Colin Warren: the blog

I was very fortunate to be able to attend a performance of ‘small metal objects’ by Back to Back Theatre in the local Westfield shopping centre today. It was a very special experience to sit in a tiered bank of seats in the middle of shoppers going about their various activities.

The actors mingled in amongst the people and were miked-up, with us listening in via headphones. It must have looked rather odd for about 100 people to be sitting there with headphones on, and nothing else seeming to happen. At first we could hear the actors and didn’t know where they were and it was a bit weird to sit and listen in a conversation knowing it was for us to hear, but we didn’t know who was speaking. Maybe we didn’t have to know, but once we could see the actors and how they were part of the activity of the shopping centre, it changed the dynamics and became more of a play within a play(s). Once the actors walked into view, they stayed around the vicinity in front of our seating.

People were walking past doing their business, some looking at us, and mostly not knowing that we were listening in on a conversation – a sort of eavesdrop on a one small interaction taking place amongst a whole lot of other things going on. There were people at the ATMs, claiming bonus shopping vouchers, having a coffee, meeting each other, and walking around the actors without knowing that they were also somehow being part of the action.

The play also gave me a perspective on performance, and that there has so be an observer, someone to watch, for the activity to be legitimised. Well, maybe not legitimised, but for it to have meaning outside the performers.

It felt quite profound to be participating in something ‘on the sly’ and struck me that there would be so many of these interaction, conversations, negotiations, etc. going on that we never really know about. We’re usually all too busy to notice or care… An excellent play, and thoroughly enjoyable.

where does the time go? just tick, tocks off into the distance I suppose – no stopping it and no use fighting.

But, once again I sit here a little frustrated with what I haven’t been able to do… Well, looking back over the evening I have been productive, but maybe not as I’d planned. Tweaking things here and there, tidying up, dinner, news on telly, phone call, emails etc. add up to 10:00pm and thinking I should go to bed. But first let me share something with you…

Yesterday I caught the trial Deakin bus service between Geelong and Burwood and was able to catch up on email etc. via the ‘Deakin-bus’ mobile wireless service! Very cool.

Anyway read a news item about Google Maps – Street View being available in Australia. An article in The Age said: “Google-branded Holden Astra cars with roof-mounted cameras began traversing our streets about November last year, taking tens of millions of detailed panoramic street-level photos.” They took a 360 degree panorama photo every 50 meters and are slowly mapping the country.

I thought I’d try it out. My goodness!! Amongst a few other things, I typed in an address and ended up outside a good friend’s place looking up their driveway.

Hmmm, could some privacy/security issues here. Maybe it will make sure people keep their gardens and driveways tidy!?

Give it a whirl and be amazed!

Phew, it’s the end of a huge day. Glad I didn’t have to scratch myself…

I met some folk from South Africa earlier this week and got talking to them about cultures, customs and difference. Reminded me of the times (yes they has been more than one) when I’ve experienced culture shock. Can you be ‘shocked’ by as many cultures as there are, or does it depend on how different they are compared with your own, or something else? From my experience there are always be some sort of adjustments to make when you experience something foreign and different in a another place. The models that you’ve built your own existence on, can be dismantled very quickly. I suppose we’ll all deal with these ‘shocks’ in different ways and with different intensities.

These visitors from another place were quite taken with Australian society. Basic things we take for granted like being able to travel on public transport were a little foreign to them. I’m also sure that it will still be a while before their culture/s become integrated like ours. The mixing and overlap when cultures collide and/or intersect can mean significant adjustments for those involved. I reckon I’ve been fortunate to have grown up in a multi-cutural society and also to have travelled a little. I continue to be amazed at the different ways of doing things (eating, working, worshiping, creating etc.) that we can see on this planet.

So, I’d suggest you enjoy the space where you live and appreciate it’s idiosyncrasies, and when visiting other people and places be prepared for the/an other way of life/living and even if it takes you a moment try and come to see it as just another way… Being outside your comfort zone is when you are open to learning.