Does the description of 'plastic' refer to its inability to return to prior form or the propensity to crack under stress? The comparison of plastic to metal confuses me as metal is generally strong and springy. What is the sentiment that we are to understand here?
Plastic, as in generally more malleable or bendable than metal. Visualize a Barbie doll made of metal instead of plastic. Plastic Barbie’s arms will be rigid, but slightly bendable under force, whereas metal Barbie’s “frame” would be more unyielding. This is a very general analogy not intended to be literally dissected.
Thank you for responding, Tessa. The two choices of material are so broad that without a qualifying property, it became pointless for me to ponder in the end. As someone whose primary field is working with metal alloys, I began wondering if the metal included the soft, malleable, heavy qualities of Lead, the soft, yet brittle nature of cast Iron, the light, flammable characteristics of Magnesium, or spring steel's ability to be wound up over and over in a pocket watch, or even Aluminum's fracturing effect when bent more than once and so many more possibilities. This was then compounded by plastics that have many differing properties themselves. Polystyrene for packing materials and insulation are not what Barbie is made of. Can you imagine foam Barbie? Maybe envision her being dropped on the floor and shattering like she was a hard, brittle tong of a picnic fork. Perhaps she floats and flexes like a polypropylene rope, or has the bulletproof resistance, yet springy limbs of a polycarbonate. I think I can imagine what playing with Barbie might be like. She could be all of this and more! The vast range of ideas that my mind went to when trying to understand material science has been counterproductive and really challenged me throughout reading the chapter to see if I could follow the intended idea. Analyzing and revising writing are key elements to education. Expectation of performance without proper preparation prevents repeatable results. I value your efforts in making this available for us to advance our dance. It is an amazing compendium that you two continually create for us! #grateful
The idea of the brief contact with the leader during a prep (after practicing rotational spring from a fixed object such as a pillar or a wall) suddenly reminded me of the progression one uses to learn how to roll a kayak back up after a capsize. I used to surf kayak so I have spent a lot of time underwater! Usually people start with the side of the pool (which provides a confidence inspiring but highly unrealistic, unyielding, surface) so you can learn to prep the rather strangely named "hip flick" which is actually a powerful contrabody wind up of the core (basically the same part of the body that is used to provide the energy for spins when dancing). When you release this wind up suddenly, the kayak (attached to your legs and hips via padding, back strap and the foot braces) rotates to the surface while your upper body and head rotates to the water's surface or pool side. As the student progresses, they can learn to use flutter boards (way more realistic since they sink if you don't provide that short, powerful, rotational spring off them) in the same role as the side of the pool. After mastering the rotational spring in this manner, a student can progress to a paddle (which is less forgiving since it requires a rather strange and complex wrist action to allow the paddle blade to momentarily utilize surface tension and provide a momentary but supportive surface for the same rotational spring to work) and then to just use their hands (usually with fingers slightly spread) to achieve the same thing (actually way easier than it sounds). If you don't master the "hip flick" or the sudden release of the rotational spring with reasonably accurate timing, fail to integrate your arms with your core (break frame) or try to bring your head up too soon (fail to follow through with the contrabody motion), you generally get returned under water, after a failed roll, which provides instant, albeit unpleasant, feedback.
I actually have trained as a kayak instructor so can confirm. Yes, using the deck of the pool to brace against is ok for the first time to get over the initial fear of being upside down, but it is just a step in the progression to gradually more accurate simulations that offer less and less support so you learn to manipulate the forces to twist yourself upright. The difference here is that in a prep, hopefully the leader will provide the forces so that the follower doesn’t have to compensate. The kayaker is taking initiative, not compensating, because they have no expectations of the deck or surface tension initiating their rotation! LOL
I realized a couple of things after reading this lesson. First I realized that I am sometimes confused by the leaders prep and end up trying to turn in the wrong direction. This could be that the leader's prep is too big or it could be related to my second realization.
The second realization is that I have a tendency to anticipate what the leader is saying and complete a turn instead of allowing the leader to continue to prep and wait to be turned or redirected. I guess I was thinking that if I anticipated the movement I was a good follower. Totally wrong!
