Focusing on Slow Looking:

Abstract

Since the late twentieth century, the speed of technological innovation has led to renewed interest in cultivating mindfulness and attention, including a multitude of “slow” movements. This article examines the practice of slow looking, a means of gathering information through sustained observation and deeper inquiry. Slow-looking activities span institutional settings, including K-12 and higher education, libraries and archives, and museums and galleries. In this article, the authors connect several slow-looking exercises developed over eighteen years, examining how they empower learners to become critically discerning and reflective across contexts.