Janus Thinking

In this paper it is argued that human interpretation is an inherently paradoxical and complex mechanism. Human interpretation is underpinned by values, preferences and contrasts, and assumptions, and surfaced through an idiosyncratic combination of personal choice and logic (Pinker, The blank slate: the modern denial of human nature, 2003). In order to find ways through interpretive diversity, Janusian thinking is a conscious and purposeful mechanism (Rothenberg, Creat Res J 9(2–3):207–231, 1996) that allows each one to think paradoxically. Coping with paradoxes is not only a cognitive challenge in trying to resolve the irresolvable but also an emotional one, as emotion might distort the paradox. Janusian attitudinal mapping allows individuals to face the true paradox and to review the assumptions behind it. Such review may modify or even abolish certain assumptions altogether. However, Janusian attitudinal mapping is an emotional undertaking that should follow the three elements involving social reform for advancing and fostering knowledge: shock, open communication and experimentation, and paradox leadership (Lewis, Acad Manage Rev 25(4):760–786, 2000).

Mostovicz, I., Kakabadse, N. and Kakabadse, A. (2008), ‘Janusian mapping: A mechanism of interpretation’, Systematic Practice and Action Research, published online. http://www.springerlink.com/content/1xj3t0gqj223v52j/, March 4th, 2008, DOI 10,1107/s11213-008-9092-x.

Recently the Financial Times reported on Future Contemporaries, a new group founded by London’s Serpentine Gallery for the purpose of making younger people (under the age of 39) enthusiastic about art (and perhaps interested in becoming benefactors of the Serpentine). For £1000 annually, the Serpentine offers members a contemporary art education programme that it hopes will encourage a lifelong appreciation of art. The group has been to private showings in artists’ studios and has had personal tours by artists in private gallery settings. A membership cap of about 100 helps to keep to keep the group exclusive and also of a manageable size for intimate events.

It’s a great idea for a gallery with art worth appreciating to encourage connoisseurship. Oftentimes people need a little guidance as they begin down the road to connoisseurship—and the experts at a gallery are just the people to provide it.

Photo by Crystl

One for the Doh! file: Lefkos Hajji, a floor-fitter in London, recently chose a novel way to ask his girlfriend to marry him: she would literally pop the question, popping a balloon to find a diamond engagement ring inside. Seemed like a great idea until a gust of wind swept away the £6000 ($12,000) ring as Hajji left the florist where got the balloon. He searched for two hours but had no luck finding the balloon or the ring. And his girlfriend was unimpressed, refusing to speak to him until he gets another ring. Was he unlucky? Stupid? Romantic? It was a lovely expression of love, but perhaps he should try something a bit more conventional with his next ring.

[via Reuters and The Sun]

Photo by S Baker

While many luxury brands are plastering their logos in more places, fashion house Bottega Veneta continues to offer logo-free designs that are marked by quality, not flash.

This profile of Tomas Maier, Bottega Veneta’s head designer, in the New York Times today provides a great example of how companies can go after a small market of ‘in the know’ quality seekers and be very successful.

Maier doesn’t offer three different sizes of a bag at different price points; he believes that one bag, if it’s of high enough quality, should be good enough. Bottega Veneta uses fabrics and leather of the highest quality and pays attention to details that other clothing and handbag makers might ignore or overlook. From the article:

While other designers were producing dart-free baby-doll dresses as if they were so many Fords, he concentrated on deceptively simple, painstakingly constructed styles priced from about $1,200 to $6,000 for an evening dress. The dressmaker touches — ruching, serpentine seaming, hand-beading and elaborate pleats — are recognizable to a small but informed clientele.

This sort of attention to detail allows people to appreciate luxury in a subtle, more demure way, which could be appealing given the current state of the economy. Said Milton Pedraza of the Luxury Institute:

[Affluent consumers] don’t want to be screaming luxury right now. They don’t want something flashy that everybody else has. They are looking for unique handcrafted things that can’t immediately be reinterpreted at every level of the marketplace.

Read the full article here.