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I believe the nature of wiki is one of an ultimate creative tool, giving us the power of group energy without the messy dynamics of ego. The playing field is truly leveled, where all who participate is given a voice. We are seeing the true face of democracy, not the smoke and mirrors we have been raised on. Real freedom, to wander and meander through the richness of human knowledge, for good and bad. And always remember: not all those who wander are lost.
The notion of "sustain-ability" gives me an opportunity to reflect on the substance of our existence. It is when we can understand the "better angels of our nature," we can find the inspiration for acts of kindness that is the cornerstone of sustain-ability.
One of the central themes of Buddhism is one of Balance. Balance in actions, words and thought, ultimately relying on the “middle way,” a path of moderation which leads to eventual enlightenment. The sum total of existence is a fragile balance between desires, which can be controlled by right mind, right actions and a life of mindfulness. Mindfulness is a state where the self is in a hyper awareness of its surroundings, and after which the self dissolves. The Mind (big M) becomes aware of the ultimate reality, where the barrier between the self and others disappears, and oneness is achieved.
Sustain-ability utilizes the same themes. Economies, environment and societies become dependent on each other in a balance that encompasses all. The foundation of sustain-ability is understanding that every individual is dependent on each other for survival, and cooperation becomes crucial as the instrument for continuation of the human race.
It is not an easy path to sustain-ability. There are many obstacles, most arise out of self-centered desires. Cultures, for centuries, have struggled with desire and the control of needs that are mistakenly attributed to some sort of "basic Human nature". The path to enlightenment (in many beliefs) can come through meditation, prayer and self reflection, which many call "practice". Through methods such as those we can better understand the meaning of sustain-ability. It is intertwined with the most unrealized human need - respect.
Respect for the self, when oneness is achieved, becomes a respect for all.
In Vandana Shiva’s Earth Democracy, one of the major themes is globalization. By globalization, resources have been taken from local cultures and transferred to business entities - multi-national corporations - which succeed by turning basic human needs into commodities. Resources such as food, water and clean air are reserved for select groups that have the means to purchase them. The fragile balance between people and the environment becomes secondary to the viability of a “free market.” Even the term “free market” is misleading. The notion of free market accepts the premise that if there is the potential for profit, then the ends justify the means.
This practice removes respect for the individual. When respect for the individual is forsaken, and freedom traded for profit, life becomes out of balance. An excellent illustration is in the documentary Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out of Balance. It’s a striking demonstration of the industrialization of the planet, and its effects on the Earth. (I use planet as a thing, and Earth as a place - home.)
What is the notion of profit? The term has evolved from a noble goal for the individual, to a force nearly sinister in tone. In the world of corporate globalization, profit is a cornerstone, justifying a system where essential human needs such as food and water are taken from the commons, and given only to those who can afford them. Ironically, the people who profit are usually far removed from the commons who are most affected by privatization. The free market is defined by exclusion, by dividing the world into “haves” and “have nots.” By globalization, the free market demands there are winners. And, of course, there must be losers. The losers in the rush to market domination, is usually those who can least afford to lose.
Earth Democracy puts forth the premise that basic global resources are the right of the commons. The artificial “free” market, thrust upon the commons by globalization, can be changed to a living economy, one that is based on local economies and cultures, and returning the resources to the commons in a “fair market.” Local economies are living economies, and if we all act locally, we will be acting globally.
Understanding Comics
The development of any critical understanding of an art form begins with a definition of terms. Discussion of the merits of any creative work demand that some common ground be reached before critique of any piece can begin. Many of these discussions are subjective, and follow a individual’s point of view, but can never reach the next level until there is some basic accord. The main purpose of Scott McCloud’s Understanding Comics is to attempt some definitions in the world of the “comic,” being able to further critical examination by creating a starting point.
Narrowing down the definition to a workable “sequential art,” McCloud can start discussion of the medium of the comic. The medium itself is important by how the artist uses shading, contrast, light and dark to express ideas. McCloud reminds us that drawings are not things, but representations of things. These representations, called “icons,” can be worked in various ways to give the notion of forward movement of action.
What I believe is our existence can be loosely described as a series of “now” moments. The idea of time arises from the succession of now moments, and how these bits of our existence link together to form consciousness. This is what some refer to as “living in the moment.” What the comic artist attempts is a representation of various moments chosen to give the reader a sense of story. The enjoyment of the comic lies in the reader working to “fill in” missing parts to add fluidity to the story. Marshall McLuhan refers to this as being a “hot” media, where reader participation is higher to comprehend logical continuation. This is the creative element of comics, and where the talent of the comic artist is evident. The artist is challenged to create continual action along with the effect of time within a limited space, creatively applying limited methods. Ink lines, shading and contrast all work together through the prism of the artist to convey a story.
