Each week I give my students creative prompts for their weekly posts, tied to course concepts. One of my favorite source of prompts is the PBS Digital site The Art Assignment, a video series in which innovative artists design and present “assignments” for completion. This semester my students have created imaginary friends, fake flyers, empathized with and repaired objects, and practiced the art of complaining. For their final prompt of the semester, we’re having a muster.
This assignment was designed by the artist Allison Smith, whose work explores historic reenactment and how the past influences the present. Several years ago, she created an art project in which people designed their own uniforms, and showed up at a muster to answer the question: What are you fighting for?
What is a muster? It’s a gathering, especially of troops, for the purpose of inspection, service, or perhaps a roll call. This summoning of soldiers can ritualize a common purpose or goal, and provide cohesiveness and a clearness of vision for all that comes next.
My father was a military historian but I confess I’ve never really had a taste for military life in practice or the language of war or battles as metaphors for living. But the way in which this artist framed the muster as an opportunity for self-expression and the consideration of a common question really fascinated me.
I hope my students will leave my class with a strong point of view about the things that matter to them. In fiction I am most drawn to authors who express a strong point of view for their characters, allowing me to enter into the emotions and actions of someone else. Some people might think of this as a clearly identified mission statement. I know some students are reluctant to openly express strong opinions as they are forming relationships and engaging interests, but I think its a deeply important way of communicating yourself to others. And yes - “What are you fighting for?” is another frame for this.
So: a muster we will have.
You can read more about my uniform in the next post.