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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?


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.



They gathered under a scorching sun, in the hottest March recorded, at the Kilinochchi town park where the regional Women’s Day celebration was being held. Sitting outdoors in the intense heat took on a form of diligence true to martyrs. There were nearly three hundred women gathered there; almost all of them had lost someone to the civil war that ended fifteen years ago.



They’re all guardians of someone’s memory; their minds the last museums of those long-gone someones.

Starting over in post-war bureaucracy was a nightmare for a reason.

“All we wanted was to live happily with our children...hire a van once a year and take them somewhere on holiday.”


The best option might seem to let go and move on. But, …


How do you let go too, when the world already has?


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