In reading for another class, I have come upon a term that I believe can apply to our class, and to what we are trying to accomplish. Technoshamanism, defined as using technology to achieve a higher consciousness. We are in the process of assembling a group of disparate individuals and through a system of cooperative evolution, which we are calling “wiki,” we are attempting to achieve a level of mindfulness for the survival of our species. The Sustain-ability of all aspects of our existence - social, economic and ecological - will be realized with no small thanks to technology, both current and future. The advent of available wireless communication, and the power of the internets (sorry, can’t help myself) will be a keystone to understanding the whole of our ecosystem and its workings.
We have even devoted a large chunk of today’s class to solving our current technology crisis, the struggle of the modern man to find a strong wifi signal.
Although Wikipedia defines technoshamanism in terms of psychotherapy, raving and drug use, I can see how the term can apply to our own wiki, and our focus on sustain-ability. The function of the shaman has historically been one of a mystic who assists a person to achieve a glimmer of a higher power, a whiff of the consciousness of something greater than ourselves. The wiki will develop into a sort of electronic consciousness, available to the commons. The purpose of the shaman has been traditionally tied to illness and medical need, but who can disagree that there is nothing in more urgent need of healing than our planet. The use of the wiki, impossible if not for some modern marvels, brings together talent and energies of very human individuals, and pool those resources into power that can create solutions for serious problems affecting all of us.
Community Literacy
Wikipedia defines literacy as the ability to use language on several levels: reading, writing, listening and speaking. This can range from a basic command of a common language to complex comprehension of abstract concepts. The promotion of community literacy encompasses elemental mechanics of communication along with an awareness of local societies, cultures and environment. Community literacy involves education in the tools of a common language, with an understanding of how to utilize those tools to become productive members of society. Community Literacy also refers to an appreciation of arts and media of all types, especially regarding local issues. All citizens, young and old, can participate in community literacy, not only by teaching others to converse with their neighbors, but in thinking critically about issues influencing their surroundings. Participation reaches every level of a society, and the free flow of knowledge creates an educated commons, with an awareness of the challenges to the neighborhood,. An educated citizenry becomes a solid foundation for a peaceful, sustainable social structure, one that is prepared to meet challenges of the future.
Green Computing
A component of green computing, indeed one of the basic tenets of sustainability itself, is the emphasis on efficiency. The efficient management of time and resources is most important in education. The early introduction of technology, and the concept of time management, has become essential to the preparation of a student for modern life. The key to becoming a productive member of society rests in the mastery of available tools. This has been true for every era of human history, in every culture. Tools available for the modern student are the most powerful, and its potential never greater. We need to use these tools to maximum benefit, with the easiest method is exposing students to both the mechanics and concepts of sustainable technology early and often. Computing, at its core, is the accumulation of knowledge. Establishing a working knowledge of computers, as well as the efficient use of time, is a solid foundation of education.
Interview/Ethnography
I am in the process of interviewing Jason Pridham, who is a middle school teacher at Jewett School of the Arts (in Polk County). The reasons are several: I am interested in the early introduction of computer usage and the concept of sustainablility, he is an alumni of USF (always a good thing), and he is a good friend of my daughter (accessability is essential - I had to fit it around my work schedule).
My questions (he is pretty busy, so the questions are brief):
What is the most effective way computers are being used at Jewett?
Polk County Schools have a version of Blackboard, which is similar to USF. Does your class utilize this website?
If Blackboard is used at a higher level, what is the earliest grade Blackboard is introduced?
How much awareness is there about environmental issues in your school?
As a teacher, do you have any suggestions how computer use can be more ecologically efficient, made more “green?”
To begin, I do not have a problem with the concept of “sustain-ability”, and it would be foolish to disagree with the idea. Of course we need to renew resources, they will stop being resources if we do not. The highest priority of our time should be the viability of future generations by making sure there are some resources remaining, and not to gobble up our planet in a fit of short sightedness. It is a classic human trait. Don't forget, the planet has a way of responding, and not in ways that are conducive with our survival. Anyone who has experienced tornadoes, heat waves or other massive natural disasters can attest to that. Those who suffered through M. Night Shyamalan's “The Happening” (trust me) can also understand.
