Disordered Attention (Bishop)

I am intrigued to learn how experiencing theatre was different in the early 1800’s to today. I have often felt there is a place for a “rowdy screening” of a movie, one in which the audience interacts with the performance rather than silently experiencing it. Especially today where in person movie going feels like an experience that can be recreated at home. Imagine the interactivity being part of the attraction of the in person public experience. Ironically, Lev & I were discussing this very thing a few weeks ago, and how cinema viewing has changed over the decades. I found Bishop’s ideas interesting to consider how attention turned into discipline which is another word for control of people. Perhaps that is necessary in our more populated communities today. But I found it interesting to consider a space where attention is a dialogue and not one way, like a “rowdy screening” where we are more attentive rather than it being in service to us.

At colloquium I noticed our visiting scholar was shopping on her phone and it amused me. Considering all her accomplishments and degrees, in a lot of ways she seemed just like us, a human who needed to buy clothes every now and again.