Playing it by Ear: Potential as an Improvisatory Practice
Catherine Herring (UCL IOE)

This paper investigates the concept of potential through a Deleuzean lens, arguing that it is a creative process, rather than a fixed trait or characteristic. It explores how improvisation is a way in which potential can be experienced and considers how changes to education practice, specifically a move towards a more mechanised, digitally-orientated world, might be irreconcilable with potential as a creative process of encountering and risk a much more impoverished concept that is vulnerable to concretion.

Catherine Herring is a PhD student at UCL IOE, where she is exploring concepts of mind, rhythm and rationality. She also tutors English and drama and is an IGCSE examiner for English Language. When she’s not playing with words, Catherine spends her time playing the drums, which she started learning alongside her PhD. She now plays with several bands in her home city of Bristol and is the resident drummer with the Bristol Improv Theatre.

A paper is attached here.

For further inquiries: Yuxin Su (yuxin.su.16@ucl.ac.uk).

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