Jacobs Process is a form of emergent pedagogy, which evolved as an educational strategy designed to bring together disparate and perhaps conflicting elements of environments peacefully. Like the dance that emerges though the plot of Happy Feet 2 the process emanates fun and energetic excitement.
The crucial elements of both narratives are that the protagonists have a strong sense of identity, willingness to dance, some kind of theme or story into which the strategy can be woven and from which the improvised choreography can be fashioned. Jacobs Process; a project based integrated arts strategy requires the constant use of some kind of defined "space" such as a gym, garden or hall that contributes to and is altered by the cooperative collaborative strategy. Happy Feet 2 was less planned but extremely well defined by the catastrophic confinement of an entire population of penguins trapped by an icy avalanche. Music is an integrated essential but the range of music that could support the process is not limited. All that is required is that the music be powerful.
Happy Feet 2 is a story about the penguin child Erik who comes to understand guru worship and all of its charlatan qualities contrasted against a growing admiration for his own father Mumbles, who refuses to give in to what seems impossible odds. As he struggles with the reality of limitations and acceptance of frailty Erik is converted to an authentic identification with a caring parent whose primary concern is for the welfare of the young and with the survival of the Emperor Penguin race to which the family belongs. Like Jacobs’s Process through the struggle to "perform" the child comes to see clearly that identification with one’s own primary group can be integrated with care and concern for the greater collective whole.
Musical Animation Portrays True Grit
"Erik learns of his father’s “guts and grit” as Mumble brings together the penguin nations and all manner of creatures to put things right." (Happy Feet 2. 2011) This greater collective whole has been termed the "Rhythmic Nation". The nation consists of a conglomeration of different groups of penguins, a herd of sea lions, one confused krill and a disgraced puffin bird. The highlight of the brilliantly animated epic is when once desperate and faced with defeat the converted seacow guardian of the walkway backs down from his macho image saying there are "times when a guy has to back up to be able to go forward".
Tiny Penguin Sings With Deep Operatic Emotionality
Happy Feet 2 can justifiably be called an example of Jacobs Process. The only difference between the animation and the real thing is that the animation is not "real". In a multicultural school, prison (such as Cebu) or community setting such as refugee detention centers real problems are obstacles to be overcome. Gaining full cooperation might not be quite as simple as having a tiny penguin called Erik sing with deep operatic emotionality. Permissions, funding, planning and energy are the elements required for the implementation of project based strategies such as Jacobs Process. Still: to dance costs nothing and even in the poorest of communities musical instruments can be fashioned from percussion and singing. Authentic improvised music could become the motivating element of the process. It is in a willingness to overcome adversity that the process proves itself.
The Difference Between Happy Feet 2 and Jacobs Process
The difference between Happy Feet 2 and Jacobs Process is the crucial element that makes this animation a highly valuable tool for educators. It is an accessible, energetic attractive example of how the process works to bring about intercultural understanding. By watching the movie teachers and students alike can be immersed in a pretext, which points to the value of working through issues in a collaborative way. It is because the movie is preemptive that it can be called a visioning technology. By immersing in a sample of Jacobs Process provided by the animated movie Happy Feet 2 dancers can become accustomed the idea of cross cultural dancing. Similarly sceptical administrators may come to an understanding that justifies channeling time and resources into a pedagogical strategy such as Jacob’s Process.
How is it then that Happy Feet 2 should so perfectly preempt the implementation of Jacob’s Process in the year 2012? There is a great deal of current theory positing “readiness” as the catalyst for the surfacing of brilliant new ideas. Fritjof Capra discusses the way that ideas seem to surface across the world at a proximal date. Ideas surface all over the world : when the world is ready for that idea. When asked in email conversation; Rachael Jacobs the ACU University Lecturer credited with innovating the design of Jacob’s Process has said that the only thing she wants from the process is to "see that it remains free and accessible to all."
The fact that other visions exemplifying the process are surfacing internationally ensures that the process remains public property – people can design their own process by immersing in the humour of Happy Feet 2 and then applying the design to the needs of their own environment.
Resources:
- Capra.F (1982 The Turning Point Bantam Books
- Jacob's Dance Strategies Educate for Compassion and Empathy
- Happy Feet 2
Join the Conversation