#cultural norms are silent and they can be insidious in that way

[james-silenthill]

People that refuse the concept that things might be culturally christian are chuckleheads

[shakespearesglobeblog]

Shame. 

George Nichols is the Assistant Director for Edward II and After Edward. He is writing a blog series about the processes and ideas in these two plays.

Edward II, written by Christopher Marlowe will be directed by Nick Bagnall. After Edward, a contemporary response to Marlowe's piece was written by Tom Stuart and will be directed by Brendan O'Hea. Tom will play Edward in both productions. The cast will be the same for both plays.

‘You can marry, you can adopt, you can say you’re gay in the workplace, but what about the things we haven’t had to time to deal with? The insidious things like shame that affect us silently every day?’

It’s the first week of rehearsals for After Edward, a production that will be performed in tandem with Christopher Marlowe’s Edward II in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse. After Edward is a new play, written by Tom Stuart (who will be playing Edward) and featuring a cast that will run across both productions. We’re talking a lot about the relationship between Tom’s play and Marlowe’s and what unites them across a void of 400 years and what makes them so important for audiences today.

Some background. Edward II, the central character of Marlowe’s play, has a same-sex romantic relationship with, among others, Piers Gaveston. It’s an amazing play, not least for what it tells about gender and sexuality in the Renaissance period in which the play was written, and the earlier 14th century when the play was set. A big question we’re grappling with this week is what connects the experiences of Edward II, Marlowe and a gay man living in the modern era?

Each of these different periods has a vastly different perspective on gender and sexuality (something we’ll cover in the next blog) and so each of these people will have had a vastly different experience. In fact, in the era the play was written people weren’t labeled because of the acts they committed; all people were considered capable of all things and so an act didn’t define an individual. Yet one thing that remains true across the last 700 years is that at no point has the preference for same-sex relationships been a societal norm. Whether homosexuality has been accepted, tolerated, persecuted or hidden the society we live in has primarily been designed with white heterosexual men in mind.

The effect that living up to a hetero-normative ideal has on the individual that doesn’t fit is something that resonates throughout these plays. That effect is, among other things, shame.

We’re fortunate that our company is made up of people with different personal perspectives on gender and sexuality. At some point though, we can all attest to having felt shame of some kind at being unable to live up to an ideal that is thrust upon us.

Despite the progress that can be said to have been made in the 21st century, for the plethora of people who do not identify with heterosexual ‘norms’ it can be impossible to see oneself in the surrounding cultural and social environment. Just think of something like the couplings on Strictly Come Dancing or the way the sex education in schools is almost entirely based around the heterosexual experience. Not seeing yourself in the world can have the impact of making you feel that the life you want to live is not only abnormal but wrong.

Later in the week, we talk to Dr. Will Tosh from the Globe’s Research Department about how some productions eschew the homosexuality within Edward II entirely and make Gaveston and Edward’s relationship platonic. We agree this is a shame. One of the great connections we have found with both Edward II and After Edward is how important they both are for allowing people to see themselves in the culture around them. As one of the company says, with regards to their first reading of After Edward: ‘I wish I had seen this play when I was growing up’.

Tom began this week by telling us a story of him standing in Berkley Castle, where Edward II was executed, and looking around and thinking ‘this is where it happened, this is where he was, he would have seen this light and felt this darkness’. In After Edward, the characters often come back to the idea that they are just one part of a long and never-ending line; from the pornographic petroglyphs unearthed by archaeologists to Edward II himself. In the modern world, we live in it is important that these lives and stories are shared and celebrated, and that we make the world a place where no one feels shame for who they are or the life they lead. It’s essential that this belief is a guiding principle of the work we create and the culture we share.

[vixianna]

Hey, I just wanted to say that I really loved your post explaining the different aspects of marginalization. One thing that struck me though was when you mentioned that an aspect of invisibility is silencing tactics and preventing oppressed groups from developing language to describe their oppression. I think this is absolutely happening in Ace Discourse, but I wanted to know your thoughts on situations where maybe the invisible group is coopting a hypervisible group's language? (/1)

I’m not talking about the word “queer” because I think that that has a much more far reaching definition by now, but terms like “coming out” or the recent argument around using the chant “We’re here, we’re queer, get used to it” by aces. Do you feel that language of marginalization is universal enough to have such language shared across groups like that? For example if, such as your example, Asian groups started using terms created by black groups, to describe their marginalization? (/2)

Hey there anon! I waited a few minutes to make sure all your messages came in, so I hope this is your full question. 

