Magic Carpet Ride
The “Back to Basics” Series
“Art is a doorway out of our comfortable mental neighborhood and into someplace totally different… It disrupts our cherished modes of perception, our considerations about color, shape, content and spatial relationships. It takes us where we’ve never been, and to places we cannot actually, physically go. Oh, and it knocks our familiar, analytical mind-set on its ass! In this sense, Art is ‘A Magic Carpet Ride.’”
– Jennifer R. StJohn
The point of those big screens, expensive projectors, Dolby sound systems and magnificent meeting spaces (with hyper-enhanced electronic imagery) is to bring BIG powerful images to Big-Deal Presentations. Today’s conference facilities take us beyond the printed page out to the edge of our imaginations!
Think about it; is the point to put your entire fifty-six-page document on the 20’ X 45’ screen, one paragraph at a time? Wow! Those equations are really gonna knock their socks off! (Or not…)
But if you were to find a suitable hi-res photograph (and pay for the license…), you could give the audience somewhere between 5 seconds and 2 minutes of memorable pictorial experience. That picture might anchor the emotional and intellectual content of the presentation so it will stay with them a bit longer than pages of calculations.
The whole reason for that Big Image on the Big Screen is to share the “Big Idea!” in a VISUAL way. It’s one thing to put text on a screen, something else entirely, to put the concept there, expressed in a visual way.
Now, don’t get me wrong… This is not about mere “Fizz.” It’s about creating greater “perceived substance.” There’s a discipline here! Begin by creating the most intelligent, rational, logically sound, carefully analyzed argument. Break it into easily recalled pieces to make sure people can get, recall and repeat the basic content. Add impact by judiciously seasoning the presentation with sound, movement and visual components (anchored to the areas which will benefit most) in order to make sure the listener really gets and retains the meaning and the feeling.
The challenge to this more egalitarian presentation perspective is that as individuals, we tend to favor one style of thinking over the alternatives. The Mind Sciences tell us there’s a style of thinking that is Analytical, Logical, Numerical and Linguistic: preferring Numbers and Text as Tools. (Not exactly a shock…) Another thinking style is Intuitive, Feeling, Musical and Poetic: preferring Music, Pictures, Stories and Imagination. Still a third style is Emotional, Physical, Kinesthetic: preferring Movement, Touch, Experience and Interaction. (The NFL, NHL and the NBA thank you for your attention!)
A number of interpersonal flash points can be resolved by looking more deeply at the thinking and communication styles of the individual players. If your message doesn’t reach out to all communication styles, there’s a good chance someone is going to have doubts, criticisms or confusion. On the other hand, you have the option to make sure that your communication “covers all the bases” and makes your Big Meeting into a Magic Carpet Ride!
Applications
1. For You
Other people really do think (and process information) differently. It’s true! Read up on the subject! You’ll be surprised how easily you can sink into someone else’s mind if you begin to appreciate their thinking style…
2. For the Family
How many arguments could be avoided if we simply began to handle our loved ones as their thinking styles suggest? Your kinesthetic daughter — the Soccer Star — is probably not interested in the science curriculum you’ve planned out for her. And forget the frilly wardrobe!
The analytical son may be already thinking of a brilliant political career. Help him find the editorial page…
Oh yeah, and the budding princess in the bedroom with unicorns and fairy stories is probably destined for the arts and theater… At least, that’s how her mind works.
So, if your partner is wordlessly doing complex carpentry in the garage, you may be the one who has to bridge the gap in the family!
3. For the Office
The picture on the screen takes your audience on a journey while you tell them the story. The two should align, and both should help you bring all kinds of thinkers onto the team. Add an exhibit; that’ll close the loop!
Anything but frivolous, Art is a calculated attempt to bring all kinds of thinkers along on the speaker’s journey: It’s a Magic Carpet Ride!
Dessert:
“You don’t know, what we can find…
Why don’t you come with me little girl,
on a magic carpet ride….”
Magic Carpet Ride
Steppenwolf 1968
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