Neat+Metaphors


 * Please add neat metaphors (the flowers of the mind) that you come across ...**

Nonaka's classical piece on KM (1995) has a neat bit about metaphors (p21), particularly the bit about 'a robin is a better prototype than a turkey for a "small bird"' - the idea of metaphor as prototype struck me as neat, and it struck me that in visual arts this might be particularly useful. Maybe a work of art is a prototype for what the artist has 'in mind', no? The idea of art-as-prototype looks interesting in more general terms too - maybe the artist is not only prototyping what's in her mind, but also trying it out to see if the prototype will fit (be included, be embedded) in 'your' mind too? That could include art as propaganda, or art as gift (and might be a neat way to describe how Trafalgar Square is being re-configured, no?)
 * Prototypes**


 * Titanic**


 * [|Here] you can find a range of metaphors for learning (Vakkayuil 2008)**

Meta-cows, or: a cow by any other name would milk as sweet.
A simple explanation of how the world works. SOCIALISM You have 2 cows.You give one to your neighbour. COMMUNISM You have 2 cows.The State takes both and gives you some milk. FASCISM You have 2 cows.The State takes both and sells you some milk. NAZISM You have 2 cows.The State takes both and shoots you. BUREAUCRATISM You have 2 cows.The State takes both, shoots one, milks the other, and then throws the milk away. TRADITIONAL CAPITALISM You have two cows.You sell one and buy a bull.Your herd multiplies, and the economy grows.You sell them and retire on the income. SURREALISM You have two giraffes.The government requires you to take harmonica lessons. AN AMERICAN CORPORATION <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">You have two cows.You sell one, and force the other to produce the milk of four cows.Later, you hire a consultant to analyze why the cow has dropped dead. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">A FRENCH CORPORATION <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">You have two cows.You go on strike, organize a riot, and block the roads, because you want three cows. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">A JAPANESE CORPORATIONYou have two cows.You redesign them so they are one-tenth the size of an ordinary cow and produce twenty times the milk.You then create a clever cow cartoon image called a Cowkimona and market it worldwide. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">AN ITALIAN CORPORATION <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">You have two cows, but you don't know where they are.You decide to have lunch. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">A SWISS CORPORATION <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">You have 5000 cows. None of them belong to you.You charge the owners for storing them. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">A CHINESE CORPORATION <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">You have two cows.You have 300 people milking them.You claim that you have full employment, and high bovine productivity.You arrest the newsman who reported the real situation. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">AN INDIAN CORPORATION <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">You have two cows.You worship them. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">A BRITISH CORPORATIONYou have two cows. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Both are mad. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">AN IRAQI CORPORATION <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Everyone thinks you have lots of cows.You tell them that you have none.No-one believes you, so they bomb the ** out of you and invade your country.You still have no cows, but at least you are now a Democracy. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">AN AUSTRALIAN CORPORATION <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">You have two cows.Business seems pretty good.You close the office and go for a few beers to celebrate. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">A NEW ZEALAND CORPORATION <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">You have two cows.The one on the left looks very attractive.