The Method

Notes for class October 9th

Five Analytical Moves:
Making Observation Systematic and Habitual
Step 1: Suspend Judgment
Give yourself some time before deciding
you dont like something, or something is
worthless.
You cant know very much about
something immediately.
Five Analytical Moves:
Making Observation Systematic and Habitual
Step 2: Define Significant Parts and how
they are related.
Some things are too big to be immediately
understoodso, start by trying to
understand small parts.
After you begin to understand small parts,
see how they are related to form the entire
object.
Five Analytical Moves :
Making Observation Systematic and Habitual
Step 3: Locate exact repetitions of words or
details throughout a story, movie, or song
and underline or circle them.
Repetition is a sign of stress and
importance.
Repetitions can signal themes.
repetitions
Five Analytical Moves :
Making Observation Systematic and Habitual
Step 4: Locate strandsa grouping of a
similar kind of word or detailand
underline or circle them.
Determine the connecting logic for the
strand.
Draw a conclusion about what the strand
implieswhat is the message the author
is trying to convey?

strands
Five Analytical Moves :
Making Observation Systematic and Habitual
Step 5: Locate binaries or organizing
contrasts.
Make a list of binaries that are explicit in
the story, movie, or song.
Make a list of binaries that are implied.
To collapse the binary:
1. Analyze and define opposing terms.
2. Question the accuracy of the terms.
3. Locate argument on each extreme, and consider a position
somewhere in the middle.
binaries
Five Analytical Moves :
Making Observation Systematic and Habitual
Step 6: Look for anomalies .
These are details that are unusual, or do not
seem to fit with the rest of the object.
Step 5: Rank the most important repetitions,
strands, binaries, and anomalies.
This is where you begin to interpret your data
and evaluate it.
Step 6: Choose the single most important one and
write a paragraph explaining it and why it is the
most important.
anomalies
Arrangement in Black and Grey:
The Artists Mother
Locate the
following:
1) Repetitions
2) Strands
3) Binaries
4) Anomalies
Performing The Method
Repetitions
1) Lace x 2
2) Both feet & curtains off
floor
3) Paintings x 2
Strands
Performing The Method
Containmentthings that
are contained
Her head, in a cap
Her hands, in her lap
The expression on her
face
Performing The Method
Binaries
1) Patterned curtain &
painting vs. blank wall
2) Fancy lace vs. plain
black dress
Anomalies
Performing The Method
1) Proper figure, but
slouching
2) Feet propped off the
ground
Performing The Method
Repetitions
1) Lace x 2
2) Both feet & curtains off
floor
3) Paintings x 2
So what? What does it mean?
Plain figure stands out against
decorative surroundings
Strands
Performing The Method
Containmentthings that
are contained
Her head, in a cap
Her hands, in her lap
The expression on her
face
So what? What does it mean?
Figure seems contained in a
protective shell.
Binaries
Performing The Method
1) Patterned curtain &
painting vs. blank wall
2) Fancy lace vs. plain
black dress
So what? What does it mean?

Subject seems even more
contained sitting in plain black
dress in front of the painting.
Performing the Method
Anomalies
1) Proper figure, but
slouching
2) Feet propped off the
ground
So what? What does it mean?
She is so proper, so why is
she slouching? She must need
support; perhaps she cant
support herself.


Arrangement in Black and Grey:
The Artists Mother
Most significant
observation:

Subject is seated in
profilemakes her
appear passive,
simply available to be
seen.
Practice The Method (1)
Tian An Men Square, 1989
Locate the following:
1) Repetitions
2) Strands
3) Binaries
4) Anomalies
Practice The Method (2)
MLK, Jr. I Have a Dream
Locate the following:
1) Repetitions
2) Strands
3) Binaries
4) Anomalies
Prerequisites to Becoming Smarter
1. Look for questions. Instead of looking for
answers, seek out areas of uncertainty.
2. Suspect your first responses. Never stop
at your first reaction to an issue.
3. Expect to become interested. Use
writing to explore issues enthusiastically.
4. Write all of the time about what you are
studying. Become an active creator of
information instead of a consumer.
Two people who are were always
becoming smarter.