Interpretivism+-+Stephanie

Interpretivism

1) My first example of interpretivism in action is the 1-10 pain rating scale. Here is a series of symbols which an individual can use to convey his own experiences and feelings with others. As the Hatch and Yanow article explains interpretivism seeks to understand. There is the desire "to be able to address what is meaningful to people" (p.65). This chart is a means to understand one's pain. In addition, this scale will yield rather person-specific results. Since different people will experience pain in different ways, the same affliction may yield a 2 for one person, while for another it results in a 6. What's more a doctor may interpret a patient to be at a 5 given his symptoms, while that patient himself may believe he is at a 7. When put to use this scale yields highly subjective results; the number chosen will depend entirely on the person and his/her experience.

2) The second example of interpretivism is Sir Ken Robinson's [|speech on creativity] and education. (Here is a link to copy and paste in case the first did not work: http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html This is another //Ted Talk// found at [|www.TED.com]). His thesis is that modern day schools train students in a way that stifles the individual creativity of each person. Although, he doesn't use the word "interpretivism" his ideas and reasons reflect this framework. He argues that, currently, schools train students to make no mistakes- to be "right" (the idea that there is one right answer comes from positivism). However, Robinson believes that the "right" answer, or even the "right" subject, will not be the same for every student. Each individual person has his or her own way of thinking and experiencing the world, and that these various perspectives is what generates creative, original, unique ideas. He argues that these original ideas are valuable and need to be cultivated in schools, primarily through a wide range of subjects which include the arts.

3) This video, [|Frozen Grand Central], (Here is a link to copy and past in case the first did not work: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwMj3PJDxuo) is an example of interpretivism as applied to art. The art, or "flash mob" is created using 207 volunteers within a very specific time and location. The piece only lasts for 5 minutes and then no longer exists. The art itself is made up of individuals frozen in place. The way in which the art is interpreted (the "meaning" of the piece) is left up to the individual. Each person's experience with it will be different. That is to say the experience of one person taking part in the piece will be different from the other 206 who are also part of the exact same piece. What's more, there are also those viewing the art who will each have his/her own unique experience and interpretation of the piece. For example, the tram driver is frustrated, while tourists are intrigued and curious. Some viewers think it's funny, and others think it is a protest. The project designers do not tell the participants nor the observers what the exact meaning of their art is or why they've chosen this particular medium. In fact, they have designed the piece in such a way so that there is not and cannot be one specific way of interpreting it. Everything is left up to the individual. Another connection to interpretivism to take away from this example is the concept of tightly/loosely coupled items explained in the Weick article. In this presentation we have an example of variable coupling- combing elements that are loosely coupled with those that are tightly coupled. For example, the project designers are tightly coupled to the participants in that if there were no participants there would be no flash mob presentation. Their art depends on the volunteers. However, the by-standers and the actors are loosely coupled, because for a brief amount of time they are (each in his/her own way, see above) experiencing this event together; they are both "somehow attached, but each retains some identity and separateness" (p.3). (If you're interested in more "flash mobs" the group //Improv Everywhere// has a number of short videos on www.youtube.com.)