hello I am a cognitive scientist and I like to do research I love it but there
like to do research I love it but there
like to do research I love it but there is one thing I have to admit when you do
is one thing I have to admit when you do
is one thing I have to admit when you do research in cognitive science you never
research in cognitive science you never
research in cognitive science you never know what you will get every study is a
know what you will get every study is a
know what you will get every study is a leap into the unknown into the future
leap into the unknown into the future
leap into the unknown into the future that is uncertain as well they are on
that is uncertain as well they are on
that is uncertain as well they are on put it quite nicely in one of his talks
put it quite nicely in one of his talks
put it quite nicely in one of his talks you enter a cloud where you don’t know
you enter a cloud where you don’t know
you enter a cloud where you don’t know where you will end it is this experience
where you will end it is this experience
where you will end it is this experience of uncertainty that unsettles young
of uncertainty that unsettles young
of uncertainty that unsettles young researchers and it’s still unsettled
researchers and it’s still unsettled
researchers and it’s still unsettled myself sometimes and I think it is also
myself sometimes and I think it is also
myself sometimes and I think it is also this uncertainty that unsettled us when
this uncertainty that unsettled us when
this uncertainty that unsettled us when we think of the future this can be
we think of the future this can be
we think of the future this can be frightening and paralyzing at times so
frightening and paralyzing at times so
frightening and paralyzing at times so this is why we struggle when we want to
this is why we struggle when we want to
this is why we struggle when we want to embrace the future but there’s one thing
embrace the future but there’s one thing
embrace the future but there’s one thing that helps me and this is
that helps me and this is
that helps me and this is improvisational theater short improv so
improvisational theater short improv so
improvisational theater short improv so what I want to show you today is how I
what I want to show you today is how I
what I want to show you today is how I think that improv can help everyone to
think that improv can help everyone to
think that improv can help everyone to embrace the future so what is improv
embrace the future so what is improv
embrace the future so what is improv actually improv is theater without any
actually improv is theater without any
actually improv is theater without any script the audience provides an idea and
script the audience provides an idea and
script the audience provides an idea and the players get on stage immediately
the players get on stage immediately
the players get on stage immediately afterwards and start to develop the
afterwards and start to develop the
afterwards and start to develop the story and the characters live onstage
story and the characters live onstage
story and the characters live onstage for the audience
for the audience
for the audience this provides an enjoyable and inspiring
this provides an enjoyable and inspiring
this provides an enjoyable and inspiring evening but for the players improv can
evening but for the players improv can
evening but for the players improv can be much more it is a mind-blowing
be much more it is a mind-blowing
be much more it is a mind-blowing experience it teaches us to boldly go
experience it teaches us to boldly go
experience it teaches us to boldly go into the unknown as no one on stage
into the unknown as no one on stage
into the unknown as no one on stage knows what happens next
knows what happens next
knows what happens next I’ve played improv for 20 years and for
I’ve played improv for 20 years and for
I’ve played improv for 20 years and for 10 years here in Racine with my group
10 years here in Racine with my group
10 years here in Racine with my group vehicle tour improv has changed me and
vehicle tour improv has changed me and
vehicle tour improv has changed me and in my trainings I have seen how it
in my trainings I have seen how it
in my trainings I have seen how it changed many different people students
changed many different people students
changed many different people students prisoners cancer patients work teams
prisoners cancer patients work teams
prisoners cancer patients work teams and even teachers so how does improv do
and even teachers so how does improv do
and even teachers so how does improv do this at this point I think it’s a good
this at this point I think it’s a good
this at this point I think it’s a good idea that you try improve yourself so
idea that you try improve yourself so
idea that you try improve yourself so please I want to invite you to play a
please I want to invite you to play a
please I want to invite you to play a little game of word by word which is a
little game of word by word which is a
little game of word by word which is a seemingly simple improv game so before
seemingly simple improv game so before
seemingly simple improv game so before you start now please don’t make any
you start now please don’t make any
you start now please don’t make any arrangements beforehand okay
arrangements beforehand okay
arrangements beforehand okay the only arrangement you can make now
the only arrangement you can make now