My issue is with how Americans treat terminology, and the ease with which words can be hijacked in the name of profit. And by profit I refer to more than money. The words “green” and “organic” are good examples. Those terminologies have became “branded” to nearly iconic levels. We are being bombarded with products, people and places labeled “green.” Saint Petersburg is working very hard to be the “green city,” going as far as being the first town so proclaimed by a group called the Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC). This tag line will be used to bring development and money to St. Pete. From my experience, development and money are the two things that do not fit well with ecological sustain-ability. Development is not a word that “jives” with conservation, sustain-ability or preservation. I saw our Mayor Rick Baker sitting outside the USF Barnes and Noble on Tuesday, and I wanted to give him a piece of my mind. I realized I could not spare any, so I held back.
Development has been one of the mainstays of Western growth, especially in the last 60 years. President Truman began the modern age of development when, on his inauguration day - January 20, 1949 - declared "greater production is the key to prosperity and peace" by declaring most of the world "undeveloped"and "their economic life (as) primitive and stagnant." To label people "savage" and "primitive" gave the West a mandate to "civilize." Assignment of these ideas were essential to give the West a moral obligation to develop those regions, which in short order became a way to profit from raw materials. The post-war era was marked by profiteering, although not completely without precedent. The most egregious violators have been the corporation, where common efforts replace economic profit with morality, and personal responsibility is diluted by group think. Multi-national corporations take this underlying lack of morality and export it world-wide, erasing borders by deifying currency. The rise of the multi-national corporation had been building steadily for centuries, recognized by no less than Abraham Lincoln, who wrote in 1864:
"I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. ... corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed." (http://www.globalissues.org/article/234/the-rise-of-corporations)
Lincoln understood this, still reeling from a horrific Civil War, which was as much about the economic viability of a fledgling Union as it was about individual freedoms. The manufacturing interests of the North needed the raw materials supplied by the South, and the future economy of America was threatened by an independent South. It was clear that a divided America would struggle to support itself. The high cost of trading with seceded Confederate states would be a huge hurdle for the continued development of the Industrial North. Not to mention all that "free" labor provided by slavery. Imagine if plantation owners paid a fair wage to workers on their farms. The economic toll would have made America a very different place.
It was necessary to present a concept that would provoke Americans to lay down their lives, especially in a brutal war. To justify war for purely economic means is a tough sell to the average American. And the rich would have none of it, exampled by how military service was sold to poor men of the North when conscription was enacted in 1863. There were two ways to get out of the Civil War: a 300 dollar "commutation fee," or provide a substitute. Soon a class of soldier developed known as the "three hundred dollar men." Class inequities and forced military service were factors in the New York Draft Riots (July 1863), a particularly violent episode that claimed 120 lives. The 2002 film Gangs of New York was loosely based on those events.
The Civil War, to most involved, was a fight to preserve a way of life (sound familiar?). The South saw it as an infringement on their culture and their sovereignty. The threat of the Federal government was sufficient reason to fight to protect culture and customs. It was the feeling of encroachment of the North, the hatred of the anti-slavery platform of Lincoln, coupled with a fear of equality for the slaves, that fueled the South's spirit for war. Southerners were branded as “rebels” and stereotyped as uncultured and backwards while supporters of the Union had taken the moral imperative to assert superiority. It would result in the bloodiest conflict in our history, a distinction which continues to this day.
The passion of moral superiority and the comfort of being on the side of right are powerful motives for the decision to act. Control of these emotions, especially for profit, has been the focus of multi-national corporations, governments and religious organizations for millennium. To be comfortable is a basic human need, and the ability to provide comfort and relief, physically and emotionally, becomes an alluring path to power. With power comes profit. The most efficient tactic for keeping a group of disparate individuals in line is to convince them your path is a path to comfort. The path to heaven, to nirvana, to riches, to permanent weight loss - all of these have the benefit of giving some relief to the struggle of existence. As Buddhists realize, all living is suffering, and the way to alleive suffering is to.... wait for it.... live the life they prescribe. Christians have heaven, Hindus and Buddhists have Nirvana (so did Kurt Cobain, rest his soul), Microsoft has Windows Vista (damn you, Gates!). Drug use falls under the same umbrella. Who doesn't want to feel good? Bayer Laboratories developed Heroin in 1898 as a morphine substitute to (you guessed it) make the Western World feel good, and we all know how that turned out.
