Green Pill Inquiry at the 2009 Green Festival
23
THE GREEN PILL Dave Room [email protected] om TheGreenPill.com Mining Pop Culture for Compelling Metaphors San Francisco Green Festival 13 November 2009
description
The Green Pill Inquiry examines how metaphors and pop culture can be used to change hearts and minds. Visit here the play-by-play of the Green Pill Inquiry workshop at the 2009 Green Festival. http://greenpill.wordpress.com/2014/08/07/metaphor-in-the-green-pill-inquiry/
Transcript of Green Pill Inquiry at the 2009 Green Festival
THE GREEN PILL
Dave Room
Mining Pop Culture for Compelling Metaphors
San Francisco Green Festival13 November 2009
Today’s Path
• Brief performance piece• Primer on Metaphors• Warm-up: Group exercise• Breakout groups: uncover compelling
metaphors• Short closing discussion
See the movie or read the book?
What are your Goggles?
• Goggles as a metaphor for the set of filters that shape how we see the world
• Or set of metaphors that we live by• IGNORANCE IS SPECTACLES
• Blinders prevent him from seeing the truth• The disappointment is attributable to beer googles• Rose tinted glasses colored her view of the situation
Metaphors SimplifyAbstractConcept
ExperientiallyUnderstood
Concept
Element 1
Element 2
Element 3
Element 2
Element n
Element 9
PerspectiveInterventions
Think
Speak
ActComplementary
Concept
Element 1
Element 3
Pop Culture Reference
Metaphors Shape Perspective
• ARGUMENT IS WAR – Your claims are indefensible– She shot down all of my arguments– His criticisms were right on target
• ARGUMENT IS DANCE– Her criticisms are on point– Her argument is graceful– His dirty moves offend comprehension
• Perspective determines intervention
Types of Metaphors
Describe dominant view
Constitute new view
Criticize/transform dominant view
LOVE IS JOURNEY
LOVE ISCOLLABORATIVE
WORK OF ART
LOVE IS DEAD END STREET
What Do We Look Like to Nature?
• If nature could see us in our entirety, what might we look like?
• How to think about this question– Identify key elements of our relationship to
nature you want to emphasize– Think of archetypes or metaphors that embody
the aspects you want to emphasize– Identify examples from pop culture and art
HUMANITY IS WILE E COYOTEMUTINY of HUMANITY IS SMARTEMPHASIZED ELEMENT = OBLIVIOUS TO DANGER UNTIL TOO LATE
The Monkey Trap
HUMAN PREDICAMENT IS MONKEY TRAPMUTINY of HUMANITY IS SMARTEMPHASIZED ELEMENT = GREED, ENTITLEMENT
MUTINY of HUMANITY IS STEWARDEMPHASIZED ELEMENT = PLAGUE ON THE LANDHUMANITY IS LOCUST
MUTINY of HUMANITY IS STEWARDEMPHASIZED ELEMENT = OVERCONSUMPTIONHUMANITY IS CATERPILLAR
ECONOMIC SYSTEM IS A OUT-OF-CONTROL MACHINE
MUTINY of ECONOMIC SYSTEM IS PROGRESS
EMPHASIZED ELEMENT = DESTRUCTION
ECONOMIC SYSTEM IS ROBOTMUTINY of ECONOMIC SYSTEM IS PROGRESSEMPHASIZED ELEMENT = CONVERSION OF NATURE TO PRODUCTS
APPLICATIONS
ECONOMIC SYSTEM is ROBOT
LANGUAGES/COMMANDS
THE BRAIN
OPERATING SYSTEM
THE BODY
MOVEMENT
OCCUPATION
MANIPULATIONOF THINGS
PRODUCTION
SENSORYMECHANISMS
Breakouts: Pop Culture Metaphors
1. Pick someone to take notes and report back2. Focus on assigned relationship for your
group3. Think about elements of relationship you
want to emphasize4. Identify examples from pop culture
illustrating elements to emphasize 5. Write element, metaphor, and pop culture
reference on tablet paper
Key Relationships to Explore
1. Humans and Nature 2. System and Nature3. Humans and System4. Global North and Global South5. Indigenous and Modern Society
• Purpose to enhance understanding of Purpose to enhance understanding of complex situations and identify interventionscomplex situations and identify interventions
• Three premises that form a lens of inquiryThree premises that form a lens of inquiry1.1. Blind spots affect decision makingBlind spots affect decision making2.2. Social systems constrain our choicesSocial systems constrain our choices3.3. Change happens; support, resist, or shape itChange happens; support, resist, or shape it
Green Pill InquiryGreen Pill Inquiry
The Green Pill Inquiry
• Use pop culture metaphors and art to awaken Use pop culture metaphors and art to awaken and activate, develop emotional connectionand activate, develop emotional connection
• Can focus on big picture and/or specific topic Can focus on big picture and/or specific topic • Can tailor workshop (length, topic, purpose)Can tailor workshop (length, topic, purpose)• Pilot for a Cable/Youtube showPilot for a Cable/Youtube show• Collaboration opportunitiesCollaboration opportunities• TheGreenPill.com or Fan us on FacebookTheGreenPill.com or Fan us on Facebook
Green Goggles at CPUC Hearing
We are all connectedTHANK YOU!
THE GREEN PILL
Dave Room
Mining Pop Culture for Compelling Metaphors
San Francisco Green Festival13 November 2009
