Patterns & Metaphors
Unity and diversity
Template:
In order for a conference to achieve anything, to understand anything, or to experience anything, some level of unity is required. At the same time, for a conference to be creative, to go anywhere, or to make contributions to the larger society, some level of disunity is required. The task of the organizers is to create a balance between the two. An overly unified set of images, life styles, expectations and experiences among the participants will lead to little or no change in action, thought or experience. A totally disunited conference (if one could exist) would result in a series of individual experiences but little corporate direction or decision.
The conception of any conference takes into consideration some degree of unity and some degree of diversity. Most conferences are unified either through a limited topic, which rules out the breadth of possible discussion, or through a limited makeup of participants. The more focused the subject matter and more homogeneous the group, the easier it is to hold a unified conference and to arrive at consensus. Once made, however the consensus may be rather superficial and limited. The more diversified the group and broad the topics for discussion, the more difficult it is to unify the conference and to arrive at shared decisions; but such decisions can be well worth the effort.
No matter the degree of diversity, however, holding the conference requires creating a perspective about the topic and the participants which maximizes the possibility of unity. All aspects of unity are created rather than "natural". The "earthrise" image, for example, is one which holds great uniqueness and richness of diversity in a unitary image. This perspective is expressed in how the conference is described, its story. This commonizing imagery is not intended to manipulate a group into homogeneity. It is the basis or the boundaries within which diversity can be encouraged to flourish.
This balance between unity and disunity, between homogeneity and diversity is created from the very concept of the conference. The process of recruiting participants is the early key in this dynamic tension.
