discussions by writing to each other. My initial idea, to do the Truth angle, was to tie it in with my MSc thesis and keep the engagement with my artefacts and memories with that 70s time period doing my MSc in Canada, and I would describe how I used the scientific method (Truth) to transform a gold crystal in poor crystalline condition to a well-ordered single crystal (Beauty). [Maybe there was an analogy with the search for human beauty in modern times using botox, fillers, hair extensions, liposuction, nose jobs etcetera?]
Unfortunately my illness got worse and I was unable to continue. I emailed both tutors a week before the Provocation was to take place and asked for an extension. I didn’t want Anna to be disadvantaged by my illness. I did not receive a reply until a few hours before the Provocation was to take place, telling me to take part with what I had done to that point and that there was no possibility to change the schedule.. I found this to be very unfair, particularly to Anna, but also to myself. I had waited a week for a reply to my request and received nothing in time for me to make an effort. The schedule also contained ‘independent working’ sessions, so there were opportunities for rescheduling. This stopped me in my tracks, I lost my enthusiasm and gave me a very different feeling about the course.
