When I think upon the meaning of embodiment, I envision an immersion into an experience that can be lived through one or a combination of the five senses, which include sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. While the senses are a building block for the experience, it is the actual connectiveness that has the power to level the encounter into a bond, hence a truer definition of embodiment.
While the singularity of one or more senses, such as hearing, can be gleaned from digital experiences such as music played on an MP3, record, and other devices, it pales in comparison to a live performance. It is only through an all-encompassing experience that can reveal the emotion or humanity between the performer and the audience member. The sounds are more expressive as all the levels of pitch and depth are revealed. The connectivity between band members initiates the flow of emotional energy, which is then transmitted to the audience, allowing each to feed off of one another and become a more harmonious collective experience. Even being able to see the sweat run down the musician’s face as he twists his facial expressions to reflect the nuances of feeling adds to a deeper understanding of the depths of the musical message. The musical vibrations and rhythms are emitted from the speakers and captured in the chest of those within close range, allowing for the musician and listener to pulsate in rhythmic harmony. This living embodiment of musical art can only be lived and never truly replicated through digital means.
For more information on an embodiment journey, please visit my Sway post at https://sway.cloud.microsoft/VAeh46JyKzBJFmsB
Jamie– I truly enjoyed reading your Sway reflection on kindness and how you experienced this through quiet observation. That human-to-human connection is incredibly important, yet we rarely take the time to think about our relations to others.