You’re Doing Too Much!

A core tenet of Japanese philosophy and aesthetics is the art of subtraction, or the idea that less is more. These ideas manifest in ma, which signifies a pause in time or negative space between other things. Experiment with ma in your classroom and play with the way it can impact different kinds of art.

To begin, introduce the concept of subtraction and ma to your students by showing them photos of Japanese architecture or art and explaining the philosophy behind it.

Next, prompt your students to create a spoken word poem. Once they write and rehearse their poem, ask them to “subtract” by introducing one or two meaningful pauses in their work. Leave space for them to reflect on how ma changed their final product.

Each week, play with a different artistic medium, subtracting an element at the end to leave room for an empty space. This may look like erasing part of a visual art piece or adding a silent rest to a rhythmic composition or song.

At the end of the unit, ask each student which “subtraction” they enjoyed the most and where they can add this idea to other aspects of their life.