Images on a topic
Download the methods
To download the methods, click here
Target group
No. of pax
Environment
Time needed
Materials
none
Objective/aim
This exercise aims to create body images on a certain topic and engage participants to consider different aspects of a situation.
Step by step instructions
Step 1
Guided discussion on the topic to define a set of words that connect to it.
In our case, the topics were climate and migration, some words that came from the discussion were boat, drought, border, and flood.
Step 2
The participants walk around the space. The facilitator claps and calls out a word. All participants immediately make an image of the word with their bodies. Then the group continues to walk. This continues for some time, pushing the limits from stereotypical images to more disrupted, abstract images from different points of view, as the participants should not repeat themselves.
At some point, the participants can start working in pairs or larger groups to create an image together (without previous preparation).
Step 3
Participants create a circle. Each participant chooses one statue they believe fits best for each word.
The facilitator calls all the words separately in order for each participant to observe other’ participants’ figures.
Step 4
Further discussion about the relevance and influence of each word on the chosen topic can be moderated in order to deepen the meaning of each word.
Tips for the trainer
The tempo of calling out the words may vary. The participants can benefit both from rapid-fire word calling, as they do not have the time to think about them, as well as from thinking and reflecting about them to organise their newly found images into something unique.
Alternative
Step 2 can also be accompanied by some music. Steps 3 and 4 can be done in smaller circles first. Each circle chooses one fit for each word that is later presented to the wider group with some accompanying thoughts and comments.
Comment
