The document discusses the author's reflections on the concept of "collective". Initially, the author associates the term with communism and collective farming in Stalinist Russia. However, the author realizes these are embedded associations and the collective is not only formed by top-down control. The author provides two examples of collectives - collective farming in Russia and teamwork in soccer - to illustrate different interpretations of the concept. The author believes a "good" collective, like a soccer team, relies on everyone giving effort to achieve shared goals.

6. The collective: Personal Reflections Upon a first attempt to summarize my own notion of ‘collective’, I am rather weary of defining it in preconceived, biased terms. This may because it has been a heavily politicized term throughout the 20 th century. It is probably also relevant that I was born and raised in one of the most individualistic societies in the world, the United States. For example, high school history lessons have certainly influenced on my initial thoughts upon hearing the word collective . I tend to associate this with communism; or more specifically the method of collective farming which took place in Stalinist Russian in the 1930’s. I see this as highly organized collectivity, where participation is required and controlled by an above force. However, I realize these are imbedded associations, the collective is not only formed by top-down control. Upon further thought I reach my broader interpretations of the concept: in every day the term is used in a more positive way, for example in encouraging a collective effort. On the soccer field I am a strong believer of teamwork , which I experience in that context as a ‘good’ sort of collectivity: the performance of one player relies highly on the performance of others in the team. When I goal is scored, it is not the goal-scorer, but the team that successfully carried the ball to the other side of the field. It is remarkable to see how in certain cases, when each player gives a couple percent more effort, how visible the collective performance on the field becomes. The below images are chosen to reflect upon the two associations I have made with collectivity above. The first set of images is straight-forward, as I use the example I described, collective farming. The second set is a little different than the teamwork concept on the soccer field, but also exemplifies my interpretation of the collective as shared activity, ultimately leading to an improved effect of the goals of the activity.

7. Images of the collective: Contrasting personal connotations Collective farming, Stalinist Russia The images below evoke the following thoughts: - organized pooling of labor - that this pooling is unwilled

8. Playgrounds of van Eyck The images below evoke the following thoughts: - there is a mutual relation of parts, more important than any individual part (Van Eyck formulated this as one goals in his playgrounds design) - the simplicity and accessibility of the playgrounds create an ideal environment for children to play in a collective manner : their interactive activity and thus collective enjoyment enhances the experience

10. What is the sound of a city breathing a collective sigh of relief?"------------------------------------" Are there moments like that? What could bind everyone together anyway? Probably the weather - everyone feels the rain fall. That's a collective sensation. Memory as well. That can be collective. Moments bigger than ourselves, make us forget about ourselves. What is A collective? ~People doing things together. That's the boring statement!

11. Sometimes they are harmonious (like birds flying in the sky in arrows, how do they decide who's at the front or the back, or do they change around like huddling penguins too?)

12. Sometimes they are thrown together by circumstance, when there is a mystery to solve.(Ones that work are ones that have to for survival.)But that's all physical, and the best collectives aren't connected in that way - there is just a thread weaving through many minds at once. So it really all depends on the thread. Although I've been in collectives that have failed, I'm still enchanted by the idea that people come together for things. Sometimes they are unpredictable, ambiguous, disconnected, like people who go on the street together with banners and placards.