Making America feel good has made centuries of entrepreneurs rich, fueled the rise of huge corporations with world wide interests, threatening the world with a blanket of "free markets" and turning our little hootenanny we call Earth into one big Wal-Mart. This never ending hunger for comfort, and the structure to provide said comfort, continues to be the holy grail of Western business. Why build a better mousetrap if not to give people the "warm fuzzies" in a home without fear of being overrun by rats.
OK folks... Before you get crazed; I am NOT trying to tie our "sustain-ability" meme to the Civil War, Heroin use, Grunge music, Martin Scorsese films or rodent control. But it does make one think, "why do we do any of these things?" Hmmmmm...
The manipulation of terminology is a linchpin for getting America behind a concept. Key to the success of any campaign of ideas is in making it palatable in as efficient form as possible. The green movement is an excellent example of how a noble effort is pinned onto an economic motive. Of course, we want to save the world for future generations, as I said earlier, it would be foolish to argue the point. Being "green" gives us, if anything, the opportunity to feel good about ourselves, our community and the fate of the planet.
One look at "Love Canal," the neighborhood outside Buffalo, New York, built over an abandoned chemical dumping ground of Hooker Chemical, and one cannot help to be radically pro-environment, or "green." The sight of family homes and an elementary school which at one time oozed toxic cancer-causing waste, with the predictable Stephen King-like illnesses and birth defects, is unsettling at least. Love Canal (some name!) became a focal point of the burgeoning environmental movement, and laid the foundation for the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act, known commonly as the "Superfund." It is now encased in a cement coffin, like some strange alien landscape.
When taking about manipulation, we must differentiate between the hijack of ideas and a more classic definition of advertising. Advertising is an attempt to inform a potential customer base to choose a product with features and benefits that will serve a purpose or fill a need. The desire to inform is the basis of legitimate advertising, and the purpose is clear - to sell a product. The path of manipulation is more covert, appealing to emotions that run deep, without really knowing why we feel that way. Soon we stop thinking critically of the motives, and just accept them without question.
The green movement, at one time, had some clear objectives; clean up the mess centuries of short sightedness and greedy industrialism had brought upon our planet. There were concrete goals and a keen understanding of the challenges for achieving definable results. As time progressed, and more people realized the need for improvement, a simple agenda has morphed into a complex blend of emotions, economics and politics. Green parties in several countries have taken root and flourished, especially in Europe in the latter part of the twentieth century. With slow successes, and steady growth, the notion of sustain-ability has woven into the very human desire for self preservation. Like marble in the hands of a master sculptor, being “green” has been chiseled bit by bit into something beautiful. An artful blend of hope and awareness, giving an individual a powerful tool to affect the future. Soon being green gives us a sense of emotional satisfaction. And boy, does it feels good.
The power to make someone feel good has turned into the power to feel good for a price. In the past ten years, a deluge of products have traded in on the good will from decades of dedication and hard work by scores of activists. Home Depot has added over 2500 new products on its green "Eco-Options" label, and that is just one company. Products need to be green to be viable in the marketplace. For years, brands of dish detergent have been labeled “phosphate free.” Recent packaging changed to read “certified green” due of the absence of phosphates, with an increase in price commensurate with the new label. The average consumer knows for some reason phosphates are bad, but does not realize that phosphorus is an essential nutrient for plant growth. It is the excess of phosphate, a form of phosphorus, which is dangerous, and the distinction gets passed along, without question or explanation.
Sustain-ability is not just recycling and choosing the right brand of soap. It is an awareness of our place in the world, and how we better can fit into the incomprehensible jigsaw puzzle that is existence, and still leave room for the other pieces.
We are constantly told by “experts,” who for some reason are being paid handsomely for their opinions, that “organic” foods are somehow better and healthier. “Organic” has become the new catch word in the battle of the brands. One definition of organic, set in 1995 by the Organic Trade Association is:
"A labeling term that denotes products produced under the authority of the Organic Foods Production Act (found in Title 7 of the U.S. Code - Agriculture). The principal guidelines for organic production are to use materials and practices that enhance the ecological balance of natural systems and that integrate the parts of the farming system into an ecological whole. Organic agriculture practices cannot ensure that products are completely free of residues..."
Pretty vague, right?