The answer is “it depends”. Some language of marginalization is universal, but some is not. “Racism”, “anti-X race” language, “X normativity”, ect are much more universal and is based around talking about roots of oppression itself. Specific language that quantifies a unique expression of a group’s oppression, for example “mammy” stereotype or “lotus flower” stereotype, are not shareable. Even if the root is an exoticification, othering, depersonalization, ect process, they are not the same stereotypes, nor do they have the same exact implications  even if they have the same root. 

Both of the phrases you talked about fall into different categories. “We’re here, we’re queer, get used to it” is a radical rallying cry. It’s purpose is political and aimed at LGBT+ liberation and meant to be focused on straight cis oppressors. It’s not appropriate to use for intracommunity brouhaha, no matter how satisfying it might be for people on either side to say it to someone else.(and this is mostly aimed at inclusionists, don’t do this please.)

On the other hand, “coming out” describes a general LGBT+ experience. It’s about “leaving the closet”, becoming visible when heterosexuality is the assumed default and assumed state of everyone. This isn’t an experience specifically tied one LGBT+ identity. The experience is about refusing invisibility. Some group members then become hypervisible as a result of claiming their identity, but others are then rendered invisible. That is, the forces of oppression then try to deny their existence. This is similar to being in the closet(a state of invisibility), only this time it’s directly coercive and enforced through violence. NBs are typically subjected to enforced invisibility when they attempt to come out. 

The question then becomes, are aces/aros denying invisibility by stating their orientation, and are they then assaulted by being rendered either hyper or invisible? 

I haven’t seen anyone in discourse claim ace/aro identities are “visible”, in fact even the most determined exclusionist say Ace/Aro problems are “mostly about visibility”. So, we know they are “unknown”. Do ace/aros when they assert their existence get subjected to violence meant to either render them silent, deny their existence, or ignore their presence? And I’d say the answer to that is yes. Not just in the discourse, in fact, rarely in the discourse on tumblr itself(though there is a growing concerning movement regarding this among discoursers that I’m going to address when it comes to conversations about radicalization of politics mmhm. Omg I keep promising more posts whhhyyyyy...) Generally, Ace/Aro are subjected to social violence/backlash intended to deny their existence, deny their reality, ignore their experiences, ect. That sort of behavior is subsets of “invisibility making”. That being the case, I think the usage of “coming out” is appropriate when talking about ace/aro labels. (when seen in the context that “coming out” describes a LGBT+ experience surrounding their manifestation of normativity and normativity enforcement.) 

As a final note, I’d like to talk about the coopting of language as a consequence of enforced invisibility. A direct way to enforce invisibility is to remove, ridicule, suppress, ect the language of the oppressed.(and this is especially useful for enforcing internalized powerlessness on the group in question as well.) Language is power, and the denial of language removes the person’s ability to accurately describe, relate, and change the situation they find themselves in. This is the underlying insidious danger around Newspeak in 1984. To remove the ability to even think crimes, to render thoughtcrime(the idea of rebellion and the destruction of the oppressive system) impossible. Enforced invisibility around NB genders is meant to directly prop up the system of binarism over which a lot of patriarchal foundations rest. (Binarism, that there is only two genders, as opposed to being binary. They are very different things. Binarism is a tenant of radfem terfs for example) Enforced invisibility around ace/aro identities is likely used to reinforce heterosexism. You can not merely “opt out” of the system by “not experiencing” these things/desires. You MUST have these desires, so that these desires can be uncatalogued and you sorted properly. So that this proper sorting can be used to enforce other kinds of violence against you. This, btw, is ultimately why I think the system of heterosexism doesn’t like ace/aro IDs. You are not allowed to “opt out”. 

A result of the denial of language though, is the group in question then trying to make their own. If this language and experiences aren’t allowed to be discussed/recognized/are actively fought against, you leave the groups with little choice but opt to use other language. The group will likely recognize that the language of the oppressor group doesn’t fit, it’s why they tried to make their own. They will then opt to use language from a different group, typically groups rendered hypervisible(as their language and culture is plastered with neon and put under a microscope.) 

