Attention Span | Overview

During guided tours of the Philip Johnson Glass House, guests are asked to turn off their cell phones and leave their cameras behind. These rules are introduced as a 21st century luxury, a rare opportunity to focus and experience without distraction. Inspired by the positive reception to this aspect of the Glass House tour experience, "Attention/Attention Span” was the focus of the third Conversation in the series sponsored by Oldcastle Glass.

What does it mean to be engaged in the 21st century? With new technologies and messages competing for our attention each and every day, how do we best live and learn? Does our increasing lack of attention represent an evolution or a crisis? What does it mean to be attentive in the age of distraction? “Attention/Attention Span” was moderated by Paul Holdengraber, Program Director, New York Public Library. He reminded guests that active listening is more challenging than speaking and that all were invited to this exchange with “two ears and one mouth.“ The free flowing and lively dialogue was also inspired by his invitation, “digression is the sunshine of narrative.” We pay, lend, and give attention as we make choices throughout each day and our lives.

Attention was defined as a key element for personal orientation, along with directions, gender, gravity, and belief-systems. How and what we give our attention to creates the foundation for our lives as it fuels our curiosity. What we pay attention to defines what we think and what we do. A lively dialogue followed the question, “Who is paying attention to attention?” As one answer is marketing, participants discussed how the quality of attention is linked to the quality of experience. It was posed that “how” we pay attention should be considered as well as “what” we pay attention to.

Controversy followed the suggestion that, as new technologies offer vehicles for communication and information, we have an opportunity for an evolved level of emotional connectedness and exchange on a global scale. On April 8, all agreed that attention is worth attending to as it was explored in the context of education, media, technology, psychology, neurology, history, travel and humor.

*Oldcastle Glass is the exclusive sponsor of Glass House Conversations.*