In Lateral Displacement a word or phrase is selected to establish a ‘starting point’.
To this starting point a modifying (or displacing) word or phrase is added that describes or defines a direction of travel.
How does 'Lateral Displacement' Work?
In Glanside creativity creative thought flows from the Specific to the General.
Lateral Displacement starts with a Specific Idea. The specific idea – embodying the direction, material, concept or theme that you wish to investigate or dissect – is then developed in possible alternative directions by the creation of the General Ideas derived from creative thinking.
The general ideas in Lateral Displacement are produced through the application of a starting point and a modifying word or phrase that defines a direction of creative travel.
Illustration: Lateral Displacement
The following are examples of Lateral Displacements used in the construction of The Tailor.
Each Lateral Displacement consists of a description of the starting situation (Specific Idea) and then a direction of travel (General Ideas) the creative text will take.
- To shoulder, but not to stomach
- Seen, yet overlooked
- Transformation, by means of alteration
The following passages were constructed on the foundations of the above Lateral Displacements.
He spoke in a continuous unbroken drone, with few intervals between the sentences, sounding like a sewing machine fastening a hem in place. It was clear that, to him, this was just another difficult task on another difficult day. It was another difficult day of work and it must be endured.
Any investment is a leap of faith – but understand – it is a leap of faith insured by the impression, the gut feel. You put on a tailored suit with a hand-dyed tie, and you stand amongst twenty other people with tailored suits, their individuality, their distinction, expressed in just that tie. It is the same hammer that strikes in the same old way.
There was a moment’s pause whilst the Factory Manager looked up at the ceiling. There he found the material he needed, and started up again. ‘You can help me by increasing certainty. You can help me by stitching persuasion into presentation. You can help me by alteration, so that everything we wear radiates the message of confidence we need to transmit to this audience.