Thinking 'Bigger Than Me' in the Liberal Arts
By Steven J. Tepper
"Me experiences" are different from "bigger-than-me experiences." Me experiences are about voice; they help students express themselves. The underlying question they begin with is, "What do I have to say?" BTM experiences are about insight; they start with, "What don’t I know?" Voice comes after reflection. Me experiences are about jumping into a project and making something—an idea, an artifact, a piece of media. BTM focuses on John Dewey’s notion of "undergoing"—making something happen in the world, which requires, first, a shift in our own subjectivity. We must anticipate problems, struggle with ideas, seek some resolution. It’s a process.
"Me Experiences" v. "Bigger than Me Experiences"
In college society, creativity has become defined as self-expression. There's much more to it.
| ME | BIGGER THAN ME |
|---|---|
| Voice: What do I have to say? | Insight: What do I need to know? |
| Expression | Reflection |
| Doing | Undergoing |
| Pleasure (Hedonic) | Purpose (Eudaimonic) |
| Identity | Identification |
| Egoistic Imagination | Empathic Imagination |
| Entertainment | Enlightenment |
| Everyday | Sublime |
