Part of my goal in blogging here on Ms. In the Biz is to share my love of brainy and inspiring things. It’s phenomenal when I stumble upon an article with no apparent connection to my work that ultimately sparks an idea or brings a new, important perspective to my life. We have more information around us than we can think to handle, so if I can point you in the digital direction of a few things that I think will enrich your life, I am happy to do so! I believe everything that affects your soul will ultimately rewire and build your brain, so I’m calling these my SPARK YOUR SOUL/BRAIN posts.
1.AWE: SHOTS OF AWE SERIES from TEST TUBE: BY JASON SILVA MAY 2013.
You’ll come to learn that Jason Silva is one of my favorite big thinkers and futurists on this planet. I stumbled upon one of his videos two years ago and have been hooked ever since. He creates these amazing bite sized visual extravaganzas where he riffs, almost beat poetry style, on the future of mankind through the viewfinder of existential thought, technology and science. So it’s no surprise to me how he has a new show on NatGeo and his newest set of videos, Shot of Awe, are hosted by Test Tube (of Discovery Channel/ Revision 3). The above link is his most recent video where he rifts on how we must break from our daily patterns in order to let the wonders of the universe in. His videos are nectar for my soul/brain.
2. YOU SAY YOU WANT A DEVOLUTION: by Kurt Andersen, VANITY FAIR Jan 2012
Kurt Andersen has become one of my favorite writers as of late, and the radio show and site he hosts, Studio 360, is chock full of brainy, insightful interviews (Joss Whedon this past month, hello!). This was the article that put him on my radar, a fun yet thought provoking look at what defines us culturally in 2012. If you deduct the advances in technology, how do we ‘look’ any different than our 1992 past selves? We are a culture that has no defining style, full of entertainment ‘reboots’ and sequels – this summer of 2013 is no different. How are we going to define our culture? Will it be through YouTube and not in the movie theater?
3. STEVEN SPIELBERG AND GEORGE LUCAS: USC Opening of Interactive Media Building (video CNBC) June 2013.
Speaking of movies in the theater, you’ve probably now heard about the much reported on talk that these two industry legends gave at USC. They relayed their thoughts on an imminent implosion/ ‘big melt down’ of the movie business. They paint the picture of a constrained movie industry limited to big blockbusters where tickets prices are $50 -$100 and the experience will be similar to a Broadway show or a football game. They (with Lucas leading most of the talk in a blustering manner) see most movie type entertainment transferring to ‘internet television’, targeted at a niche audience. With marketing costs what they are for a film release and the ever growing competition for eye balls, I don’t doubt this transition will occur but I am skeptical of what the market will bare. I enjoy seeing a big budget effects laden film on a big screen with great audio, but the margin between paying $75 for that experience compared with the $10 of renting it on demand in the comfort of my pretty well equipped living room (something you can’t do with Broadway nor feel the energy of a live sporting event) doesn’t compute. What is the future of movies in the theater? Can our home screens take over? Were these two giants grasping at straws with no real answers?
4. DEEDA BLAIR’S ELEGANCE OF CONVICTION. By Andrew Soloman, NYTimes T Magazine, June 17, 2013.
From the big screen to behind the scenes, I was quietly stunned by the inspiring portrait painted of a woman named Deeda Blair. This New York City lady of society and means is famous both for her elegance and austerity in fashion and her multi-decade long dedication to being a patron (and student) of science. I must attest to her being my new ‘mentor’ and one of the most interesting and inspiring women I have read about of late: she’s fierce, intelligent, elegant, reserved yet passionate. I won’t give Mr. Soloman’s sublime prose or Mrs. Blair’s achievements justice by recapping, I just urge you to read this piece… especially if you are a woman who looks to balance art and science, femininity and the masculine (like myself). And may we all remember that having true passion for a cause can yield remarkable results.
5. WHY WE HAVE TOO FEW WOMEN LEADERS: TED Talk by Sheryl Sandberg Dec 2010 (video)
And from there we travel to a woman who is never far from the spotlight these days. With the massive amount of press surrounding Sheryl Sandberg’s book release of LEAN IN, I thought I’d repost the TED Talk that started it all. You have probably watched this video. I hope you have. Yes, it is geared towards women, but even if you are a man, you have a mother, a sister, a wife, a daughter or a co-worker who hopefully you value, so you should spend 15 minutes and watch Facebook’s COO give an observant and inspiring talk about empowering women in the work force, especially those with children. I believe our future depends on empowering a new and more vibrant generation of women leaders. I know she has her detractors, that she doesn’t reflect her book’s themes of female empowerment by following anyone on twitter, that she has multiple nannies to help with the household and a bank account bigger than that of my zip code’s. Ms. Sandberg will be held to the highest standard as she is looking to break down some sacred temples of society, industry and gender. But I, for one, will be there to support her.
Did you have a favorite link? Any thoughts on entertainment culture and women on the workplace, were you inspired (like I am) by Jason, by Deeda Blair? Be a badass and let the Ms. In The Biz community know!