Liminal Spaces | Sarah Sawin Thomas | TEDxLincoln

What is the power of the “in-between?” Liminal moments can help us move out of personal crisis and allow us time to reflect. Here, Sarah Thomas shares how appreciating these moments allows us to move forward consciously.
Sarah Thomas is an Assistant Professor of Practice in Secondary English Education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where she teaches pre and in-service teachers. Dr. Thomas is passionate about innovative curriculum design, mentoring new teachers in the field, and examining how democratic and international contexts inform 21 st century education. Dr. Sarah Sawin Thomas is an Assistant Professor of Practice in Secondary English Education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where she teaches pre and in-service teachers. As a teacher educator, Dr. Thomas’s passions feature innovative curriculum design, mentoring new teachers in the field, and examining how democratic and international contexts inform 21st century education. This summer, she looks forward to honing her writing skills through a professional workshop in Prague, Czech Republic, then exploring South Africa with her daughter, son, and husband. Dr. Thomas and her daughter will remain there to study comparative education, language policy and practices with graduate students and colleagues.
The subject of liminality surfaced for Dr. Thomas while reading the book, Close to the Bone, years ago during a watershed moment. The concept impacted her life then and continues to teach and guide her now. Liminality will be the focus of her talk. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@thorn9382]

Out of all the channels to have a dubstep intro TEDx Talks was the least expected

[@alifauzi2732]

*wait, this isnt a minecraft video???*

[@contentinternational]

Ok bümer

[@nicholasc.5944]

There's a tedtalk on liminal spaces? There's a tedtalk with a dubstep intro?

[@SavageCommentaryOriginal]

Guys, at some point you need to just stand up for yourself and say, "Listen, the equipment and set up you have given me to record sound is NOT fit for purpose. Either we need to hire in a consultant, OR, we we need to invest in sound design - the feedback, cable rubbing and noise cancellation is not ok, we must not proceed like this."

[@cocomump]

It's her earring! It's knocking off the mic!

[@JeremiahFernandez]

The production ignored their liminal space

[@bergg2009]

@@cocomump it protested the subliminality to the hair

[@sarahthomas8605]

truth be told, the headset came untaped and kept banging against my head; it wasn't the earring. As it happened, I looked at the tech crew for direction...deer in the headlights. Since the event was live, I thought it might be more disruptive to stop and adjust than to proceed. Had I to do it over again, I would have stopped and adjusted. Also, the fear of taking this public speaking risk--akin to bungee jumping!-- propelled me forward!

[@ihateunicorns867]

My biggest takeaway from this is to never wear hoop earrings and a headset mic at the same time.

[@SnoozeTheRecluse]

I prefer to call these moments, "bruh moments"

[@contentinternational]

Ya ok bümer

[@gon9684]

For those that don't understand, this as absolutely nothing to do with those liminal spaces images on youtube, she is talking about situations that are unsure (maybe between a job and the next or something like that, something that has no clear or well defined path)

[@thespanishinquisition2200]

Thank you. That was more insightful than the entire video.

[@breepowell8632]

I will admit it is through those images and videos I’ve learned that there is a deep connection to that feeling of murky uncertainty.

[@JasonandaCamera]

They are still very much related, conceptually and psychologically. An ambiguity, a crossroads. “Situations that are unsure” is actually a great way to explain it. But yes, this video is more about self growth than eery images taken at 3 am :)

[@jonahwei4075]

These pictures are the representation of the collective unconcious

[@josennyluna6367]

@@JasonandaCamera yes! in a way, the space into which Persephone fell through is a backroom.

[@SharlieTapia]

Woah, we are going through a liminal moment now.

[@mrttripz3236]

Sharlie Tapia it sure feels that way

[@JeremiahFernandez]

me being stuck in our dorm with very few people left (as most left for home) oddly feels like being stuck in a liminal space as defined by reddit

[@lazercatz5718]

fernandez interesting how she applied it to mental headspace. As an architecture major I think the physical and emotional realm are definitely connected and it’s a perfect time to experience places in a new light and therefore ourselves. Weird times stay safe in the dorms

[@chicagomagpies]

I enjoyed this immensely. I'd never used the term "liminal space" before, but certainly have experienced them. We all have. How do we move through these (sometimes) anticipated spaces and get the most out of our lives. Thank you, Sarah Thomas for these great insights. Bravery!

[@Simplybereyt]

I just made a video relating liminality to the pandemic we are experiencing and came across this insightful video 👌🏼

[@djibrildiouf4696]

A very bright and kind top teacher. keep the job up.

[@super_nova9999]

where are the backrooms

[@muddy111]

my house

[@super_nova9999]

@@muddy111 on my way

[@LuigiCotocea]

In the back

[@marvinavelar6746]

So why does tedtalk have some hyped up intro?

[@gerilynsestok461]

Wish there was a transcript. Couldn't hear parts of what she was saying. Couldn't hear what her Father whispered.
Disregard: Found close caption.
And there is no close caption for Father's whispering.

[@dez-m]

A very underrated video!

[@worldsofwood8809]

I think I was in a Liminal space when I had a missed miscarriage.. I was told at what should have been my 12 week checkup that the baby died at 8 weeks, and my body should have expelled the pregnancy but it didn't. I was shocked, I went in there expecting to become a mother and walked out wondering if I would ever become a mother. Then I was pregnant but wouldn't have a baby for next week while I wanted for a D&C procedure to remove the baby.. :(

[@josennyluna6367]

this video has found me in the middle of a liminal time in my life. my understanding and connection is visceral, almost as if this video is one of the rituals towards my way out of this liminality. i am not the same person i was 16 minutes ago.

[@jada5229]

she’s a queen ily

[@RedBull87898]

That’s my mom!! Thank you so much for the kind words❤

[@yerpderp6800]

I liked the video overall, I was just a little bummed out that it still supports the notion that liminal spaces are somehow intrinsically bad. They're only bad in the context of living a purposeful life filled with achieving goal xyz since they are the obstacles that must be overcome. It did point out that the vehicle used to move through liminal spaces is the same force that defines our humanity. It makes more sense to me to view liminal spaces as opportunities to embody that humanizing aspect of ourselves, that we can embody our state of being which has no direction yet is capable of creating direction out of no-thing (and in fact I'd argue those are the only moments we can truly be ourselves).

[@recorpse9698]

and literally no one knows what she's talking about

[@thegoodguylives]

Lol it's like I can't hear what she's saying

[@Hey_you_guys]

Feedback is about to erupt at 4K hertz.

[@gabeswindler1459]

aneurism I should be a english teacher

[@ginismoja2459]

How come this is in Lincolnshire but she has an accent?

[@chasegoates4861]

University of Nebraska- Lincoln

[@POCCNRCKNbY]

Every single human being has an accent, bud

[@ernststravoblofeld]

That's a pretty typical Nebraska accent.

[@ember.mp3]

davidcrypt

[@jacobcawse616]

Lmao I'm glad I understand this

[@Bugsfuckingbunny]

don't idolize

[@RossJaynes]

I would love to finish this but the mic banging into the ear ring is just too much

[@pauldallimore]

Having a dig at Trump maybe?