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Beauty Engine Design as ‘scripting’ language for creating experiences-
http://beautyengine.org/TheDesign.html
Beauty Engine provides a simple set of terms, or common ground, with which
to understand each other, collaborate and cocreate experiences.
Much in the way that the latin classification system for species operates (Genus, Phylum, etc.) the BE provides a sort of ‘taxonomy’ for the basic social constructs that exist behind everday social operations.
These simple ‘social classification’ terms can serve as a kind of 'linguistic glue' for diverse groups and communities to ‘get on the same page’ so to speak.
AVATARS/ IDENTITIES
POWERS
CIRCULATE
ASSEMBLE
DYNAMICS
ACTIVATE
People create social (identities) and assess what they have to offer (powers), in order to share (circulate) amongst others (assemble). Simple catchphrases act as reminders of their social agreements (dynamics) enabling them to easily instigate and cocreate meaningful experiences (activate).
According to which network uses the BE design, these six terms can be further broken down into what we currently call- ‘types’
AVATARS- breaks down into various archetypes & social roles like flirt, networker, healer, diva, etc.
POWERS- breaks down into tangible types (goods, services, performance, etc) and intangible types (essence, vision, prayer, blessing, etc.)
CIRCULATE- breaks down into offers, needs, gifts
ASSEMBLE- breaks down into various social structures like group, organization, circle, council, posse, cult, etc
DYNAMICS- break down into various categories like mingle, group process, tricky situations, etc.
ACTIVATE- break down into various ‘how-to’ guides for social activities like cabaret, faery tale picnic, collaboratory, santa pub crawl, etc.
So, with respect to using these terms as a ‘scripting language’ when the creator of an event or gathering is ‘scripting’ an experience….they can use these terms to let people know how to participate.
For example, the next Beauty Engine Salon, we are focusing on POWERS and in our invite we are letting people know that they can prepare their POWERS to share with the group.
One of the activities last event was called ‘Tag Your Neighbor’ in which they were given stickers that said….
“_______ thinks I’m _______’
After talking to someone for a little while, they could fill in the blanks and stick it on them. People loved this.
Another activity was ‘Speedy Dating; in which they were encouraged to share concise, meaningful things about themselves in a facilitated environment .
Guests were also given a few cards with simple catchphrases (MINGLE DYNAMICS)on them they could use as ‘ice-breakers’ such as SOCIAL BUTTERFLY, SHY BUT HORNY, POLITE DECLINE, ETC. They could either just hand the card to someone or actually say the phrase.
Ultimately, the whole evening of something like CrushLab is essentially a ‘script’ of ACTIVATE activities, DYNAMICS, POWERS and such that anyone could download off the web and bring to life.
