Today I had an epiphany about the Bogost quote. I read it and there was a moment of clarity – a moment where all the big words made sense. And then, the confirmation! Adrian explained it the same way.
Bogost gives the example of Roland Barthes’ lists of what he likes and dislikes. When he does that, it draws attention to what he probably surrounds himself with (likes) and stays away from (dislikes). It makes me think of what’s there to like about things like romantic music, and what’s to dislike about Chopin (who is one of my favourites..)
When you list out the objects, you start to pay attention about what they are to the person; and, because I am human, what they are to me too. The list begins to “[draw] our attention toward [the things] with greater attentiveness”. Eg. listing all the things in a particular shop is better at drawing attention to what the shop is and does and has, than a story about the shop.