Creativity and wisdom

Listen to…

• We’ve listed Rick Rubin in the reading list before, and we’ll probably list him again. This time, we are focusing on Rubin’s social media voice clips rich with insights. While primarily known for his work in music production, Rubin’s voice clip advice reflects a deep understanding that true creativity cannot be rushed or forced. This patience and trust in the process are key aspects of his approach to work.

How do we navigate and manage industry/market expectations?

Look at…

• “Be loose” she says; Laurie Anderson, a renowned performance artist and musician, in an interview 'Advice to the Young', shares earnest and wise advice to the next generation of artists. Anderson’s approach to art and life emphasizes continual learning and intellectual curiosity. She encourages young artists to explore and seek out knowledge in various forms while emphasizing the need for artists to be authentic and to create work that is true to themselves rather than conforming to external expectations.

How do we maintain authenticity?

Think about…

• “I hate poetry, the officer says”... Solmaz Sharif is a poet whose work seems to examine the language of war, surveillance, and politics. Full poem; He, Too. You might find yourself questioning the narratives that have shaped our understanding of freedom and production.

What is institutional language? 

Products and services

• Intellectualizing; Body, Movement, Language: AI Sketches with Bill T. Jones"  is an innovative, critical, and interdisciplinary approach to exploring the integration of AI in dance made by Google Creative Labs. However, the same attributes that drive this deep exploration—the pursuit of knowledge, critical analysis, and mentorship—also introduce elements of confusion and ambiguity. The interdisciplinary nature of the project can create confusion as it merges different fields with their terminologies and methodologies. Participants and in this case the creative team producing the video can struggle to find common ground, leading to miscommunication or unclear objectives. Take a moment to read through the comments; to further illustrate my point…

Why is this story necessary?

Lifestyle and inspiration

• Carl Sagan was known for his ability to convey complex scientific concepts in an accessible and engaging manner. His books and TV series, such as "Cosmos," reflect the Sage’s ability to educate and inspire through clear and thoughtful language. A particular example we selected to illustrate his ability to explain complex concepts such as God is his use of precise, thoughtful language that aims to educate and provoke deeper understanding. His language emphasizes humility and the recognition of the limits of human understanding, core aspects of the Sage archetype. Sagan often described himself as agnostic, acknowledging the limits of human knowledge. He suggested that while we cannot disprove the existence of God, we also lack sufficient evidence to confirm it.

What do you mean when you use the word God?

We’ve been here before

When a culture has a word in its language, it’s a sign of an idea that was visited before. 

Non-binary ideas on gender are often criticized as new and strange concepts. But, a short study on words that are over two hundred years old reveals how non-binary ideas on gender have been visited by cultures around the world for much, much, longer than most religious rhetorics and traditional narratives portray them to be. These words and their derivational word families often describe a wide spectrum of gender expressions, demonstrating how nonbinary ideas on sexuality have been a natural aspect of society. Human cultures have acknowledged the complexity of gender identity for centuries—our languages hold evidence.

Pandaka 

(Deriv. asittakapandaka, ussuyapandaka, opakkamikapandaka, lunapandaka, pakkhapandaka, napumsakapandaka) 

Used in ancient Sri Lanka to describe nonbinary genders, pandaka is a cognate from Pali. The origin of the term pandaka is thought to be derived from anda, which variously means `egg' or `testicle' in Pali, with the basic concept appearing to be that of a non-procreative sexuality. Subsequently, the derivatives of the term incorporate diverse expressions of genders and their sexual preferences, including exclusive fetishes, intersex individuals and those with a libido linked to lunar phases.

Ubhatobyanjanaka

(Deriv. ubhatō)

Found primarily in Buddhist Pali texts in Sri Lanka, Thailand, and India, the root of this term is ubhato meaning `two-fold', while byanjana denotes a sign or mark of gender or reproductive characteristic. Hence, in literal terms, the word means 'a person with the signs of both sexes/genders'. Bunmi Methangkun—late head of the traditionalist Abhidhamma Foundation in Bangkok, observes that the category of ubhatobyanjanaka persons described in the canon is understood as including both biological and ‘psychological’ intersex persons. 

Pakkha

(Var. kalapakkha, junhapakkha)

Used in India and sparingly in Sri Lanka, this term and its derivatives exclusively identify sexual expression responsive to the lunar cycle. Those becoming aroused during the waning moon (kalapakkha) and the waxing moon (junhapakkha) were recorded by the Buddhist scholar-monk Buddhaghōsa saying that a pakkha "becomes temporarily impotent for fourteen 'black days' of the month”.

Napumsaka

Used widely across South Asia to identify intersex people, this term communicates the idea of ‘half’. This is probably the reason for the popularity of the term, as the preposition of ‘half’ could be used to describe many gender expressions with both masculine and feminine characteristics.

Calalai

Used among the Bugis ethnic group in Indonesia, Calalai infers ‘to be a man’ and refers to biological women who represent themselves in masculine ways.

Calabai

Used in Indonesia, Calabai infers ‘to be a woman’ and describes people who have male biological sexual characteristics but occupy a role traditionally occupied by women. 