the only arrangement you can make now please is to find a partner to play with
please is to find a partner to play with
please is to find a partner to play with so please ask one of your neighbors if
so please ask one of your neighbors if
so please ask one of your neighbors if he wants to play with you Yoshi who
he wants to play with you Yoshi who
he wants to play with you Yoshi who can’t resist there right okay since most
can’t resist there right okay since most
can’t resist there right okay since most of you have a neighbor I hope you are
of you have a neighbor I hope you are
of you have a neighbor I hope you are now ready to play so what you will do in
now ready to play so what you will do in
now ready to play so what you will do in the following you will tell the
the following you will tell the
the following you will tell the beginning of a fairy tale please don’t
beginning of a fairy tale please don’t
beginning of a fairy tale please don’t speak about which fairy tale you want to
speak about which fairy tale you want to
speak about which fairy tale you want to tell okay so you will do that and you
tell okay so you will do that and you
tell okay so you will do that and you will do that vert by vert so you will
will do that vert by vert so you will
will do that vert by vert so you will say a word then your neighbor will say a
say a word then your neighbor will say a
say a word then your neighbor will say a word and you will say a word again you
word and you will say a word again you
word and you will say a word again you build the sentences together to make
build the sentences together to make
build the sentences together to make things easier for you you might start
things easier for you you might start
things easier for you you might start with once upon a time you know that
with once upon a time you know that
with once upon a time you know that right or in german is VAR n mal okay but
right or in german is VAR n mal okay but
right or in german is VAR n mal okay but simply experience the uncertainty and
simply experience the uncertainty and
simply experience the uncertainty and remember that you simply speak word by
remember that you simply speak word by
remember that you simply speak word by word are you ready
kind of okay so go ahead and start with
kind of okay so go ahead and start with your fairy tale
okay thank you
okay thank you thank you very much
yes yep you get on the pole great
yes yep you get on the pole great [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] so thank you very much for engaging into
so thank you very much for engaging into
so thank you very much for engaging into this so who have you had fun simply say
this so who have you had fun simply say
this so who have you had fun simply say yes that’s great that’s what it is about
yes that’s great that’s what it is about
yes that’s great that’s what it is about mostly yes okay so what you experienced
mostly yes okay so what you experienced
mostly yes okay so what you experienced when you did this is what most players
when you did this is what most players
when you did this is what most players of impress experienced when they do this
of impress experienced when they do this
of impress experienced when they do this the first and they have a lot of fun but
the first and they have a lot of fun but
the first and they have a lot of fun but there are other things they learn by the
there are other things they learn by the
there are other things they learn by the way so what is it that we learn that
way so what is it that we learn that
way so what is it that we learn that helps us to embrace the future I think
helps us to embrace the future I think
helps us to embrace the future I think that improv helps us to face three
that improv helps us to face three
that improv helps us to face three paradoxes that are typical when we face
paradoxes that are typical when we face
paradoxes that are typical when we face uncertainty in these three paradoxes are
uncertainty in these three paradoxes are
uncertainty in these three paradoxes are those ones the first one is the so
those ones the first one is the so
those ones the first one is the so called preserving paradox well I call it
called preserving paradox well I call it
called preserving paradox well I call it this way so the preserving paradox means
this way so the preserving paradox means
this way so the preserving paradox means that on the one hand you want to
that on the one hand you want to
that on the one hand you want to preserve what’s good what’s proven but
preserve what’s good what’s proven but
preserve what’s good what’s proven but on the other hand we all want to change
on the other hand we all want to change
on the other hand we all want to change things we want to improve things so an
things we want to improve things so an
things we want to improve things so an improv when you start to play improv you
improv when you start to play improv you
improv when you start to play improv you don’t want to change anything most
don’t want to change anything most
don’t want to change anything most players are frightened of driving the
players are frightened of driving the
players are frightened of driving the story forward and they are frightened to
story forward and they are frightened to
story forward and they are frightened to give strong impulses they say things
give strong impulses they say things
give strong impulses they say things like I don’t want to destroy what we
