To put things into my own unique perspective, I believe that knowledge is all about taking what you learn and applying this information towards a greater purpose for an audience to perceive and understand in a certain way. A primary factor I believe that knowledge is centered around is the concept of cognitive framing, which is a cognitive bias that affects how people make decisions and perceive certain things based on how that information is presented to them. A way of understanding knowledge is by building a mental repertoire based on prior understanding and ideological premises that we as a society have created. I believe that knowledge almost has two parts to it: the first part, gathering information that is pre-existing, and part two, putting that information to use by contextualizing it and therefore providing meaning.

A primary example that demonstrates my understanding of knowledge is from when I took Directing class as part of my theatre arts major. I had to choose a play from a given list, read and analyze the play thoroughly, and then create and present my director’s concept for the show as if I were to direct it in real life. This project was split into two sections in the same way I think of knowledge: for the first half of the project I read the play, analyzed its context, and researched its settings and other information, and the second half consisted of me interpreting this information in my own unique way for a theoretical audience to perceive. Having to work through this process really allowed for my brain to have that experience of taking pre-determined information and applying it towards a greater purpose into a more useful context. I had to take what I knew about the play’s meanings and messages, such as themes of suffering, forgiveness, and trauma, and then create a way for these emotional factors to be displayed through specific choices in my directing concept. I am confident that subtext is always subconsciously interpreted successfully by audience members as long as the director knows how to go about it. 

As a result of what I’ve pursued regarding the knowledge learning goal, I’m confident that I’ve mastered the concept of gathering information to then transform it into contextual products for the given audience. Knowledge isn’t just about “knowing stuff”, it’s more than anything about how to take the stuff you know and apply it towards a greater outcome with a targeted purpose. When looking towards professional career work, I will be able to assertively express and demonstrate my ability to take that company’s particulars and convert them into something substantial that truly makes their brand stand out. This learning goal’s relevance for my future is crucial because, as an artist, this is what I do all the time when I both act and create stories. I take what I learn and research about the settings and given circumstances of a show I’m in, and then create a world of subtextual yet direct meaning for spectators to interpret.