Light Observation #10
DATE-TIME-LOCATION: Tuesday, April 17th-around 5:20pm-the space behind the math hall
OBJECTIVE DESCRIPTION: During a DRAM60 class, I was being led by a scene partner as I was “blind.” As we walked along the sidewalk, I passed from full, bright sunlight into shade from a tree.
SUBJECTIVE DESCRIPTION: There’s really very little to say about this moment, but I was compelled to take note of it and to share it. With my eyes closed, all of the detail that light reveals was hidden. I was relying on my hearing, my sense of touch, and my partner’s instructions to navigate; the only visual input that my brain was receiving was the gauge of light that filtered through my eyelids. As I stepped into the shadow, I had one of the most visceral reactions I have ever had. I literally shied away from this sudden darkness; I took a step back, shrunk down, taking an almost defensive stance, and turned instinctively back toward the direction I had come, toward the light. I couldn’t believe how strongly I reacted, but I love that it made me revisit how much we rely on sight, and just how important light is in our “normal, everyday” human functioning.