The chapter in Interdisciplinarity talked about science, nature and the relationship in between all of these genres. I read this prior to class, yet I was very happy to re-read it in class because I had missed the point of the chapter. Joe Moran has talked about what we think we know to be true about science, and then has smashed that idea by saying things like Geography is not defined by nature but by culture and people. This goes against everything I have known to be true! How is space defined by people?Walking outside in the middle of class was a silly idea at first. But it was a beautiful day and I got to enjoy the weather so why was I complaining? I was looking around and very literally thinking ‘Space. Why is this space important? What am I supposed to be noticing about this space?’ I should have known that I could argue anything. Of course, I didn’t realize this until we went back to class and for 15 minutes I was looking at the landscape waiting for it to uncover it’s deepest secrets to me. Back in class I realized I had followed the sidewalk the entire time. Why did I do that? It is what is normal, the cultural norm. I was following the path that had been laid out for me. Now there is something significant. I could have been cutting threw the grass, skipping or walking backwards. I could have done any of these things and their would no consequences other than maybe a few chuckles. However, like the other peers around me, we continued on the walk not knowing that we were following the natural order. We don’t question actions that we do every day like this because these actions seem unimportant in the scheme of things. Who decided that humans should walk? Why aren’t we crawling everywhere? These ideas or actions, customary traits that we know instinctively are culture.
Looking back to class, everyone seemed surprised at their thoughts and conclusions they came up with on the walk. I could have stayed in the classroom with Beth and not jumped out of my seat like everyone else. Not doing the activity could go against the classroom culture. And yet, I blindly follow like the eager student I am. The walk helped show me that being a sheep is part of the bigger picture. I can follow the path laid out for me.