[matilda] 4 proposals: 1 - matilda seminars

[gavin at cyber-rights.net]

I was already working on something KINDA like this...getting 
academic types to come and present radical ideas/philosophers to 
people who might find then useful, but who might not otherwise have 
access to them, or a way into them or whatever.

Anyway, I've got a couple of folks lined up, just waiting to sort 
dates. But the remit is a bit wider than the one you've proposed. 
Maybe do it under a subheading of this - MATILDA seminars in 
critical theory.

xxx

On Wed, 21 Sep 2005 15:46:33 -0700 dan at aktivix.org wrote:
>Allo again,
>
>Proposal one:
>
>MATILDA seminars for change, or
>MATILDA teach-ins 
>(or any other good name that someone can offer.)
>
>Aim: 
>
>* A regular session, either weekly or fortnightly, with the 
>underlying
>co-operative principle of 'teach what you know, learn what you 
>don't'. (Taken
>from Access Space - thanks to them.)
>
>* The over-riding theme to be: "How can we change the world?"
>
>* I propose two focuses, probably alternating:
>
>1. Ideas and thinkers: someone comes along with a particular idea 
>/ set of ideas
>/ philosophy, presenting it in whatever way they want, and then 
>opening up to
>discussion.
>
>2. History and places: obviously connects to the above, but coming 

>along and
>presenting a particular historical moment, or talking about a 
>place, where
>change happened or is happening.  What happened? What worked? What 

>failed?
>
>(These can obviously look at some of the most contentious 
>historical moments in
>revolutionary and left-wing history, and can go as far back as 
>anyone wants -
>when farming started, for example!)
>
>Now, I want this group to be absolutely as supportive of anyone 
>who may not
>currently be comfortable with presenting.  If you feel like you 
>might want to
>do this, please feel the fear and do it anyway!  Everybody else in 

>the group is
>bound to being supportive of trying.  I'm crap at presenting - I 
>actually have
>a stammer.  It's mostly under control these days, but definitely 
>re-surfaces
>when in presenty mode! 
>
>So if I'll have a go, anyone can.
>
>Equally, experienced and confident ideas folk should come too - as 

>long as they
>are self-aware.  The group dynamic, and ground rules for that, 
>will be a vital
>part of the sessions.  We'll regularly check on how people are 
>feeling, how
>they're developing, and whether they feel unable to contribute 
>because of
>negative dynamics.
>
>One dynamic I have seen repeated again and again at uni is a 
>tutor's lack of
>sensitivity to silence.  Some people - usually women in the 
>seminar groups -
>default to silence.  Blokes get all ranty and fond of their own 
>voice.  So the
>gender aspect is also key.
>
>It would also be good to put the seminars together into a WIKI 
>format - creating
>an ongoing series of investigations into the question of political 

>change.  How
>can change come about? Is violent revolution the only way? Can we 
>change the
>world without taking power?  Has a global network of activists 
>really changed
>the chances for change on a global scale?
>
>And of course there's a whole series of questions that come out 
>from our 'what
>is MATILDA' process.  Talking about what direct action means could 

>itself be
>hugely useful.  We can brainstorm onto big paper, and the results, 

>digitally
>photo'd, can go straight up on the WIKI.
>
>So: proposals for topics please.  And for general questions.  I'll 

>start a WIKI
>page.  Then we can think about a start date.
>
>more coming...
>
>love
>
>Dan
>_______________________________________________
>matilda mailing list
>matilda at lists.aktivix.org
>http://lists.aktivix.org/mailman/listinfo/matilda



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