This isn’t something I support or think should be done, but it’s like my octopod friend says about the difference between primary and secondary aggressor in abusive situation(though they know more about this than I do, the comparison is apt.) “Mutual abuse” doesn’t exist. There is a primary and secondary aggressor. They might be hard to differentiate, but it exists. Once the primary aggressor and abuser stops, the secondary aggressor’s behavior stops. The secondary aggressor’s behavior is dependent on the violence of the primary aggressor, the primary aggressor enacts abuse for internal reasons. 

In this way, the coopting of hypervisible groups language is a result of the primary aggression of enforced invisibility. If these groups were allowed to develop language of their own, they would stop using hypervisible groups language. Now, hypervisible groups aren’t the primary aggressors here, they aren’t the abusers(heterosexism is the abuser here), but as a result of the different way this abuse manifests, you see different behavior from each group. I’d also like to state that playing into enforced invisibility to counter productive. I see a lot of discourse going out of the way to ridicule aro/ace language or NB language. I see a lot of discourse around how “problematic” a term is, often for the implicit purpose of rendering a group silent. I even see discourse that directly contradicts the idea that the group in question exists and has specific experiences to relay that need language. 

This is especially unfortunate coming from other LGBT+ people, because all of the nasty angry screaming they do about Aces/Aros “Stealing” LGBT+ language is only exacerbated by their refusal to allow specific ace/aro language, or their constant regular ridicule of that language(and this is truly mostly aimed at exclusionists. There is a lot of ridiculing of Aro relationships and their language/words for it. And there is a lot of language and posts aimed at claiming aceness isn’t real/doesn’t need to be an ID/isn’t a coherent experience. The latter of which as an enforced form of invisibility is what a lot of inclusionist discoursers have been referring to as “gaslighting”. I can pull up specific examples if need be, but generally claiming an experience doesn’t/isn’t happening, or doesn’t need specific words for it involves enforcing invisibility.). If you want Ace/Aros to stop using “LGBT” language, you have got to let them develop their own words. Without ridiculing it because you think it’s “dumb” or “what everyone experiences”. Without denying that these things happen to them or they are feeling this way. Without being threatened and claiming that every attempt at actualization is Xphobic(this only happens on tumblr, but I’d thought I’d mention it) using tedious, ignorant, illogical statements. Let them make their own language, and they’ll stop using yours. 

[sporadicpatternsmasher-blog]

folded ontology...

