Language, frames, stories

"we actually become the sum of our experiences and the stories we've told about them"

Tim O'Reilly on Ignite, (Nov. 10, 2009) commenting briefly and further elaborating on a quote many of us like so much and have found in so many places: Korzybski's "The map is not the territory". (Gee I went all the way to the Berkeley Library many years ago just to get a copy of it!, which I later donated to the Fundación Inst. Gregory Bateson, where I'm sure Martin, Rosa et al have gleaned and further processed and shared... great historical memes).
YouTube link.

Quote:
"... if you start thinking about how this process of perception works you start to be able to notice when you're out of track. When you're actually stuck in paying attention to the labels as opposed to the underlying reality. And you can take yourself back up in the chain and to the experience and maybe just to tune in."

"... When everybody was convinced that the web was over, the dot.com bust had happened, we were able to go back and say "no, there's something really important and new happening on the web". We called it Web2.0, we told a new story, built a new map of the world, and kicked off something as a result."

Wordled Trends by Leo Burnett Gp

Trend Predictions Report 2009 by Leo Burnett Group via YouTube also provides the text ... not an exact transcript, but it does offer their "piece of mind".

Maybe the tone could be improved, yet the fact that they sort of wordle all of it makes it funny and easy to follow.

Economic conditions have been affecting our cultural context for a long time now, we don't think there is anything "new" in this... it's just about awareness and it depends on the type of business and industry we are talking about.

We cannot but welcome a quest for more value reflection and reassessment: "what is truly meaningful to us", together with more "pragmatism and prudence". Funny that they are now highlighting values that were present at the origin of virtual communities and web environments: "organizations that show they are going the extra mile for people" ... to be developed now somewhat reluctantly by constituents and allies of (former reputed) traditional players in certain markets. Just check which companies are still doing well and are better prepared to surf the dire straits into the future.

Science, Politics and the Media

By way of the Exploratorium, I found this very informative talk excerpt of Speaking Science 2.0, given in May 2007 by Chris Mooney.



The other speaker who does not appear on this video, Matthew C. Nisbet focuses on the "intersections between science, media and politics", informing on the implications and uses of the concept of "framing", extensively on his Blog: Framing Science.

My line of work is far from politics and the media, but I do apply "re-framing" and constructive intervention in conversational practices: to enhance English language communication pragmatics and skills, operating with Spanish native speakers. I first learned about "re-framing" as a concept-frame/work applied in systems and cognitive sciences, observed it being applied with good results in family therapy and group dynamics, to facilitate cultural and generational change, and foster creativity, amongst other possibilities.

Going back to "Science, Politics and the Media" and with the coming elections in the US and in Spain, together with the ecological issues at stake, the above clip needs to be underscored, in order to generate awareness, demanding: "productive policy action". I live in Asturias region, where these days there is a "low profile" controversy on who is to blame for an oil slick along the Avilés estuary...with the local media seemingly more inclined towards the political controversy they are also "framing", while informing that "probably there will be no investigation outcomes". Understanding: -quote- "no serious legal responsibilities".

Last but not least: "Monkey see, Monkey do" on "Mirror Neurons" by Daniel Glaser, on the Nova Science Now-PBS archives from 2005.