Fall 2008 Welcome

Welcome to the Fromm Course "The Language of Movement"

Our first meeting was an overview of the course topics followed by general information about non-verbal languages and the language of movement.

Edward Hall posed three ways in which we learn non-verbal languages: formal/informal/technical. Learning the rules of behavior of our culture he calls "formal" learning. Learning by imitating others (parents, other adults, peers) is "informal" learning. Informal learning is done largely without awareness. Learning from teaching, such as exercise or dance instruction, is "technical" learning, which is deliberate. We learn new behaviors primarily by imitating, which is a slow process of which we are seldom aware.

We noted two main ways of studying body movements: the psychological which offers explanation about the mover's motivations, and the sociological which examines the effects that movement has on other people. We will be largely concerned with the latter, which is important so that we won't be unaware and thus possibly victimized.

We then looked at the metaphors that we construct from the schemas of our bodies: body parts that are containers, or that operate in paths, center-periphery, or cyclical movements. These metaphors allow us to think abstractly, rather than literally, as when we say, "My cup runneth over",

or "He is an upstanding citizen".

Next we began the story of movement in history, beginning with the festivals of Dionysius in which bodies moved freely, through the Humanistic period in which the sense of "self" emerged .

Next week we'll continue with the History of Movement, look at some aspects of movement development (non-technically) and move on to the social interpretations of body movements.

Feel free to post any comments or ask any questions by clicking on "Comments" below. I hope you will share any information or observations you have with the class.