There's consequences in all we say and do Go forward and walk your walk and I'll go ahead and talk my talk Quite distraught due to the fact that you're too good to be true I know that the Lord of Accord will be following me like my shimmering shadow wherever I walk I will walk and walk And I will talk my talk I will practice what I preach To the pupils, I will teach Pensive propositions is my speech's mission Honor and think through Constructive criticism Cleverly-written composition begin to slightly transition Take correction not for granite...with optimism that is symmetrical like a puny prism Free-spirited I long to be With you as long as I thrive to wondrously live I want to flee and be set free Let go and have consideration to generously give Be anxious for nothing Love all and do your thang God's spirit is available to us 24/7 I always make my way to 7-eleven Doing away with the latter days of my lament Live in the present of yesterday's tomorrow My mind constantly whirls around like a hurricane near the beach and tornado in the east side of the United States - my mind is cozy in God's tent Repenting slowly, but surely until sorrow is a healing scar that flies away in recovery like a splendid, spunky sparrow Hooking up problems I need to fix At least I don't receive a million kiks Tweet me, Facebook me, tumblr me...insta me...younow me... But I'll still be lonely as can be Fruit of the spirit drives me to drift away from deception's flow that's broad and deceiving Faithful and loyal with dignity and positivity is what I crave in my character of behave-and-be-brave... Self-control braces itself upon my inner being and I accept it kindly Patience paints a picture of peace in the frame of my mind silently Human nature Is enmity to God that is evil and impure It leads to death I'm sure God's way - the way of life at least in my humble opinion, which will be a fact in the near future It's okay to be different It's alright to be working on perfection As long as you repent For all the downfalls and sins we've committed that gave you inner infection Reveal to me His spirit and the life it produces fruitfully Zealous is the sun that shines upon me oh so dutifully Gracious be to the sons and daughters of Him who has made the world so beautifully Until Satan tainted it with sinister avarice and insidious, chaotic catastrophe Quit your disputes and quarrels and arguing alike Stop trolling people on the net...or you'll have something to regret Listen to instruction Accept correction You choose destruction or construction Do you want His amazing affection or His raging rejection!!? Foundation of faithfulness Goes to the called ones in God's family alone and He is the Father we look upon Obliteration of misery's mess Come on and follow me...I will be your responsible leader from now on I want knowledge from God From on high, not down below in Satan's Despising Nature People just ignore and nod Approach people in the nicest way and react, act and think good thoughts and good actions and interactions that are grown-up and mature Need I proclaim my beliefs to all the world, Lord? Should I explain myself constantly? What's my award? Reward? What if I commit sins that I can't afford? I hoard shame in my brain basement, but you played skillfully on the I-forgive-you keyboard There's a reason behind what God does Do not remain blind or deaf The spirit of stupor is splendid to my human nature....and its faithless flaws I don't understand your plate's creativity, my chill chef God selects His special chosen one He sees the nature and character of each and everyone He is the guide to everlasting life that's full of blessings and miracles But, my life is full of depression dungeons and mysterious black holes Eat Christ's flesh and drink His blood of His Father's Wise Sayings and Life-giving Word You must abstain from lusts of your gullible, heartless hearts and your prayers will be heard If you don't believe and betray Him for life, Your life will end in jaded death and strife I wish I can declare His Word to all nations But I get nervous and soft-spoken beyond frustrations and heightened hesitations I'm awkward... Why was I called in His church? Am I a bird that has nowhere to truly rest and perch? Predicaments in double trouble dilemmas substantially produce like cells in the body Free me, heal thee, I die for you to live...I live for you to die...your hard heart makes my softness wither with everybody Wide and broad are the path of many in this world of woe...and no one fully knows why Difficulty be to the few who choose the narrow route that leads to constructive criticism by Lotd Most High Once saved, always saved - A belief originated in Christianity I beg to differ - His saving grace has waved Its effortless goodbye to Human's Atrocity Labor in prayer, don't swelter Work in love, sweat off hate and swear not Be a giver, not a getter Resist the urge to sin and persevere always, even in the darkness we rot Discipline yourself Through enduring self-control Unlearn Satan's nature, as small as an elf Compared to God's Giant Word that is a life tool to be rid of the fool inside us as a whole Doing evil will have its aftershocks sting us like a viper It will shoot us down, so bite the bullet of the serpent's sniper I pray that I live in sanctuary city for the time being I envy the happy-go-lucky and dislike what I'm seeing Drinking in the Lord's yoke, Mixed with the Words He spoke You bind me with a biggo blind fold Your spirit's intention is to simply scold Faithful Moses parted the Red Sea Miracles and curses shelter thee I never knew that my life was of significance Until I noticed that everyone is living in ignorance Except the called ones... Faith that weigh a trillion tons Thank God for everything good His word is a nourishing food Emerge from the scorching coals and ice fire of your existence Transform yourself before you remain in ashes' realm...seek repentance The good news of the Kingdom of God is ringing in my ears Wondering when it will be that day of awesome forever years I will walk and walk And I will talk my talk I will practice what I preach To the pupils, I will teach Fret not the desires on fire and the passionate petitions of your young heart Do not worship other gods before Him - Frey will fade away from the start The gods of the east have come to get their revenge towards the gods of the east The battle between them is beast...it's like enjoying a feast of chaos and commotion and peace and emotion...but their attitudes puff up like the bread ingredients that includes yeast Inspired by (Matt. 7:13), (Matt. 11:29) and (Hebrews 11:24)