To keep up with the changing concept of "organic" we buy books on organic living (goodbye trees) and watch countless late night infomercials (electric juice does not grow on those trees). Babies-R-Us even carries a book titled "Organic Parenting"(?!?) I hope we are not eating babies, they taste bad. Without understanding the mechanics and definitions behind what is labeled organic, consumers blindly accept the term, and are willing to pay a few cents more for a can of beans. As long as it has the right label. It's as if we have been eating inorganic food all this time. Well... I have a loaf of “green” bread in my kitchen right now, and you can have it all, if you want.
Sustain-ability is more than eating the right foods, buying the right brands and driving the right cars. It is a mindfulness of how we interact with our environment, living a life that takes into account our planet and being a more efficient member of the community. Sustain-ability includes the active knowledge of what it means to be green, a constant conundrum of awareness and education. Understanding how we can treat each with the most essential element of society - respect. Respect for ourselves by eating right, respect for our environment and for our citizens, be it locally, nationally or planetary, all by living right by your own standards. It all starts with mindfulness of a way that is the best for you.
My biggest fear, as I continue in this class, is that the term “sustain-ability” will meet the wrong fate. Use and overuse will bring a certain blandness to a concept that must take priority in our society. The more Americans misuse a phrase, the less gravitas it carries, and the less effective the term becomes. Soon the concept itself will suffer. We quickly grow tired of repetition, even though it is far removed from the original intent. When we grow weary of an idea, it becomes weak and malleable, like clay, making it an easy tool for marketing. In the wrong hands it is a tool that can be dangerous, and overuse makes it negative. Politicians have made an art form of this technique, as history frequently demonstrated.
How can we prevent sustain-ability from the realm of triteness? To sustain "sustain-ability" (ironic?), diligence is the key. We must be vigilant of how we are presenting sustain-ability, and always remember to use it sparingly and with care. My suggestion is that if we must drum a concept into the heads of average, plain-Jane Americans, and run the risk of lessening its impact, that we replace the words “sustain-ability” with a term that we have no problem reducing to banality. Something that deserves to be belittled. I nominate the term “Dick Cheney.” That way if the phrase becomes something that America will grow tired of hearing, and tosses into the dustbin of history, that'll do just fine.
Life is a continuum. It ebbs and flows with each passing moment, blending seamlessly to create what we understand as existence. The comic art form takes our innate understanding of the continuous motion of our lives and segments reality into snippets which we call "frames." Our minds see the frames but cannot separate them from a flow which is the constant in our lives. The blending of the frames together, to mimic the flow of existence, is the heart of the enjoyment of comics. The true artistry of the comic author is how the “empty” spaces of the gutter, the breaks between individual frames, are molded together to form a complete story. On the surface, the segments of the comic can be seen as bits of a story, but the true nature of storytelling through the comic form springs from the entire work, gutters and all. The gutters make our minds exercise, using past experiences and utilizing things we feel are true and melding them with visual clues provided in the frames. An illusion of continuity is created.
Obsession/Radical Islam
Prior to watching this "documentary" I asked myself "to what degree do I want to be manipulated?" Will the images and ideas put forward in this film change any opinions I have toward Islam, or the Middle East in general? I believe the sole purpose of this DVD was to inflame and enrage. It gives the viewer a reason to be arrogant towards Islam. The cover alone is designed to elicit emotion, mostly negative. This is the same composition we have been discussing in McCloud. The cover of the DVD leans heavily on icons of war and images we have assigned to fear and anger, in the form of the smoking ruins of the twin towers. The composition is to encourage divisions along racial (and religious) lines. This is the ever-important national election season, and a quick internet search of the producers reveal some pro-McCain leanings. Whether this has any connection to McCain remains to be seen.
I believe in the power of independent thought, and take everything I see (especially on the internet) with a pretty big grain of salt, even if I agree thoroughly. The computer age has become the "great equalizer" where anyone with a powerful enough system, and access to enough images, can promote their opinion easily. Agendas are experly hidden and deftly molded by professional and novice alike. Radical viewpoints can take an equal footing with more sober reflection on ideas. In a Statistics 101 course I took many years ago, the most important lesson was in the opening statements of the professor. To paraphrase: with statistics, numbers can be made to say anything and whenever you are presented stats, always analyze the framework of the question. Anytime a survey or poll is being cited, I always ask "what are the parameters?" This is the basis of rhetorical discourse, and the foundation of critical thinking. Every writer has a point of view and even journalists, no matter how objective, speak with a voice. It is the goal of rhetorical discourse to establish ground rules to sift through the subjective nature of communication and reach a common truth.
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