I found Ben Highmore’s essay “Homework”
to be rather interesting and quite thought provoking. I liked the relation he
pointed out to the ambiguity of everyday life as this is a real factor that
plays out. It is almost as if everyday life can not be understood or even
explained. Another aspect that Highmore strongly focused on was the emphasis of
routine and habits. I find this to play a key role in the attempt to define
everyday life. As the everyday is made up of the routines and habits that we do
regularly. Even though we tend to find these activities to be mundane, and just
sort of going through the motions, we find comfort in having a schedule. I
agree with the fact that Highmore feels shame towards always doing the same
things as I get very bored with my everyday routine, yet I tend to stay in my
comfort zone.
Another key point that Highmore
pointed out was the burden and obligation of an everyday routine. He states “the
nighttime routines of washing and preparing children for bed can seem like a burdensome
routine: one more obligation to fulfill before the day is finally yours.” It
puzzels me because if we dislike our everyday routine why do we keep doing it?
How is it that we can find comfort and peace in something that we have no
interest in? Why don’t more people change their routine and get out of their
comfort zone? These are a few questions that I have never before thought of
before reading Highmore’s article.
Heather,
ReplyDeleteI thought it was really interesting when Highmore talked about routine as something that was completely ambiguous. To some people, it is comforting to have a pattern in their daily routine or schedule, and for others it is like a "straitjacket of dull repetition" (307). Personally, I tend to lean towards the side of routine being confining and restricting. I would like every day to feel like a new experience, but oftentimes my weekdays tend to blend together to the the point where I can't every remember what day it is because every day is the same as the last. How do we break out of this routine? How do we break out of our comfort zones? It's not something that easy or always practical in today's capitalist society.
I think you asked a great question here... Why do we keep doing it? I suppose that it is not the actual activities within our everyday routine that we dislike, but instead the very idea that they are routine experiences automatically means that they get placed in this box of things we dislike doing, things that are obligations, burdens, etc. Also, if we did decide to change up our routine, wouldn't we find a new one just as repetitive and mundane as the last?