Written by: Vickie Sullivan | July 23, 2020
Be Subversive: Use Juxtaposition to Stand Out
Confession: I am a huge fan of juxtaposition. The mash-up of unrelated things that fascinates me. So, a recent podcast interview with musician and “social scientist” Mark Mothersbaugh got my attention, as he takes the strategy to a higher level.
A lot of us use juxtaposition, but we stay in one lane. Mothersbaugh, however, expands the power of this tactic by mashing up his role and his medium. The result: a talented yet subversive musician who uses his art for a higher purpose. This gives his music a different context, and it paves the way for his killer bio of “musician turned social scientist.”
You can use a page from his playbook. Focus on where you play, and ask yourself these questions: What is missing in my arena? What can I hide in plain sight? People like mysteries. They like finding hidden clues that create meaning. Take advantage of that.
Listen: The Smart Way to Be Subversive
This is a great example of using a popular tactic a different way. If you already use juxtaposition to stand out, building a bridge between you and your environment could be an easy way to up your game.
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