like I don’t want to destroy what we
like I don’t want to destroy what we already have I don’t want to make
already have I don’t want to make
already have I don’t want to make mistakes I don’t want to break the rules
mistakes I don’t want to break the rules
mistakes I don’t want to break the rules so when we play improv for a longer time
so when we play improv for a longer time
so when we play improv for a longer time we learn that yes roots are important
we learn that yes roots are important
we learn that yes roots are important and we have to keep things together but
and we have to keep things together but
and we have to keep things together but we also learn that if something strange
we also learn that if something strange
we also learn that if something strange happens it doesn’t destroy the play as
happens it doesn’t destroy the play as
happens it doesn’t destroy the play as long as we accept it as long as we make
long as we accept it as long as we make
long as we accept it as long as we make it big and exploit its full potential
it big and exploit its full potential
it big and exploit its full potential even more the cool things can only
even more the cool things can only
even more the cool things can only happen if you make mistakes and break
happen if you make mistakes and break
happen if you make mistakes and break the rules sometimes so when you tell the
the rules sometimes so when you tell the
the rules sometimes so when you tell the fairy tale of Red Riding Hood and have
fairy tale of Red Riding Hood and have
fairy tale of Red Riding Hood and have accidentally the girl swallowing the
accidentally the girl swallowing the
accidentally the girl swallowing the wolf that’s the point where your story
wolf that’s the point where your story
wolf that’s the point where your story might get interesting so this is what
might get interesting so this is what
might get interesting so this is what Keith Johnstone termed the oh yes
Keith Johnstone termed the oh yes
Keith Johnstone termed the oh yes attitude and it is this attitude that
attitude and it is this attitude that
attitude and it is this attitude that helps us to accept whatever comes and
helps us to accept whatever comes and
helps us to accept whatever comes and use it and make something great out of
use it and make something great out of
use it and make something great out of it in the future
it in the future
it in the future the second paradox is what I call the
the second paradox is what I call the
the second paradox is what I call the planning paradox so on the one hand we
planning paradox so on the one hand we
planning paradox so on the one hand we want to plan to take matters in our
want to plan to take matters in our
want to plan to take matters in our hands but on the other hand we actually
hands but on the other hand we actually
hands but on the other hand we actually can’t plan we don’t know what will come
can’t plan we don’t know what will come
can’t plan we don’t know what will come it doesn’t make sense we can only react
it doesn’t make sense we can only react
it doesn’t make sense we can only react so in the beginning of playing improv
so in the beginning of playing improv
so in the beginning of playing improv you can see the players being totally
you can see the players being totally
you can see the players being totally absorbed by the plans they are sitting
absorbed by the plans they are sitting
absorbed by the plans they are sitting along the side the stage and they think
along the side the stage and they think
along the side the stage and they think stuff like I go on the stage I will be
stuff like I go on the stage I will be
stuff like I go on the stage I will be the alien and I will shoot this
the alien and I will shoot this
the alien and I will shoot this astronaut with my laser pistol and so on
astronaut with my laser pistol and so on
astronaut with my laser pistol and so on and so on
and so on
and so on well sadly the story develops in this
well sadly the story develops in this
well sadly the story develops in this time and it might take a turn and when
time and it might take a turn and when
time and it might take a turn and when the alien gets on stage it doesn’t find
the alien gets on stage it doesn’t find
the alien gets on stage it doesn’t find itself on planets walk anymore facing
itself on planets walk anymore facing
itself on planets walk anymore facing the astronaut but it finds itself in the
the astronaut but it finds itself in the
the astronaut but it finds itself in the kitchen of mr. Miller so if the player
kitchen of mr. Miller so if the player
kitchen of mr. Miller so if the player sticks to his plan now he’s lost so when
sticks to his plan now he’s lost so when
sticks to his plan now he’s lost so when we play him for for a longer time we
we play him for for a longer time we
we play him for for a longer time we learn that we have to accept our plans
learn that we have to accept our plans
learn that we have to accept our plans there are good things expectations or
there are good things expectations or
there are good things expectations or something we all have we all build them
something we all have we all build them
something we all have we all build them up automatically and they can also guide
up automatically and they can also guide
up automatically and they can also guide our action quite well but we also learn
our action quite well but we also learn
