What Comes Next_
Thoughts on AI, predictive text, technological metaphors, and the string of thought.
🪞Crazy in the same way?
This analysis dives into how psychotic delusions are influenced by the cultural context of their times, reflecting societal anxieties and technologies.
🎤“It isn’t a noise, it’s my language”
A tribute to Miriam Makeba, Mama Africa, who imparts a vital lesson in isiXhosa pronunciation through her music.
🎨Slides, by Kirsten Tradowsky
I enjoy many of Kirsten Tradowsky's paintings that capture the essence of childhood activities, like band practice and swim lessons.
🌎The first assimilation
An exploration of cultural adaptation among Central American immigrants in LA, highlighting the complexities of identity and belonging.
🌎They vote by night
Exploring how voter patterns and population density visually intersect through creative mapping techniques.
💃Dance Dance Dance!, by Christopher Bautista
A vibrant capture of movement and expression, this piece evokes the joy of dance. "Dance Dance Dance!", photo by Christopher Bautista, 2008.
⛪Worship first, then farm
This excerpt explores the revolutionary idea that religious structures may have prompted the formation of early Neolithic societies before the advent of agriculture.
🌍Getting beyond “I don’t know”
Megan White shares her passion for addressing social justice through the ZanaAfrica initiative, aimed at providing sustainable solutions for health and education challenges faced by girls in Kenya.
🚗Old man, look at my ride
Meet the mechanic blending green innovation with American muscle.
🎶We don’t call it music at all
A glimpse into Edward Bellamy's vision of musical culture in the year 2000, where professional music is readily accessible at all times.
🕌Inshallah
Exploring how Islamic banking's principles help it thrive during financial crises.
🌷Tulip fields, Northern Holland
A beautiful aerial view of Dutch tulip fields evokes the intricate designs of woven tapestries.
🗳️We the People, by the Staple Singers
Reflecting on civic responsibility and the power of thought in decision-making, this post features the Staple Singers' poignant message in “We the People.”
🧟♂️Frankenstein’s editor
An exploration of the collaboration between Mary Shelley and Percy Shelley in the creation of "Frankenstein," touching on the misconceptions surrounding the text.
💔Geography of longing
Here's an alternative to the state-by-state maps we're being bombarded with in these latter electoral days
🤪You don’t have to be Russian, but it helps
An exploration of the rich tradition of holy fools in both Western and Eastern Christianity, particularly highlighting the unique manifestations in Russia.
✍️Articles of good design
A reflection on the artistry and craftsmanship of hand-lettering from the 1927 _Studio Handbook_ by Samuel Welo, contrasting it with modern design tools.
♻️Philosophy of leftovers
Reflecting on the value of overlooked and discarded things, Andy Warhol shares his philosophy on working with leftovers.
🌍Tough luck, Mel
A filmmaker's vision of a Hollywood studio in South Africa clashes with the local Khoi-San community's deep connection to their ancestral land.
🍃Virtue as vice
A reflection on how our perceptions of virtue often intertwine with cultural tastes, highlighting the complexities of our choices and environmental impact.
🏡Love throws a line
The impact of technology on our expectations of laundry, contrasting high-tech solutions with simpler alternatives.
🎤Mountain Chief of Piegan Blackfeet, 1916
Exploring the rich heritage of the Piegan Blackfeet and the innovative spirit captured in early recording technology.
🎨The counter-intuitive comparison of all things
Exploring the concept of cultural appreciation through quirky comparisons in art and everyday joys.
🌳City and Forest, by Katy Wu
A young illustrator's work captures the delicate balance between nature and culture, inspired by the beloved film My Neighbour Totoro.
🕊️Comic grace
A reflection on the interplay of grace and passion in human lives and societies, highlighting both their significance and humor.
🌍A breath wafted from Paradise over the human world
An exploration of how spices from foreign lands captivated the imagination of Medieval Europeans.
🌍An enterprise of world-building
How globes are made.
♻️Rice husk power
Exploring innovative ways to convert agricultural waste, specifically rice husks, into sustainable energy solutions for rural villages in India.
🎨Cezanne’s dream team
Malcolm Gladwell explores the concept of late bloomers and the vital support systems behind their success in his article. "But for Zola, Cézanne would have remained an unhappy banker’s son in Provence; but for Pissarro, he would never have learned how to paint..."
🎶Portland Sacred Harp
I just enjoyed a great segment on Portland Sacred Harp, a community group nurturing shape-note singing traditions.
😇O is for obedience
An exploration of obedience as a creative act, inspired by a story from the Desert Fathers.
🌌Surf City, by Daniel Schludi
An observation on the contrast between desolation and hospitality in an oddly de-branded fast food place, illuminated at night.
🙏The root of real honor
A reflection on the sacredness of family and honor, drawing from a profound narrative in _Gilead_.
🍊Seed and feed store, Lincoln, Nebraska
An intriguing snapshot from 1942 captures the economic landscape of Nebraska, reflecting on the significant price disparity between oranges and grapefruit, and the association of grass with Sudan.
🌍The places we live
Explore the lives of a billion people living in slums through immersive photography and personal stories.
📻A hoax hoax
A reconsideration of the "War of the Worlds" broadcast reveals that the panic it generated was largely overstated and not nearly as widespread as believed.
🌐Even if the camera isn’t real
A thoughtful reflection on the transformative power of technology, illustrated through Chris Ware's animation for "The Cameraman."
📚Necessity > custom > obligation > institution
Luis Soriano's inspiring journey to bring books and education to impoverished communities in Colombia is a testament to the impact one individual can have.
🌸Avenida Morelos, Guadalajara, Mexico
Check out this colorful shop in central Guadalajara, where the theme is a delightful mystery between flowers, dresses, and butterflies.
🎭Give me a telenovela and I’ll give you a nation
An exploration of how telenovelas serve as both cultural mirrors and therapeutic narratives for countries, highlighting their unique emotional resonance and production values.
🎭The afterlife of Gordon Gekko
Reflection on the unintended consequences of cultural narratives, particularly in film.
🌉Walkway over 101, by Kurt Manley
I appreciate the striking contrasts found in the relationship between civilization and nature.
🌟Glamour and grace
This post explores the rich and varied history of glamour, spanning from renaissance art to contemporary culture.
🌌The epic of the universe, the ballad they sing in the streets
A beautiful reflection on the interplay of life and eternity from Marilynne Robinson's _Gilead_.
🏰Holy Monastery of Simonos Petra, Mt. Athos, Greece
An evocative reflection on a 13th-century Orthodox monastery that beautifully captures its duality of precariousness and homeliness amidst the twilight. This excerpt highlights the unexpected presence of an orange plastic debris chute, juxtaposing ancient architecture with modernity.
🎶Musilanguage
Exploring the blend of music and language, Sigur Rós captivates with their unique soundscapes and inventiveness.
🫒Sorting olives
Witness the olive-sorting process as captured in this poignant image of a Palestinian woman during the harvest.
💵The other Prohibition
An exploration of the history and complexities of tipping practices in America.
📚WRONG—
Reflecting on my experience with _Schindler's List_ and the charm of its historical annotations.
🎨Arabesques
From a lovely French collection of prints, this piece showcases "Arab art from the monuments of Cairo, from the 7th through the 19th centuries," illustrating a vibrant tapestry of designs over the centuries.