I feel this section of the book is rather conflicting than our previous readings. In the discussion of being right versus being effective, the author states that “being effective means being right only at the end.” Does this not mean that being right equates to being effective? If being right “means being right all the time”, shouldn’t that be the most effective method? Whether we are being right or we are being effective, our end goal is to be right.
The author refutes this argument by suggesting that an obsession with being right stifles creativity, which leads him to advocate for “delaying judgement.” However, the concept itself seems fundamentally flawed. If we delay judgement on whether an idea is right, we either perform a bunch of unnecessary steps until we eventually conclude that the idea was right to begin with, imply that the idea is wrong, or eventually becomes wrong. However, should we not also delay the judgement that an idea is wrong? In the book’s example, we could have created a path from C to B (which we are perfectly capable of doing) thus dismissing the idea that C is the incorrect path.
Another issue with delaying judgement is that we do not know when, or if, we will arrive at the final answer. Consider looking up the meaning of a word in a dictionary, then having to look up the meaning of every word within the definition of the original word. One of two things would happen: (1) you would eventually be stuck in a loop of a subset of all the words in the dictionary, ending up with only a vague idea of the original word’s meaning, or (2) you would have to go through every single word in the dictionary to understand the meaning of one word. In such a case, does the end justify the means?
Reading Response 5: Art & Fear
The one line that resonates with me the most from this reading, especially in the context of this class, is the inevitable gap between what we intend to do and what we end up doing. More often than not, I find myself unsatisfied with the final product of the Making assignments because, in my head, I had envisioned something quite different. This dissatisfaction does not stem from a flaw in the concept itself but rather from my lack of editing skills. Sometimes, it is also difficult to convey the exact meaning of what I’m trying to depict since often, the audience have their own interpretation of the work. Even when I attempt to explain my intentions, my efforts can be inadequate, and thus, the meaning is lost in translation. This is also true when reflecting on the readings. I wonder how much I of what I am trying to say am I able to explain in the responses, and how much you, the one reading it, are able to understand.
Impressions of Ming Poon
It was a very calming and relaxed session. I was intrigued by his concept of choreography, that it does not have to be about extravagant movements but can also be as simple as two strangers swaying together in unison. His concepts were very broad and unconventional, yet at the same time, very realistic and focused. I think my favorite part about his presentation was when he talked about dying. He mentioned that where there is death, there is life (bacteria in dead bodies). It is such a simple yet such an overlooked concept, and I am thankful he reminded me of it.