Task: Set by Daisy
A few weeks ago I set a task for my Masters students, and I am going to set you the same one!
Throughout the last century, social scientists and historians have claimed we live in a ‘disenchanted’ world, where rationality, science and modernity have made everything ‘knowable’, predictable and explicable. Put more simply – there is no longer any magic in the world.
But in 2001 Jane Bennett wrote a book called The Enchantment of Modern Life. In it she argues that we do still have ‘moments of enchantment’ in our life, encounters where we experience a fleeting return to childlike excitement and wonder about life and the world around us.
Quite simply, the ability and desire to be ‘in love with the world’.
So I want you to describe such a moment of enchantment that you have experienced. It might be when you were captivated by a glittering pair of shoes in a shop window and you were carried off to a fairytale ballroom, or it might be watching your child engrossed in a task and losing yourself in the wonder of watching this magical little being you brought into the world, or it could be simply kicking the autumn leaves and feeling your heart flip at the simplicity of such joy.
Each of us encounters enchantment differently. And I want to hear your stories.
Throughout the last century, social scientists and historians have claimed we live in a ‘disenchanted’ world, where rationality, science and modernity have made everything ‘knowable’, predictable and explicable. Put more simply – there is no longer any magic in the world.
But in 2001 Jane Bennett wrote a book called The Enchantment of Modern Life. In it she argues that we do still have ‘moments of enchantment’ in our life, encounters where we experience a fleeting return to childlike excitement and wonder about life and the world around us.
Quite simply, the ability and desire to be ‘in love with the world’.
So I want you to describe such a moment of enchantment that you have experienced. It might be when you were captivated by a glittering pair of shoes in a shop window and you were carried off to a fairytale ballroom, or it might be watching your child engrossed in a task and losing yourself in the wonder of watching this magical little being you brought into the world, or it could be simply kicking the autumn leaves and feeling your heart flip at the simplicity of such joy.
Each of us encounters enchantment differently. And I want to hear your stories.
2 comments:
Daisy were you aware when taking the photograph (assuming you did) of the power of the composition and the divine quality of the light? Whether you knew or not the image is evidence of a world of enchantment and the existence of magic. Bless you and your gorgeous girls.
It was my mum who took the photo actually - and I'm not sure she was totally aware of the light or not, but it is one of a group she took of the girls being fairies in the garden that sunny evening, and they are all magical. You're right - definate evidence that the world is magical and enchanted!!
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