Burlesque Lecturing: An Intro to Epistemic Striptease

In my teenage years, I was a self-professed art agnostic. But all it took was one teacher, one class, to turn my ambivalence into an enduring appreciation. Even a decade and a half later, I recognise renowned paintings, recount artist names, and recollect fascinating trivia. Take, for example, this masterpiece by Georges Seurat, the French post-impressionist genius. He painted not with strokes, but with dots, a technique known as pointillism. An anecdote (or rumor) claims that his passion for painting led him to an untimely demise, allegedly catching a cold in his studio and passing away at just 31.

What was this teacher's secret that made art so captivating for me? I've coined a term for it – 'epistemic striptease.' Much like a traditional striptease keeps its audience hooked through a slow, suggestive undressing, an epistemic striptease unravels ideas and concepts gradually, fostering an environment of intrigue and engagement. Information isn't dumped but skillfully held back to create suspense. The students are deliberately surprised, misled, and confounded. Anticipation is carefully crafted, cognitive dissonance is fostered, and a sense of mystery permeates the classroom. All the while, the lecturer's enthusiasm becomes infectious.

While many lecturers aim for clarity by revealing the 'whole picture' right off the bat,

An epistemic striptease, on the other hand, would unveil the picture in an intentional, strategic manner, keeping the audience perpetually on their toes.

Granted, the transition from drawing a lion to dissecting Roman law may seem like a stretch. But trust me, the payoff of an epistemic striptease is incomparable. You'll witness your students, lost in thought, staring blankly into space, then covering their faces in bewilderment. After a moment of silence, their eyes light up with understanding, often accompanied by an audible "Aha!" These moments are precious. They don't occur always, or even often, but they’re worth every effort when they do.

I was fortunate to experience such illuminating moments in my art class. Now, as a lecturer, I strive to ignite a similar sense of revelation and wonder in my students. Like any art form, mastering the epistemic striptease requires practice. Care to join me? Let's dance together!

Video and screenshot by Mind Test
Georges Seurat - Art Institute of Chicago, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11500834
This post was created with the help of ChatGPT GPT-4 and Midjourney (cover image).