Assertive self-expression, anger, rage, and various forms of roughness are traditionally associated with maleness. Even if they scare us or make us uncomfortable, they are perceived and experienced as masculine qualities. It is so deeply rooted in so many cultures that we do not notice its presence. To test it, see what comes to your … Continue reading Spreading the Word: Anger and Female Rage
Spreading the Word: Lifestyle of Doing Nothing
Have you ever wished just to do nothing for a while? Relax, have nowhere to be, nothing to attend to, no obligations, no responsibilities - at least for a day or two. To some, this sounds like a dream vacation or a state of inner peace worth cultivating. To others, it is the epitome of … Continue reading Spreading the Word: Lifestyle of Doing Nothing
Spreading the Word: What Is an Intellectual?
What does it mean to be an intellectual? What is it like to feel oneself an intellectual? Is it a public role or a more private, secluded vocation, a contemplative and quiet way of life? While 100 years ago the Dominican preacher and philosopher Antonin-Gilbert Sertillanges emphasized the need for solitude (although, not isolation) if … Continue reading Spreading the Word: What Is an Intellectual?
Spreading the Word: Longest Art Gallery
Are we ready to prioritise cultural heritage over commercial interest? It is a question of values. More specifically - it is a matter of deciding how to resolve a clash between an intrinsic and instrumental value. Pondering this may reveal the values we live by, perhaps without fully recognising them. In today's post, I share … Continue reading Spreading the Word: Longest Art Gallery
To Speak A Language Is To Participate In A World
In his book, "Black Skin, White Masks", Frantz Fanon argues that language, far from just a tool for conveying information, expresses a world implied by it. In other words, words matter in shaping who I am in your eyes, as does my tone of voice, accent, dialect, and so on. If I am a foreigner speaking your … Continue reading To Speak A Language Is To Participate In A World
A Quote By Gandhi
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Spreading the Word: Russian Folklore – Baba Yaga
This Friday I share with you a podcast/video episode on Baba Yaga. She is an important and versatile character in the Russian and broader Slavic folklore. The video offers an interesting deep-dive into the nature, origins, and various interpretations of Baba Yaga. When growing up, I remember reading folktales and later watching some cartoons where … Continue reading Spreading the Word: Russian Folklore – Baba Yaga
Spreading the Word: Languages and Thinking
This Friday I share with you a very interesting short video on the relationship between languages and thinking. The speakers are discussing their views based on experience and on research evidence as to whether we think differently in different languages. Personally, I am certain that we do. That's why speaking foreign languages is like putting … Continue reading Spreading the Word: Languages and Thinking
Spreading the Word: Life in Shakespeare’s England
This Friday I share with you a fascinating video -"Social disorder in Shakespeare's England". It is a lecture by Oxford University's Dr Healey who specializes in this period of British history. Besides being an interesting historical overview, it also helps to form a better understanding of the social and cultural context in which Shakespeare lived … Continue reading Spreading the Word: Life in Shakespeare’s England
Spreading the Word: Our Homes as Our Mirrors
This Friday I share with you an article "Inside the homes of remarkable artists and writers". It is a small selection from a book by Sam Lubell "Life meets Art" where the author presents his choice of 250 residences of the world's most creative people. Some homes are just what you might expect while others reveal … Continue reading Spreading the Word: Our Homes as Our Mirrors
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