Does the description of 'plastic' refer to its inability to return to prior form or the propensity to crack under stress? The comparison of plastic to metal confuses me as metal is generally strong and springy. What is the sentiment that we are to understand here?
Plastic, as in generally more malleable or bendable than metal. Visualize a Barbie doll made of metal instead of plastic. Plastic Barbie’s arms will be rigid, but slightly bendable under force, whereas metal Barbie’s “frame” would be more unyielding. This is a very general analogy not intended to be literally dissected.
Thank you for responding, Tessa.
The two choices of material are so broad that without a qualifying property, it became pointless for me to ponder in the end. As someone whose primary field is working with metal alloys, I began wondering if the metal included the soft, malleable, heavy qualities of Lead, the soft, yet brittle nature of cast Iron, the light, flammable characteristics of Magnesium, or spring steel's ability to be wound up over and over in a pocket watch, or even Aluminum's fracturing effect when bent more than once and so many more possibilities.
This was then compounded by plastics that have many differing properties themselves. Polystyrene for packing materials and insulation are not what Barbie is made of. Can you imagine foam Barbie? Maybe envision her being dropped on the floor and shattering like she was a hard, brittle tong of a picnic fork. Perhaps she floats and flexes like a polypropylene rope, or has the bulletproof resistance, yet springy limbs of a polycarbonate. I think I can imagine what playing with Barbie might be like. She could be all of this and more!
The vast range of ideas that my mind went to when trying to understand material science has been counterproductive and really challenged me throughout reading the chapter to see if I could follow the intended idea. Analyzing and revising writing are key elements to education. Expectation of performance without proper preparation prevents repeatable results.
I value your efforts in making this available for us to advance our dance. It is an amazing compendium that you two continually create for us!
#grateful
Is Barbie like Gumby?
The idea of the brief contact with the leader during a prep (after practicing rotational spring from a fixed object such as a pillar or a wall) suddenly reminded me of the progression one uses to learn how to roll a kayak back up after a capsize. I used to surf kayak so I have spent a lot of time underwater! Usually people start with the side of the pool (which provides a confidence inspiring but highly unrealistic, unyielding, surface) so you can learn to prep the rather strangely named "hip flick" which is actually a powerful contrabody wind up of the core (basically the same part of the body that is used to provide the energy for spins when dancing). When you release this wind up suddenly, the kayak (attached to your legs and hips via padding, back strap and the foot braces) rotates to the surface while your upper body and head rotates to the water's surface or pool side. As the student progresses, they can learn to use flutter boards (way more realistic since they sink if you don't provide that short, powerful, rotational spring off them) in the same role as the side of the pool. After mastering the rotational spring in this manner, a student can progress to a paddle (which is less forgiving since it requires a rather strange and complex wrist action to allow the paddle blade to momentarily utilize surface tension and provide a momentary but supportive surface for the same rotational spring to work) and then to just use their hands (usually with fingers slightly spread) to achieve the same thing (actually way easier than it sounds). If you don't master the "hip flick" or the sudden release of the rotational spring with reasonably accurate timing, fail to integrate your arms with your core (break frame) or try to bring your head up too soon (fail to follow through with the contrabody motion), you generally get returned under water, after a failed roll, which provides instant, albeit unpleasant, feedback.
I actually have trained as a kayak instructor so can confirm. Yes, using the deck of the pool to brace against is ok for the first time to get over the initial fear of being upside down, but it is just a step in the progression to gradually more accurate simulations that offer less and less support so you learn to manipulate the forces to twist yourself upright.
The difference here is that in a prep, hopefully the leader will provide the forces so that the follower doesn’t have to compensate. The kayaker is taking initiative, not compensating, because they have no expectations of the deck or surface tension initiating their rotation! LOL
I realized a couple of things after reading this lesson. First I realized that I am sometimes confused by the leaders prep and end up trying to turn in the wrong direction. This could be that the leader's prep is too big or it could be related to my second realization.
The second realization is that I have a tendency to anticipate what the leader is saying and complete a turn instead of allowing the leader to continue to prep and wait to be turned or redirected. I guess I was thinking that if I anticipated the movement I was a good follower. Totally wrong!