Near the end of the year, publications typically release organized lists of the best of the past season. It has always been a boon for publishing to ask the reader to join in the time-honored tradition of surveying the past.
Yet, as the marketplace grew, so did our appetite for year-round organizing of thought in the form of a list.
It was no longer necessary to wait until the end of the year to look back at the past, but it could be a survey of the immediate present where the "Best of _______" could be enshrined whenever it tickled one's fancy.
This made the publisher happy financially and the critic giddy, since creating such lists often feeds the ego as one gets to sit in judgment with one's very subjective bird's eye survey of the land.
The authority of some critics became so powerful that one could almost overhear Obi Wan Kenobi say to Yoda, "The Ego is strong with this one."
Sometimes, the intent of these lists is beyond transparent when their glorifying reviews of the best often live side-by-side with full-page ads, situated in close proximity to each other like cohabitating advertorial neighbors where one pays to play at the top.
Some critics even use the power of the pen, er, keystroke to provoke reactions as if the list itself was not enough, so they decide to make wild choices by inserting themselves into the story.
But one area of concern to me is that lists including those generated either by the critic or those created by the voting public often get reinforced each year through a series of tactics from lobbying customers to "stuff the box."
Such tactics suck the air out of any category, diminishing the efforts of genuine game changing categories in the community.
It is this act of sameness that is actually death dealing to a culture of innovation. Repetitive sameness becomes like a logjam, producing lists that go unfulfilled as people begin to say, "Oh snap. Look who is top again this year for the 13th year in a row! Surprise, Surprise."
This example is often seen on the "best burger" lists in Anytown, USA or even right here in contests like ArtPrize's Top 25 list. To be fair, ArtPrize Top 25 is undergoing a creative makeover in year three to ensure the playfield is more fair and dynamic.
It is refreshing when one opens the system to greater representation and this is my hope as we begin to enter the last few months of our year.
But in the end, what if for all the hate you hurl at lists, we find that we actually needed these acts of order for us to begin dialog within our community?
Could it be that we, as a community, actually have to have these lists in order for us to start paying attention? I think so. It forces us to challenge the status quo.
One immediate result from any list is a form of community organizing that most certainly begins to emerge from the dialog after it drops.
And while it may be easy to say, "Hey, Tommy, you make a list each week. While you do not rank them say like Gonzo's Top 5, which also comes out on Thursday, you do provide a 'list.'"
I am quick to point out that yes, my list is also up for conversation each week and that is the point of what we do in all of our features at Rapid Growth. We encourage community dialogue or at least hope to start some across your café or bar table each week.
Besides, while Gonzo has his top 5, I give you an extra one bringing our total to 6, just because…well, because I like you. (A little humor.)
Each week, we seek to level the playing field by showcasing a list of events to consider, doing so in no particular order, but ones that will no less provide a springboard from which dialog can begin.
You may not try them all, but we hope that you will enjoy reading about what we feel is a community on the move -- a place where the diversity presented here illustrates we are not only concerned about promoting the status quo, but the unpopular and maybe even controversial.
And, on the occasion where someone feels we may have failed, please remember that in a week, we will be back with another list.
In the end, love them or hate them, the lists (and the dialog that ensues) are here to stay.
The Future Needs All of Us (to love lists, discuss.)
Tommy Allen
Lifestyle Editor
[email protected]Lifestyle Editor's Note: There is a nice piece about
John Gonzales here that you might enjoy reading. It gives you some background on the man who creates his own top 5 events to consider attending.
Click here to continue to this week's G-Sync events. (Yes, A LIST!)
Photo Credit:
Terry Johnston Photography Press Releases for upcoming events in the West Michigan area should be sent to
[email protected]. Please include high res jpg images that are at least 500 pixels wide.