DIALOGUE DECK
DIALOGUE DECK
At the precipice of one of the most highly charged US Presidential Elections in recent history, I, along with others from the U-M Museum of Art (UMMA) and the Edward Ginsberg Center, created this Dialogue Deck exercise as a platform to examine and explore social and political norms, values, and beliefs through shared dialogue and reflection.
Each of the images was thoughtfully selected by myself, other UMMA staff, and Ginsberg Center staff and faculty, drawing from UMMA’s permanent collection with an emphasis placed on artworks that both, directly and indirectly, evoke the culture, politics, and history of the USA. We believe that visual art offers a creative platform for exploring complex and difficult issues. Images help to expand our intellectual and emotional capacities and offer opportunities to describe the world as we see it and imagine how others might see it differently.
This Dialogue Deck, inspired by an existing Ginsberg Center activity, is created in conjunction with the 2020 Ginsberg Center Dewey Lecture, "Building a Civic Temper." The theme of the lecture is inspired by William James' 1906 Essay, “The Moral Equivalent of War.” While some of James' assertions are cause for critique, his primary observation, that we need to focus on building our shared public life, remains more important than ever. We hope you’ll use this deck to create meaningful dialogue and connection with your family, friends, colleagues, and maybe even yourself.
“Ideally, democracy is what would happen between elections.”
PRINT AND PLAY
Download a printable version of the Dialogue Deck and play different versions of these conversation exercises unique to the physical edition of the game.
