Making the Familiar Strange

There is much cited phrase that anthropology “makes the familiar strange and the strange familiar.”

In homage to the first half of that sentence I set off on a different type of walk this weekend.

Avoiding my usual cross country routes, the Kentish footpaths, hedgerows and apple orchards; instead embracing the functional main roads, sprawling developments and industrial units.

Not accepting the world as accustomed. Unlearning.

It doesn’t take long to realize that England is a very bizarre place.

And it is something we should all do at work.

To consider the rituals, myths and symbols we have grown accustomed to, as a fish in water.

• What have we overlooked that is worth celebrating, or continued that is no longer useful?

• What is done for the performance of compliance theatre, or is not done and forgotten?

• Are there parks no-one uses? Tools behind locked doors? Surveillance that degrades?

• And who are the martyrs and heroes, villains and scapegoats?

You will be surprised at what you find.

(Full details of the walk are here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/making-familiar-strange-david-grosse-8ckre/?trackingId=MWeQmzXXSsJjJLXYFoaQ%2Bw%3D%3D)