our action quite well but we also learn to stay in the present observe what’s
to stay in the present observe what’s
to stay in the present observe what’s happening and the moment the plans don’t
happening and the moment the plans don’t
happening and the moment the plans don’t fit the reality anymore we let them go
fit the reality anymore we let them go
fit the reality anymore we let them go easily as William Faulkner put it quite
easily as William Faulkner put it quite
easily as William Faulkner put it quite nicely you have to kill your darlings if
nicely you have to kill your darlings if
nicely you have to kill your darlings if they don’t support your story anymore it
they don’t support your story anymore it
they don’t support your story anymore it is this ability to plan and to let plans
is this ability to plan and to let plans
is this ability to plan and to let plans go easily that makes us spontaneous when
go easily that makes us spontaneous when
go easily that makes us spontaneous when we face the future and want to act in it
we face the future and want to act in it
we face the future and want to act in it the third paradox is the initiative
the third paradox is the initiative
the third paradox is the initiative paradox so on the one hand we want to
paradox so on the one hand we want to
paradox so on the one hand we want to shape the future according to our ideas
shape the future according to our ideas
shape the future according to our ideas and ideals but on the other hand we need
and ideals but on the other hand we need
and ideals but on the other hand we need to consider the needs and the ideas of
to consider the needs and the ideas of
to consider the needs and the ideas of other ones and give them space to thrive
other ones and give them space to thrive
other ones and give them space to thrive to you if you want to be successful so
to you if you want to be successful so
to you if you want to be successful so in the beginning of playing improv you
in the beginning of playing improv you
in the beginning of playing improv you find two types of players there’s the
find two types of players there’s the
find two types of players there’s the one type that loves to go on stage fire
one type that loves to go on stage fire
one type that loves to go on stage fire one idea after the other one and basking
one idea after the other one and basking
one idea after the other one and basking in
in
in they feel quite great on stage then
they feel quite great on stage then
they feel quite great on stage then there are the other ones they are quite
there are the other ones they are quite
there are the other ones they are quite careful they react to what happens on
careful they react to what happens on
careful they react to what happens on stage let others go first they seem
stage let others go first they seem
stage let others go first they seem quite on spectacular and often they feel
quite on spectacular and often they feel
quite on spectacular and often they feel miserable on stage when we play improv
miserable on stage when we play improv
miserable on stage when we play improv for longer we learn that they have to
for longer we learn that they have to
for longer we learn that they have to embrace both sides as players so yes we
embrace both sides as players so yes we
embrace both sides as players so yes we need to drive the story forward we need
need to drive the story forward we need
need to drive the story forward we need to give strong impulses we need to make
to give strong impulses we need to make
to give strong impulses we need to make things big but even more need to observe
things big but even more need to observe
things big but even more need to observe the others to accept their impulses to
the others to accept their impulses to
the others to accept their impulses to give space and time for emotions to grow
give space and time for emotions to grow
give space and time for emotions to grow and to make each other good time on
and to make each other good time on
and to make each other good time on stage so it’s the balance between action
stage so it’s the balance between action
stage so it’s the balance between action and observation that lets us tell a good
and observation that lets us tell a good
and observation that lets us tell a good story together the best question you can
story together the best question you can
story together the best question you can ask when you leave the stage is how did
ask when you leave the stage is how did
ask when you leave the stage is how did you my dear co actor enjoy playing with
you my dear co actor enjoy playing with
you my dear co actor enjoy playing with me and it is this attitude that helps us
me and it is this attitude that helps us
me and it is this attitude that helps us to act together and create cool things
to act together and create cool things
to act together and create cool things when we face the future so with us in
when we face the future so with us in
when we face the future so with us in mind we can now develop an image how
mind we can now develop an image how
mind we can now develop an image how improv helps us to embrace the future we
improv helps us to embrace the future we
improv helps us to embrace the future we have two players on stage and they have
have two players on stage and they have
have two players on stage and they have nothing in their hands and then one
nothing in their hands and then one
