Fishing with Gypsies for New Paradigms Over a Fresh Pot of Caffeinated Beer

Fresh perspectives will usually give us new insights into the plethora of problems that we face as a society. The various ways in which we choose to see an issue is proportional to the number of solutions that might be available for application to the problem. Humanity limits themselves when they stop dreaming, wondering, and thinking outside of the box. The reason for our hesitation, or inability, to step back and take a a different look at an issue may be that the problem is too complex, too difficult, or too personal.

In a recent article of Wired magazine several people were asked the question of where they were when inspiration struck. Interestingly enough most, if not all, that were questioned said that the epiphany came when they were no longer thinking about the issue and had found themselves in a place far removed from subject in question. Philo Farnsworth, inventor of the television, was plowing a field when the even furrows gave him the idea projecting moving pictures line by line. Richard Feynman, Nobel Prize-winning physicist, got the idea of quantum electrodynamics by watching somebody toss a wobbling plate in the air while in the Cornell cafeteria. J. K. Rowling, while stuck on a train between Manchester and London with no writing implements, worked out the whole concept of Harry Potter in her head (Wired April 2008 p:148).

In the book, Models of Teaching, the concept of synectics is introduced as a model for processing information. Synectics, developed by William J. Gordon, was originally introduced as a creative approach to problem solving. The basic concept is to help a subject think metaphorically about an issue without thinking directly about the issue itself. As previously mentioned, when we are too close to a subject we loose our ability to approach the issue clearly and creatively.

“When stuck, we have to back away from what appears to be logical thought and then return to see if we can redefine the problem and seek alternative solutions” (Joyce 159).

All of this is fascinating and provides us with a valuable tool for brainstorming, classroom interaction, and dealing with moral and ethical issues. But, what about the ability to engage a much larger group of individuals with the intent of bringing them to bear on the issues of social reform? We are actually engaged in this large scale synectics exercise each time we watch a movie, television program, or read a work of fiction. These forms of media generally take everyday issues and concepts and work them out metaphorically. When we discuss our favorite character and how they engaged a particular issue we are also working through the issue as well. We either agree or disagree with their resolution of the situation and by doing so we have also defined how we would probably resolve a similar issue in our own reality. In a recent interview Ron Moore, re-creator of Battlestar Galactica, commented on the handling of religious issues in his shows.

“You can deal with religion more aggressively in science fiction than you can in contemporary shows. You get a pass because everyone agrees it's not Christianity or Islam or any of those things that we're so freaked out about. Even though it is” (Wired June 2008 p:181).

Fresh perspectives abound all around us if we choose to engage them. The concept of synectics may be hard to grasp, or even explain, yet, it is already occurring in our daily lives. Each time we share a story or show a movie or television clip to support what we are teaching or the concept we are championing, we are engaged in synectics. We discover that we only need to practice the final phase of the process–comparison to the initial issue– because the prior phases have already been achieved through our daily interaction with popular media.