With the Giant Squid deadline looming, I’ve been thinking a lot about what makes a “quality” lens. My favorite book “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” by Robert Pirsig is not so much about Zen or motorcycle maintenance, but it is all about quality.
Author Robert Pirsig says, “There is such a thing as quality, but as soon as you try to define it, something goes haywire. Quality is a characteristic of thought and statement that is recognized by a non-thinking process.” He argues, quite convincingly, that quality cannot be defined; we can only describe aspects of quality. Quality is outside the realm of reason and intuition. To give an analogy, the quality of music is determined by the space between the notes. The spaces, which can’t be defined, are what give the music its quality.
Pirsig says that quality forms the basis of our world / universe so, in that sense it is the mystery that is at the center of all creation – call it God, the Tao, divine energy, whatever. What we humans call quality is that which seems to come close to this mystery. Through the combination of classical understanding (facts, reason, rationality, etc.) with romantic understanding (intuition, inspiration, imagination), we have the potential to create something of quality. And when it happens, we know it!
Squidoo offers the perfect platform for creating work of incredible quality. When one brings personal experience, passion, knowledge, and technical expertise to their writing, magic can happen. Let me give you an example. Des Moines, Baryshnikov, and Me by grannysage.
This Squidoo lens is not in the top 100 and doesn’t have a purple star. Quality is not always recognized by the masses. The first time I read this lens, though, I knew I had read something really great. I do not know anything about Des Moines and very little about Baryshnikov, but Lensmaster Diane has managed to introduce both through her personal story. She manages to tell us not only about Baryshnikov and Des Moines, Iowa but also touches on celebrity worship and tells us a little about herself and her family too. This is quality!
If you would like to nominate a lens as having quality (preferably someone else’s), you can do so at “50 Quality Lenses, You Say?” Best of luck to all in the Giant Squid Challenge who have been working so hard to create quality lenses and helping each other along the way.
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Thank you for this inspiring post, Kim. I like your recipe for making magic happen…when you bring your mind AND heart into your work. It’s also much easier to create quality, that way.
What a pleasant surprise to stumble upon this. Thank you so much for featuring my Baryshnikov lens. I think you aptly described what I strive for in my lenses, which is most likely why I am not a giant. I love Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance too, although I haven’t read it in years.