Bissu

Used in Indonesia, Bissu is a word used to describe the totality of masculinity and femininity. The etymology of the term is unclear but it probably derives from the Sanskrit word bhiksu, meaning monk. It refers to the spiritual role of this gender expression as they perform rites and are thought to bridge the worldly and the divine.

Hijra

Still used throughout the Indian subcontinent, the etymology of the word ‘Hijra’ can be traced to its Arabic root ‘Hijr’ which means departure or exodus from one’s tribe. It’s usually used to describe transgender persons and in a way, ties poetically with how all trans persons are in perpetual exile from the world and their own biological body.

Mukhannath 

(Deriv. khanith)

Found in classical Arabic and Islamic literature, this term is used to describe non-binary people, typically referred to as effeminate men or those with ambiguous sexual organs. Its etymology points to the meaning ‘variant’ and gave rise to the vernacular Arabic term ‘khanith’ used in some parts of the Arabian peninsula. 

Mudhakkarah

Used in classical Islamic texts, Mudhakkarah describes women who were masculine in appearance or mannerisms and preferred to function in roles typically carried out by men. 

Two-spirit 

(Incl. niizh, nádleehí, winkté, hemaneh)

In 1989, during a gathering in Winnipeg, Manitoba, LGBTQ people from North America adopted the term ‘Two Spirit’ to collectively identify themselves within their tribes. This term is used by tribes in Canada and the USA and serves as a unifying concept for the diverse gender identities acknowledged across various tribes. The term ‘Two Spirit’ was introduced as a universal term in English to foster broader understanding, although its meaning may not always translate to the complete or exact meaning of Native languages. 

✺ The attitude towards non-binary genders changed with influences like colonialism and religious states embracing orthodox values of a single belief system.  Within such contexts, some of these words have gained associations with criticism and negativity, and even given rise to colloquialized versions used as derogatory terms. However, all these terms have initially been used simply to identify, acknowledge, and distinguish diverse identities that were naturally present in society. Understanding the etymology and original meanings of these words allows us to use this language to create understanding rather than hostility.

Journeys of discovery

Archetype: Explorer

Rasa: Kāruṇyam

Explorer stories tend to emphasize personal freedom and the breaking of conventional boundaries. In this month’s list listen to Forest Swords's song "Crow," where haunting soundscapes evoke the thrill of the unknown. Look at Aaron Siskind’s "Pleasures and Terrors of Levitation," capturing the emotional duality of exploration through powerful imagery. Think about Ian Bremmer's inspiring speech, "Don't Drink the Poison," urging graduates to embrace uncertainty with courage and curiosity. Discover Satisfy's "Equipment for our World" campaign, showcasing gear designed for adventurous spirits. Finally, be inspired by Van Neistat’s series "The Spirited Man," celebrating creative living and the relentless quest for new experiences.

Listen to…

• Forest Swords's song "Crow" parallels the explorer archetype through its atmospheric and haunting soundscape that evokes a sense of mystery and discovery. The song's evolving layers and experimental structure reflect the explorer’s journey into the unknown, embracing uncertainty and seeking new experiences. The music creates a mood that evokes mystery and introspection, often associated with the journey of an explorer.

Look at…

• Aaron Siskind, an influential American photographer known for his abstract expressionist images, captures the essence of the explorer archetype in his series "Pleasures and Terrors of Levitation." The tension between pleasure and terror in the images reflects the emotional duality faced by explorers as they navigate uncharted territories, experiencing both the thrill of discovery and the anxiety of uncertainty. 

Think about…

• In his commencement speech to the 2024 graduating class at Columbia University; titled "Don't Drink the Poison," Ian Bremmer emphasizes the importance of resilience, adaptability, and the courage to navigate an unpredictable world—qualities central to the explorer archetype. Bremmer urges them to approach challenges with curiosity and an open mind, akin to an explorer's adventurous spirit. He highlights the necessity of forging one's path and embracing the unknown, paralleling the explorer's journey of self-discovery and transformation. 

Products and services

• The "Equipment for our World" campaign by Satisfy, a business known for its lifestyle and high-performance running gear, is an example of a commercial story channelling the explorer archetype. This campaign emphasizes the idea of venturing into the great outdoors equipped with gear designed for resilience and adaptability. The campaign's imagery and messaging reflect a spirit of curiosity and adventure. By highlighting the balance between performance and the unknown, Satisfy captures the emotional duality of the explorer's experience. The transformative nature of exploration is often leveraged to signify personal growth and self-discovery.

Lifestyle and inspiration

• Van Neistat, an acclaimed filmmaker and storyteller, embodies the explorer archetype in his series "The Spirited Man." Through this series, Neistat delves into the art of living with creativity, resilience, and a relentless curiosity for the world. The episodes highlight his journey of self-discovery and the pursuit of unconventional paths, mirroring the explorer's quest for new experiences and knowledge. Neistat’s storytelling captures the essence of independence and the courage to challenge the status quo, encouraging viewers to embrace the unknown and transform their lives. The series resonates with the explorer's spirit of adventure and growth, showcasing how confronting and navigating life's uncertainties can lead to profound personal transformation and a deeper understanding of oneself.