Monthly Movement - November 2024
Conspiracy theories that I indulge, a reflection on my fist semester teaching at VCU, and some strong flavors.
Wrapping up my first semester teaching
Everyone in my family has been a teacher. Both my parents were reading specialists and special education teachers. My aunt, a Spanish teacher, my grandmother a PE teacher, and my great grandmother an arts and science teacher. It was always a bit of a joke that my brother and I would fall into our teaching paths and I was hesitant to believe so given that I’m not great with young kids.
So in some part, I’m amused that I came back to a teaching career path and simultaneously not surprised.
This first semester at VCU teaching Screen Dance came with ample challenges of being an Adjunct Faculty member in a new-to-me program but I leave it feeling hungry to stay in the field. As I continue to navigate my MFA applications to better myself as a teacher, I’m simultaneously writing letters of recommendation for my students as they apply to programs as well.
On our second to last day in class, one student nearly blurted out, “I’ve never enjoyed a lecture class this much.” to which other students chimed in with their love for the class–all of which nearly knocked me out. Most of the semester I was anxious about whether I was setting them up for proper success and I know there is so much I can do better in the future to provide that, but to hear that they enjoyed the class alone is a win in my book.
I understand the importance of teaching the material but I also came into the roll knowing that these students are in their final few semesters of college and looking to make connections about their art making process by entering a collaborative art form such as this. In the midst of the theoretical and technical skills, I really honed in on the intent of choice. We talked a lot about learning to advocate for our choices through the treatment and shot list process. Setting up a project for success also means knowing how to navigate the problems that will inevitably arise when the project is in motion.
Almost every student had to adapt heavily to their final project with other class conflicts, various skills, and the inevitable sense time that is never as plentiful as we expect. Nevertheless, they all came out producing films that I’m proud of them for taking on.
And now its time for me to take my own advice and advocate for my ideas as I try to make this a more ambitious piece of my career ahead.
It feels good to be a conspiracy theorist - without causing harm that is
I love wild and elaborate artist theories. Its indulgent to spend hours in the deep dive of social media commentary teasing out every possible sign of a reference. With the launch of Kendrick Lamar, Tyler the Creator, and Doechii’s latest albums plus the onslaught of Wicked assessments, I’ve been engrossed in learning about subtleties that strengthen the experience.
They’re the conspiracy theories that I can harmlessly entertain.
November was full of tough news and with already a month past the election, it feels like ages ago that we were sharing our “I Voted” stickers with hopeful tones. The rhetoric is what has been straining though. Each day feels like a game of Frogger, dodging conspiracy theories, alt-right slippery slopes, and dramatic cautions of seed oils. Increasingly so, social media requires a PHD in critical thinking and I lose more sleep over my complicity in leveraging the social media scope for my work and clients.
So I indulge in the artists who are weaving their creations with silver linings, hidden messages alluding to the release of their next albums, or in reference to some industry beef.
Then I scroll on to watch skeptically as we try to decipher the implications of public policy and international affairs.
Monthly Flavors
Community Moment: When we moved to Richmond, we quickly found friends by attending Keep Virginia Cozy trash clean ups. This month, the organization celebrated its 1 Millionth pound of trash cleaned up from Virginia. We joined in on the big day on Belle Isle with friends which is never a bad way to spend a Sunday.
Reading: I’m learning that I prefer to listen to Literary Fiction and have a whole bunch of holds on my Libby app through the Richmond Public Library but keep using the Spotify option as well. This month, I listened through Educated by Tara Westover incredibly fast. It was heart-wrenching and so timely during the election.
Watching: this month, I binged Interior: Chinatown on Hulu and highly recommend it. The format and commentary of this show is brilliant. It’s surreal and disorienting but absolutely engrossing.
Cooking: My contribution to our Friendsgiving was this Sweet Potato and Gruyere Gratin which seemed to be a hit. It was reasonably easy to make all things considered and a great savory option for a sweet potato dish. (To be fair, I was always a big fan of my mom’s marshmallow dish.)
The whole meal was delicious and I fell asleep on my friends’ couch within minutes after finishing my plate but someone also brought a delicious banana pudding that I’m still thinking about daily.
Stuff: I have a hat problem and anyone who knows me, knows this. I’ve been on the hunt or a slightly nicer ball cap for teaching that’s a little more personality and a little less logo–ideally black and cream two tone. So when my IG feed showed me this hat from a collab with 4FRNT Skis and Autumn Headwear, I just about cried out of joy. Now I’m just holding back from scooping up this Cobalt Blue Telemarker hat from Tele Colo. It really is a problem.
Current drafts that may or may not publish
A gift guide - er more like a framework
Reviews and Resonance: Why the Nutcracker is ready to meet his demise.
Reviews and Resonance: “Battleground” at American Dance Festival
Reviews and Resonance: "Walden” and “Stereophonic” - a closer look at theater and sensationalism
Why you can always look to the sternum to identify a body at home in movement.
As always, I just want to say thank you. If you’re taking the time to read this or anything I put out there. Giving myself this space to write publicly forces me to work through some mental barriers and tease out the sparks that flicker around my brain without anywhere to go. Even your remote interest in knowing what goes on up there is immensely appreciated.
Written by Tori Duhaime, photographer and movement artists
Ooo Educated. I read it in 2020 and still regularly think about it. I was so adjacent to that particular brand of religion for a long time, it's wild knowing I know people who can probably tell similar stories. A friend from college is from the same part of Idaho and knows people in the book.
I continue to be a cheerleader for the draft about sternums and bodies at home in movement.