Cultures are disappearing at a rapid rate. Of the 6000 languages spoken today only half will be passed on to the next generation. Cultures are the rainforests of civilization. They show us the full spectrum of what it means to be human and how richly diverse human experience can be. No one makes this point better than Wade Davis.
I highly recommend his book Shadows in the Sun.
Find his books here.
Good design leads to happiness?
Even if you’re not a graphic designer like Stefan Sagmeister.
More entertaining than enlightening, watch all the creative twists and turns he takes.
This makes Minority Report look tame.
They say we’ll have something like this inside ten years.
I’d guess sooner.
The way we access and interact with information is changing rapidly.
Extraordinary!
A great call for a new perspective and action. Everyone, scientist and artist alike, benefits from both analytic and intuitive modes of thinking.
We learn to see. Brilliant demonstrations. Implications far beyond color.
On June 5, 2009, Yann Arthus-Bertrand’s powerful new movie was released. A non-commercial venture this movie is free to everyone with an internet connection. It breaks the mold. The message is timely, succinct, and powerful.
The opening lines say it all. “Listen to me. Please. You’re like me. Homo sapiens. A wise human. Life. A miracle in the universe appeared 4 billion years ago and we humans only 200,000 years ago. Yet we have succeeded in disrupting the balance that is so essential to life. Listen carefully to this story, which is yours, and decide what you want to do with it.”
Arthus-Bertrand says, “It’s time to believe what we know.”
Belief leads to action.
What will you do?
Find lots of ideas here.
Find organizations here.
See Yann Arthus-Bertrand’s TED talk here.
Find out more about / watch HOME here.
Elizabeth Gilbert (author of Eat, Pray, Love) shares her thoughts in this wonderful talk on creative inspiration. Ole! (You’ll understand this after you watch the video.) Our attitudes about what creativity is and where inspiration comes from are key factors in how we live our creative lives. Many of our concepts are inherited. Are our legacies serving us and others well?
The ancient Greeks and Romans thought that inspiration came from a divine spirit (daemon). Genius (related to the Arabic djinn or genie) was a spirit located outside the individual. Inspire means to breathe in. During the Renaissance western culture championed the individual. Genius was a unique individual with extraordinary talents. Individuals discovered and shared their unique creations through a still mysterious but ultimately rational process. Which perspective is right?
Here’s my take on the subject. They’re both right. And there’s more.
I believe people can channel (come in contact with and give expression to) universal forces and information greater than themselves. I also believe each individual has unique resources, talents, passions, and perspectives that they can use when creating. Furthermore, I believe there are collective human resources that are created by communities (as small as two and as large as the global population) that can be activated through collaboration – either passive, remote, and asynchronous or active, direct, and synchronous. (The web and social networks are providing new means and levels of access for this type of consciousness and interaction.)
I believe these are all different types of consciousness. I believe every individual can access all of these types of consciousness. The challenge is to become more aware of them; not only subconsciously and not just intellectually but holistically; all types of intelligence apply. Any acts of creation attain an energetic presence through alignment with any of these forces. The more alignment, the more energy, the more flow, the more profound the work. Combine multiple resources together for more energy and greater perspective. Direct experience, synchronicity, and clear perspective act as intensifiers.
What do you think?
How does that affect you, your self-image, your creative life, the things you produce, and the way you share them?
Comment here!
Find more Creativity resources here.
Frans Lanting presents The LIFE Project, a poetic collection of photographs that tell the story of our planet, from its eruptive beginnings to its present diversity. Soundtrack by Philip Glass.
To benefit from Al Gore’s talks you don’t have to agree with him. A majority of recommended actions benefit the you and the economy through efficiency. Simply listen to his 15 points on How You Can Contribute. You can make a difference. It’s easy! Start now!
(If you’re short on time jump to 06:00 , past his self-depracating humor.)
Find more recommended TED viewing here.
Do you have other TED recommendations? Comment here!