3 POLITICAL QUESTIONS
Non-Confrontational Political Dialogue
Political Questions as Artistic Practice
At the core of David Deighton’s Triptych Dialogue are three non-confrontational political questions designed to create space for reflection, listening, and human connection.
Dialogue without Debate or Persuasion.
Their purpose is not to debate, convince, or divide, but to encourage open-ended exchange free from ideology and confrontation.
Active Listening and Civil Conversation
Slowing Down Political Exchange
In a political climate shaped by certainty and reaction, these questions slow the exchange down and shift attention toward presence and understanding.
From Argument to Shared Reflection
Each of David Deighton's non-confrontational political questions invites description rather than judgment, feeling rather than argument, and personal perspective rather than partisan position.
The Three Questions of Triptych Dialogue
Question One: Describing the Political System
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How would you describe the political system of the United States of America?
Question Two: Feelings About U.S. Politics
2. Describe your feelings or reactions to the current state of U.S. politics.
Question Three: Completing the Sentence
3. Finish the sentence: “Politics in the United States…”
Dialogue as Social Practice Art
Face-to-Face Political Conversation
When asked face to face, the questions remove the anonymity and distance that often fuel hostility and division.
Participants as Contributors to the Artwork
Participants are not audiences; they are contributors. Their responses become part of the evolving work and are carried into future installations and interpretations.
Minimal Questions, Expansive Possibilities
Art, Presence, and Human Connection
The questions function as both structure and medium—an artistic device activating dialogue through attention, active listening, and participation.
A Tool for Civic and Emotional Engagement
A minimal gesture with expansive potential.
Related Projects:
Dialogue Recordings
Explore face-to-face conversations with strangers responding to the three non-confrontational political questions at the center of Triptych Dialogue.
MACA Book Drops
Discover participatory book interventions designed to encourage civil political conversation and active listening in public spaces.
National Park Installations
View public dialogue installations and performances developed in designated First Amendment areas of U.S. National Parks.
Active Listening Across Political Division
Learn how active listening became a central method for engaging political difference through presence, restraint, and human connection.