Launching Poetics and Risk Book – A Video

As part of the launch of our book Poetics and Risk, Feeling Into Being, we decided to talk about the book and what we learned as a collection of authors.

For the majority of the group, this was their first time as an author and being published.  So, we made a video about our experiences and what we learned.

You can see the 30 minute video here:

• https://vimeo.com/1163088581

You can download the book for free here:

• https://www.humandymensions.com/product/poetics-and-risk-feeling-into-being/

You can see the podcast series on Poetics and Risk here:

• https://safetyrisk.net/podcast-audio-series-on-poetics-and-risk-14-episodes/

You can see the video series on Poetics and Risk here:

• https://vimeo.com/showcase/11892328

Poetics is about all we bring into being that cannot be measured.

Poetics is not about poetry but rather, the bringing forth in expression in creativity, discovery, innovation and making known. In the case of this book, it is about the nature of risk as a creative disposition and orientation. Yes, it can be about poets but poets too are both linguists, creators, lyricists and philosophers (https://www.academia.edu/68004614/Poets_as_Philosophers_and_Philosophers_as_Poets).

Dozens and dozens of books have been written on Poetics as an understanding of linguistic creation of something eg.

• Brumer, A., (2007) The Poetics of Golf. University of Nebraska. London.
• Bachelard, G., (1964) The Poetics of Space. Beacon Books. Boston.
• Lefebvre, N., and Lewis, S., (2001) Poetics of Work. Transit Books. Oaklands.
• Lewis, G., (2013) Quantum Poetics. Bloodaxe Books. London. And,
• Wortham, S., (2013) The Poetics of Sleep, From Aristotle to Nancy.

Everything we do can be understood poetically. The rhythms of life, our figurative and metaphorical language, our energies to create, forces of nature, out thirst for discovery, human musicality, human, ecological and biological signs/symbol systems and even the mysteries and patterns of Science/mathematics, all connect to an understanding of Poetics.

So, what is it about risk that is Poetic?

Risk is about all that is unknown and all that we do by faith. The nature of engaging with what we know leads us to figurative and metaphorical language to try and explain the unknown. This is why in risk and safety there are so many models and semiotics that try to explain things beyond knowing only through written text. Indeed, when we step away from STEM-only thinking into the world of the unmeasurable and non-quantifiable, we are in Poetics.

Turn on the radio and TV and music fills the air, even the ads are anchored with jingles and slogans/mantras that speak beyond definition of dictionary understanding of meaning.

To understand the mysteries of fallibility, the unknown, uncertainty and matters of faith, we always turn to Poetics to find meaning.

We trust you enjoy the book.

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Prof. Robert Long

Expert in Social Psychology, Principal & Trainer at Human Dymensions

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PhD., MEd., MOH., BEd., BTh., Dip T., Dip Min., Cert IV TAA, MRMIA Rob is the founder of Human Dymensions and has extensive experience, qualifications and expertise across a range of sectors including government, education, corporate, industry and community sectors over 30 years. Rob has worked at all levels of the education and training sector including serving on various post graduate executive, post graduate supervision, post graduate course design and implementation programs.