Coffee. Facebook. Lecture. Test.  Paper. Repeat.

I like to consider myself an academic; but in my role as a student, I sometimes find a feeling of emptiness after leaving class. The stream of information heavily flows in one direction. Our academic system forces students to become sponges: absorb everything we can to be “rung out” in those exact words over tests and papers. And then we move on to memorize and recite the next set of facts we are expected to know.

Though this conundrum is not as troublesome in college as it is at the high school level, it still is clear our brains easily are turned on autopilot as soon as we enter that lecture hall.

Coffee. Facebook. Lecture. Test.  Paper. Repeat. 

I believe my generation in particular is uncomfortable in a discussion-based environment because in this classroom setting we are not always encouraged to think outside of the box.  We do not have the opportunity to speak our mind—or if we do, the professor- student power pressure causes me to censor myself out of fear of sounding stupid. Has anyone else ever felt this way?

The environment of FLEFF greatly differs from this repressive environment of a classroom. FLEFF is all about scholarly discussion, encouraging inquisitive ideas and new perspectives of looking at the world. At FLEFF you are not solely in an environment of peers, but a diverse group where power in a discussion is distributed equally. This ties back into the idea of FLEFF being its own microtopia. The community it builds allows for an environment where curiosity flourishes and relationships form.

Do you agree with the environmental differences between FLEFF and the classroom? How will you use your voice to join the discussion at this year’s festival?