Soulmaking, Appropriation and

Improvisation

Lesson Summary
This lesson discusses the art making process by drawing out or depicting practices and experiences in coming up with
a piece of art. The products can be in a form of painting, song,
composition, sculpture, dance and many others. This topic will also help you understand the source of those creative
ideas as well as determine its meaning while coming up with a work that establishes a new context or idea. Lastly, it
allows you to be familiar with the different
improvisation techniques in an instinctive and spontaneous manner.

Learning Outcomes
1. Discuss concepts of soulmaking, Appropriation and Improvisation; and,
2. Develop student’s creativity in any form that develops their potential in soulmaking, appropriation and
Improvisation.

Motivation Question/s
 What do you understand by Soulmaking, Appropriation and Improvisation in the context
of Art? In the process of art making? What were the challenges you encountered? How did you cope up with all the
intricacies and complexities during the process?

Discussion

What is Soulmaking?
Soulmaking is a form of creating stories or transforming short moments into an image or symbol. According to
Narcisso (2021), “it is an alternative venue for knowing ourselves and looking into the depths and reality of what we
are doing for our everyday life”. One of the purposes of soulmaking is to awaken the artistic side of you. It is an act of
uniting with your primal self and skills development that provides a path to discover techniques in art production. It is
also an act of exploring and applying imagination in an active way.

Everyone is capable of imagination but not everyone can express in an active way. It takes special skills to create such
product from a brief moment and make it visible to the others. Imagination will always remain as stagnant if not
express through a certain medium coupled with skills. Hence, imagination as well as inspiration plays a vital role in
art production. There are individuals who have innate skills/gift and are capable of doing both
imagination and application. However, art production is not easy. It is a complicated process
that takes time, perseverance, focus and hard work. Realistically speaking, even renowned artist spends almost their
lifetime creating their masterpiece. Always remember that anyone can be an artist. We are all capable of artmaking
that there are ample of ways to express our imaginations. In addition, artmaking does not require specific timeline. It
takes place when someone is willing to be absorbed by different stimulus which may occur in any time of the day in
the middle of everything.

Soulmaking has it categories. Here are the following:

1. Crafting images- this happens when a person produces artworks such as painting, sculpture, poetry, dance, writing
songs, or even note taking.
2. Crafting Stories- the act of writing, engraving, criticizing, commenting and creating stories. Stories can be
presented in many ways such as objects, music, images and words.
3. Crafting Instruments- transforming objects into musical instruments allowing us to
discover balance and harmony to produce entertaining, enhancing, and magical sound.
4. Crafting Movements - life itself requires constant movement filled with different beats. It inevitable that we
perform on a daily basis depending on the occasion and situation.
5. Crafting Techniques- different experiences trigger a man’s intelligence that stimulates creativity in synthesizing that
produces artwork such as photographs, puppets, masks and many others.

A Framework for Genius

Figure 1
Seven Da Vinci Principles
What is Appropriation?
Appropriation refers to the borrowing of images recognized from different sources and create a new art form. It is
described as experimentation by changing specific angles in order to make it different from the main concept. Hence,
the value and meaning of it changes. Appropriation does not mean stealing but enhancing art form in order to create a
new content. There are ways in art appropriation. First, the appropriation of the artistic content that includes the use of
motifs, style, genre and elements. Lastly, it can be done by adopting items of artwork in a tangible creation of culture.

This is also different from copying or forgery because it allows the audience to
recognize the original image and context. The goal of the artist is to recontextualize the images and objects in a
different way or technique. It can be in a form of repetition, framing and enlargement.

Types of Cultural Appropriation:

1. Object Appropriation- it refers to the concrete and tangible work of art owned by early
people and is adopted by a person or a group of people.
2. Content Appropriation- refers to the adoption of works that are intangible. This can be
in a form of poetry, stories, musical composition and the likes.
a. Style Appropriation-this type does not replicate previously created works of the early people however, an act of
using the elements in creating a new form.
b. Motif Appropriation- this happens when the artists is inspired by the art of
other culture but does not necessarily produce alike artworks. 3. Subject Appropriation- this occurs when the subject
matter of the culture is appropriated. For example, distorting the insider’s culture by taking a subject matter into the
context and not considering the underlying elements that can be executed in an offensive way.

What is Improvisation?
Improvisation is an act of composing, uttering, executing or arranging without prior
preparation. In the aspect of performing arts, it does not have script or choreography to follow through. In theatre, a
performer may play a dramatic scene without a written dialogue.

Improvisations in Various forms of Art

1. Performing Arts
It was established that improvisation can be taught in an “on the spot” or “off the cuff”
moment. In the performing arts, it can be done when an individual or group of people are
dancing, acting, playing instruments, creating, talking, problem solving and many more.
These activities can result to new patterns of executing certain task with the aid of experience and innate talents. It is
common in the performing arts especially in music to improvise by playing without prior preparation likewise with
dance. However, improvisation can also be applied outside performing arts such as solving problem with relation to
tools and materials in the engineering aspect. Improvised weapons used by insurgents, criminals and the likes which
can also be used as kitchen utensils.

2. Music
This type of improvisation is a combination of musical composition, emotional aid with musical instruments. An
experiment by Charles Lim indicated that, “there is an increase activity in the medial prefrontal cortex associated with
the increase of self-expression but showed regression in the self-monitoring aspects”. In addition, improvisation also
occurs during a solo performance or can be enabled with the participation of other performers. It basically elicits
gratifying emotional replies from the viewers.

3. Theatre
Improv or Impro, in theatre, is a form of theater usually comedy in nature of which performances are unplanned or
unscripted. Everything about it is unplanned from the dialogue, action, characters and stories. It’s used in films and
television. This kind of technique is used to train actors for film, stage and other forms that involve dramatic
performances. But, it should not be taken away the fact that this technique is practically applied in the context of real
setting. In the classroom setting, there is also this so called applied improvisation that is used to teach learners in
solving problems, teamwork and exposure.

4. Dance
Dance is an act of utilizing different movements through body mapping, shape and dynamics. Improvisation allows
dancers to explore different avenues for expression for it is not structured and is free. This is not only about creating
movement but also freeing the body from recurring body movements. Evidently, dance improvisation is capable of
evoking dramatic and thought provoking content. Moving without inhibitions in space, time, shape, energy and other
elements involved stimulate unique and innovative movements. It also allows performers to connect into the deepest
creative self as well as discovery.