nothing in their hands and then one player starts with a little idea he
player starts with a little idea he
player starts with a little idea he simply says good morning my dear servant
simply says good morning my dear servant
simply says good morning my dear servant so this is this idea and the other
so this is this idea and the other
so this is this idea and the other player he accepts this idea and might
player he accepts this idea and might
player he accepts this idea and might say something like oh yes good morning
say something like oh yes good morning
say something like oh yes good morning my lord
my lord
my lord and then he develops his own idea and
and then he develops his own idea and
and then he develops his own idea and says well did you prepare well for the
says well did you prepare well for the
says well did you prepare well for the duel and he gives this idea to the other
duel and he gives this idea to the other
duel and he gives this idea to the other play and the other one accepts and says
play and the other one accepts and says
play and the other one accepts and says oh yes I’m well prepared we will show
oh yes I’m well prepared we will show
oh yes I’m well prepared we will show Lord monthly how to win and then he
Lord monthly how to win and then he
Lord monthly how to win and then he enters his own idea and says something
enters his own idea and says something
enters his own idea and says something like well my servant did you prepare the
like well my servant did you prepare the
like well my servant did you prepare the bow and the other player accepts this
bow and the other player accepts this
bow and the other player accepts this idea and says oh yes the bow is well
idea and says oh yes the bow is well
idea and says oh yes the bow is well prepared and then he had this idea and
prepared and then he had this idea and
prepared and then he had this idea and says I think you will blame the violin
says I think you will blame the violin
says I think you will blame the violin much better than Lord MA
much better than Lord MA
much better than Lord MA play and the other player accepts this
play and the other player accepts this
play and the other player accepts this and so on and so on so it’s the oh yes
and so on and so on so it’s the oh yes
and so on and so on so it’s the oh yes attitude it’s the spontaneous II and the
attitude it’s the spontaneous II and the
attitude it’s the spontaneous II and the ability to permanently switch between
ability to permanently switch between
ability to permanently switch between action and observation that allows our
action and observation that allows our
action and observation that allows our players to end an amplification feedback
players to end an amplification feedback
players to end an amplification feedback loop here and in this loop the story
loop here and in this loop the story
loop here and in this loop the story develops a nun self-organized manner
develops a nun self-organized manner
develops a nun self-organized manner with no control by any single player at
with no control by any single player at
with no control by any single player at a certain point the story seems to take
a certain point the story seems to take
a certain point the story seems to take over and to drive the action of the
over and to drive the action of the
over and to drive the action of the players even further this story on the
players even further this story on the
players even further this story on the stage is in real life the story of our
stage is in real life the story of our
stage is in real life the story of our future so as citizens who want to
future so as citizens who want to
future so as citizens who want to embrace the future we are improvisers on
embrace the future we are improvisers on
embrace the future we are improvisers on the stage of life yes we could get
the stage of life yes we could get
the stage of life yes we could get caught by the paradoxes of uncertainty
caught by the paradoxes of uncertainty
caught by the paradoxes of uncertainty but improv shows us a way how we can go
but improv shows us a way how we can go
but improv shows us a way how we can go further into the unknown by saying oh
further into the unknown by saying oh
further into the unknown by saying oh yes by enjoying to plan but even
yes by enjoying to plan but even
yes by enjoying to plan but even enjoying it more to let plans go and by
enjoying it more to let plans go and by
enjoying it more to let plans go and by acting together because we can only
acting together because we can only
acting together because we can only create cool things if we act together
create cool things if we act together
create cool things if we act together it is this optimism and spontaneous T
it is this optimism and spontaneous T
it is this optimism and spontaneous T that offers that impro offers to me
that offers that impro offers to me
that offers that impro offers to me as a scientist doing my research and as
as a scientist doing my research and as
as a scientist doing my research and as a citizen who wants to embrace the
a citizen who wants to embrace the
a citizen who wants to embrace the future in a thing
future in a thing
future in a thing this experience is offered by improv to
this experience is offered by improv to
this experience is offered by improv to everyone thank you very much
everyone thank you very much
everyone thank you very much [Applause]
”
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