Let us Reimagine
“The sin is knowledge that they may become wise” — Toni Morrison
Knowledge is Freedom
“Evil has vivid speech, but the goodness bites its tongue”- Toni Morrison
On the essence of learning and instruction:
Instead of
Giving them something to do….
Give them something to create, perform, or build.
“projects” = Innovators
“projects” = Creators
Instead of workers and task markers.
*This is not stated without the understanding that even workers and task markers are integral to the conduction of our system. Thus, If the simple Frame of mind is knowledge and capable ( in the sense of KNOWING that they can) of shifting in and out of this role, I have succeeded in the overall essence of my argument.
Where does Capitalism fall in this? vs Collectivism?
If everyone is an innovator how does that benefit our society?
Let’s Reimagine a society where people are more competent or multifaceted. We are not just users of a source but creators of it as well.
Art is for “asking questions” or “exploring” art is where discourse is encouraged and even deemed a necessity.
Technology in its traditional sense/ mindset or way of thinking is about solutions. Data. measurable amounts of data points that help create “a” picture/ perspective of a problem/ idea.
The two work in tandem like how a car works in tandem with gravity to help us get to where we need to be. This is done by engineering and design. Technology is a tool. And like a car, we need to learn how to drive it. Specifically, the internet is one of the most abstract tools we have ever had in modern human history. Art helped to create the imagination and freedom to explore something not there, creators exist in the realm of possibility therefore science and art are simply two sides of the same coin. Design is instrumental to the conceptualization of our world, whether it be the design of the human heart or the design of a learning platform, each of these has the opportunity to integrate and work in tandem with art and technology, and most often, in our world today, do. These efforts like anything else should be accessible. Art is not something that can be contained or quantified; although SOME aspects may present themselves to be counted. I.e. How artists are paid on streams. — but again this is technology creating a perception in the capitalistic framework of ROI to “measure” profitability and overall appeal which to SOME may translate to success.
Art is a masterful idea in that it is universal and subjective all at once and not at the same time. This paradox can intimidate some; it is simply too unstable for them. Others love the wanderlust and appreciate the flexibility and versatility that it offers. We must find a common appreciation or simply a common understanding that at the fundamental core of how we train, teach, learn, and perform there MUST be an intentional fusing of the arts/humanities with math, science, and technology. This will help us govern our changing world, it will help us adapt to the challenging times we are in and are faced with but most importantly it prepares the coming generation for the effects of the tool. Leaders now, will not be the leaders of tomorrow. Children unborn will have challenges that we can’t even imagine.
Just as the framework of education and even the “idea” of governing is as old as time, the idea of learning, preparing, and surviving is one as well. I believe that based on the “data” from science and technology the picture or perspective that I see is that we are underprepared and not fully present; with our individual selves and the collective. This distraction allows less time with self, and more time, in destructive patterns. Art allows for self-reflection, self-expression, and a space for healing; which means it does provide solutions just not the ones we are traditionally used to “quantifying” or even considering, and if that “idea” or practice is fundamentally embedded into the framework of our world, then I believe that we will succeed. This may come from my ancestral African and indigenous belief systems, but “knowing” is holistic and survival is an amalgamation of everything. Humans have a way of physiologically remembering how to survive ( instinctual breathing) and that is dependent on the earth, and our ecosystem which is also integral to us, as it gives life to breathe, we must return that energy. Whether it is physical or abstract. That is not only smart, and sustainable, it's art.
Most of these ideas are philosophical right? But the biggest point I guess I want to convey is that art isn’t silly or a waste of time. It is not JUST beautiful. It has a real power specifically on our brains, our cultures, our institutions, in our governments. I can only say that, as an artist, I see the stroke that connects us all, I see the harmony in all the moving parts, and I see the steps in the dance of cells that help design the world we are trying to survive in, and see the absence or lack of regard to art as a huge discontinuity of the balance or picture of us.
