Sat, Jun 13, 2020
Research has found that play is essential to human survival. For kids, play is the avenue by which they make sense of the world, their bodies, and their peers. But the importance of play does not diminish as we grow older. In fact, for adults play may very well be critical to developing stronger social bonds within a given community, providing a boost to our mental health. But what, if anything, is the purpose of play? What does play look like? Where do adults find space for play in their lives? What can children teach adults about play? In what ways do people play with and bend society's expectations, rules, constraints, and constructs? What can play in the workplace achieve? How does play connect us to ourselves, to others, and to place? What challenges us about play? On Episode 1 of Connexion, featuring Toronto Drag Queen Tynomi Banks (Drag Race Canada, S01) we explore growing into drag, drag as playing with one's own identity, play as performativity embodied, and the role of drag as a challenge to societal norms and identity confines.
Sat, Jun 13, 2020
Research has found that play is essential to human survival. For kids, play is the avenue by which they make sense of the world, their bodies, and their peers. But the importance of play does not diminish as we grow older. In fact, for adults play may very well be critical to developing stronger social bonds within a given community, providing a boost to our mental health. But what, if anything, is the purpose of play? What does play look like? Where do adults find space for play in their lives? What can children teach adults about play? In what ways do people play with and bend society's expectations, rules, constraints, and constructs? What can play in the workplace achieve? How does play connect us to ourselves, to others, and to place? What challenges us about play? On Episode 3, featuring Brooklyn-born, and Toronto/Switzerland-raised actress and Blues singer Shakura S'Aida, we explore music as a form of comfort, power, and human connection, and the Blues as the ultimate type of playfulness, utilizing beat and artistry to convey stories and experiences that connect us all.
Sat, Jun 13, 2020
Research has found that play is essential to human survival. For kids, play is the avenue by which they make sense of the world, their bodies, and their peers. But the importance of play does not diminish as we grow older. In fact, for adults play may very well be critical to developing stronger social bonds within a given community, providing a boost to our mental health. But what, if anything, is the purpose of play? What does play look like? Where do adults find space for play in their lives? In what ways do people play with and bend society's expectations, rules, constraints, and constructs? What can play in the workplace achieve? How do we bring playfulness, fun and joy to the office, or better yet, how do we make playfulness our office, and make human connection our mantra? How does play connect us to ourselves, to others, and to place? On Episode 4, featuring Toronto-based clown and body improv artist Ja-son, we explore the ancient art of clowning and improv, using one's body as a playful, improvisational device to alleviate complex circumstances, as well as the deep social implications of this art form.
Sat, Jun 13, 2020
Research has found that play is essential to human survival. For kids, play is the avenue by which they make sense of the world, their bodies, and their peers. But the importance of play does not diminish as we grow older. In fact, for adults play may very well be critical to developing stronger social bonds within a given community, providing a boost to our mental health. But what, if anything, is the purpose of play? What does play look like? Where do adults find space for play in their lives? In what ways do people play with and bend society's expectations, rules, constraints, and constructs? What can play in the workplace achieve? How do we bring playfulness, fun and joy to the office, or better yet, how do we make playfulness our office, and make human connection our mantra? How does play connect us to ourselves, to others, and to place? On Episode 4 of Connexion, featuring Toronto visual artist Mando, we explore the art of doing what you love and loving what you do - and sometimes that just means throwing buckets of paint on a canvas to see how things work out.