D. Graham Burnett

D. Graham Burnett is an American historian of science and a writer. He is a professor at Princeton University and an editor at Cabinet, based in Brooklyn, New York. Burnett received his A.B. in history (concentration in the history of science) at Princeton University and an M.Phil and Ph.D. in the history and philosophy of science at Trinity College, Cambridge.

The Order of Third Bird

A book Burnett edited, "In Search of the Third Bird", explains the origin, evolution, and activities of the so-called Avis Tertia or "Order of the Third Bird", which variously has been described as a secret society, a flash mob, and even as a meditative group approach to art appreciation. The Order of the Third Bird practices a shared form of attention, usually to art objects, focusing on a direct, intense experience of the artwork, devoid of any preparatory or supplementary historical or textual analysis.

The "Order of the Third Bird" aka "Birding" can be seen as a way of studying a piece of otherwise neglected art. It was first started by a unique group of art enthusiasts known as the Birds in about 2010. Birding is a thoughtful, structured process of engaging with art that unfolds in four distinct stages. This approach emphasizes working as a group to have a deep, focused, and meditative interaction with artworks, aiming to foster a fresh perspective that is free from preconceived judgments and interpretations. The name of the "Order of the Third Bird" aka "The Order" aka "Avis Tertia" references a story about a painting by the ancient artist Zeuxis: in one version of the story, the first bird was scared off, the second tried to eat the painted fruit, and the third simply observed. Sometimes referred to as a “attentional cult” or a ritual performance performed by artists, the practice stands out as a profound counter to the more conventional experiences of art consumption, which are often solitary, quick, and facile. Birding emphasizes communal engagement and shared discovery, offering a distinctive (and deeper) way to experience and discuss art that can reveal as much about the participants as it does about the artworks themselves. Note: "Birding" doesn't have to have a piece of art as its subject, as it can also be used for any marginalized subject.

Here’s an overview of the four stages, referred to as the "Standard Protocol", that defines the most common form of the process.

Encounter:

- Invitation: The leader sends out an email informing the group when and where they'll meet next. The email does not state exactly what the subject will be because that decision will be made as a group as part of the process.

- Starting Out: Everyone who has joined the Birding comes to a special place like a museum or park. They don't have a plan about what they're going to look at. They just come ready to discover art that is somewhat neglected or overlooked, like a painting that isn't famous or a sculpture that's off by itself.

- Dressing Up: Since the Birds might not know each other, they wear a yellow saffron-colored cloth on their belts or somewhere visible. This way, they can recognize each other as part of the group, also known as the volée.

- Finding Art: At first, no one knows which art piece they should check out. But they start wandering around, and they let their feelings guide them to something that seems interesting. It could be something not famous or a piece that doesn’t get much attention.

- Getting Together: After a while, everyone ends up gathering around one piece of art that seems to call out to them. They follow the "flock" (like birds) to come together and focus on that one piece.

Attending: 

When everyone has flocked around a piece of art, the leader rings a bell. This stage is called the "Attending" phase, when Birds gather in a formation known as the phalanx, facing the chosen artwork. Here, they devote seven minutes to giving the piece undivided attention, deliberately refraining from analyzing, interpreting, or judging the work. This discipline helps the Birds experience the art in its purest form, avoiding the common traps of critiquing or trying to intellectually 'solve' the artwork. The seven minutes are meant to simply be with the art, observing and feeling without the urge to categorize or evaluate.

Negation:

Following the sound of the second bell, Birds enter the "Negation" stage, attempting to mentally clear the image of the artwork from their minds. This might involve physical gestures of detachment like lying down or closing their eyes. This phase is critical in resetting their mental palette, preparing them for the final stage of the process by clearing any lingering preconceptions or emotional residues.

Realizing:

The third and final bell signals the beginning of "Realizing," where the Birds reconvene in the phalanx. Each birder silently thinks about what the artwork might need—maybe it needs a new location, or a different context, or an imaginative interaction (like being climbed on by children or heard as if it were singing). This stage is about understanding the potential ways in which the artwork can interact with the world. 

Colloquy:

Although not officially counted among the four stages, the Colloquy (discussion) is a crucial component of the Birding practice. After completing their individual experiences, Birds gather in a relaxed setting, such as a coffeeshop, to share and discuss their observations and feelings. This dialogue allows participants to delve deeper into their personal reactions and the subtle nuances of their experience, enriching the collective understanding and appreciation of the artwork.

Awards and recognition

• 2013-2014 Guggenheim Fellow
• Andrew W. Mellon Foundation “New Directions” Fellowship, 2009-2011
• Hermalyn Prize in Urban History, Bronx Historical Society, 2008
• New York City Book Award, New York Society Library, 2007
• Howard Foundation Fellowship in the History of Science, 2005-2006
• Christian Gauss Fund University Preceptorship, Princeton University, 2004-2007
• National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship, 2003-2004
• Cullman Fellow, New York Public Library, Center for Scholars and Writers, 1999-2000
• Nebenzahl Prize in the History of Cartography, Newberry Library, Chicago, 1999
• U.S. Marshall Scholarship, 1993-1995
• Moses Taylor Pyne Prize, highest undergraduate award at Princeton University, 1993
• Salutatorian, Princeton University Class of 1993, gave Latin address at Commencement, 1993

Works

• The Sounding of the Whale: Science and Cetaceans in the Twentieth Century University of Chicago Press. January 2012, paperback edition 2013. ISBN 9780226100579
• Trying Leviathan: The Nineteenth-Century New York Court Case That Put the Whale on Trial and Challenged the Order of Nature Princeton University Press. November 2007; paperback edition, 2008.
• A Trial By Jury Knopf. September 2001; Japanese edition, 2006.
• Descartes and the Hyperbolic Quest: Lens-Making in the Seventeenth Century American Philosophical Society, Transactions series. Vol. 95 (3): 2005.
• Masters of All They Surveyed: Exploration, Geography, and a British El Dorado University of Chicago Press. September 2000. ISBN 9780226081212
• A Little Common Place Book, introduction by D. Graham Burnett (New York: Cabinet Books, and Proteotypes, 2010). ISBN 9781932698503, 1932698507
• In Search of The Third Bird: Exemplary Essays from The Proceedings of ESTAR(SER) 2001-2021 |editor-last=Burnett |editor-first=D. Graham |editor2-last= Hansen |editor2-first=Catherine L. |editor-first=D. Graham |editor3-last= Smith |editor2-first=Justin E.|year=2021 |publisher=Strange Attractor Press |location=London ISBN 978-1913689360, 1913689360

External links

• Interview in The Boston Globe
• D. Graham Burnett
• An index of Cabinet magazine contributions
• Lecture on natural history and systematics, Smithsonian Institution. 2008.
• Interview on the history of science published in Temporalidades