Imagine we live in an eco-normative story

of competing for wealth-commodities, cash piled in quantifiable currencies, collectively blinded to our Win-Win natural economic, ecological, psychological, biological health and well-being value roots. One day, our Permacultural Received View unveils a co-operatively synergetic evolution of positive health and articulation of mutual subsidiarity-- natural laws of economic and political and psychological and biological health and survival through thrival Permacultural Design, (and Taoist, and Buddhist, and JudeoChristian, and Islamic, and UU, and Sikh, and Hindu, with Ecological Wealth objectives defining spiritual principles, procedures, ethics laws of co-operative solidarity, co-passionate peace with ecojustice for all, mutually subsidiary freedoms to live full healthy lives balanced with freedom from dying deadly unhealthy deaths. Oh, yes! this feels familiar somehow. This appositionally poignant permaculture spectrum originates with the emptiness of winter's purgation, death, to evolve bio-systemically toward, to incarnate as to inform, to revolve full cycle to incorporate the opposite end of life's spectrum, not mere half-assed egocentric and anthrocentric competitive life, but fully sustainable health and well-being wealth from now through our grandchildren's grandchildren, and all their several cousins of diversely rainbowed and sensually intelligent holonic RNA/DNA-encrypted encrypting, predicting, forms with functional memory eco-logical species, bio-logic information processor systems, bicamerally fully conscious. We reverse our Left-brain dominant economic overshoot! Yeah us! As our cognitive disconnection from our own permacultural story evaporates, this confusion about measuring wealth with money rather than with sustainable, ecological health, about-faces toward inclusively co-operative survival of the most synergetically interdependent systems, evolving, positive deviant psychologizing new economizing healthy wealth, rather than BusinessAsUsual industry, pursuing toxic short-term Win-Lose evolutionary designs and plans for exponential development; collective worship of Left-brain dominant Ego-theism rather than continuing our pilgrimage toward Left-Right bicameral mutual governing equivalence values following a nutritional thrival trail back to our Original Big Bang ProGenitor, TransParent Pre-Temporal Timing of our Elder Right lens back through nutritional enculturing transparently binomial, time's core spinal prime-fold, erupting solid massively dense formation out informing polyculturing functions, flow streams, frequency intervals fractal seasonal revolving rhythms of radiantly Bi(0)-versive Exodus of Love's enlightening Time. When we choose healthy co-operative survival optimization by starving competition to accumulate wealth deposits, we will address stealth impoverishment, now feverishly hiding within un-consciousness of economically and politically and ecologically violating Golden Rules that advocate health and sustainable hope for all Earth's Grandchildren; the pan-ultimate measure of a culture's true wealth is its mutually balanced positive through double-negative nutritional feedback loops, seeking our Zero-Sum Co-Operatively Healthy Win-Win Eco-Normic Game Plan. Polynomial Power sustainably optimizes where monomial center trends toward Universal Co-Passion, healthy fulsome fusing flows and frequently reiterated functional patterns of HereNow TransParent Bicameral Consciousness, Ego as SoleSubject greets and mutually bows toward Eco-Logical WeSelf-as-SuperEco's Objective, Correlational, Co-incident, Bi-Nomially Permaculturally Balancing Time's 3-dimensional bodymind Space, Place, Pace of unfolding polyculturing Beloved Community Memory and ReDevelopment. PermaCulturists, like messianic shamans of all times and cultures, steward natural systems with a mutual-mentoring premise. Our Host Environment, EcoSystem, is both our Subject in the present moment and our Objective reconnecting toward a shared cooperative future, inclusive of all endogenous natural systems, species, air and water flows, sun and shadow glows. This SuperEco ProGenitor Hosts and Teaches through Elder Memory synchronicity. First, permaculturing prophets and alchemists listen requiring the purgation of Ego- and Anthro- Dominance; recovering EcoCentrism confluent with all SpaceTime balance and harmonies, flows with positive and negative functions, ionic frequencies, ironic humors cognitive dissonance too often hiding psychological dynamics striving for comprehensively balanced Eco-Consciousness, Eco-Zero-Centrism and Balance, as EcoLogical BioJustice Economics and CoOperative Governance. Bicamerally Left-Right confluent con-science brings sustainable healthy wealth of RNA-rooted memory systems. Bicameral Binomial-Consciousness emerges as human nature's cooperative stewardship our co-mentoring vocation, Commons-space syntax shared with equal rights by all Earth's Natural Systems. EgoCentrism is eisegetically held as good and normal and appropriate only as long as AnthroCentrism remains Left-brain Dominant, continues economically incarnating through Win-Lose competitive assumptions rather than choosing permacultural models for EctoSymbiotic Polycultural Revolution. A Bodhisattva-Ego lives in cooperative service with SuperEco, Universally Thermodynamic Balanced (0)-Centric, 4-Prime Dimensional, bio- and eco-logical, caretaker and metric "PlaceHolder" Polyculturist within Earth's RNA-syntax Tribes, encultured fractal (0)-sum economically cooperative souls, blossom Beloved Economic Community in full "Climax", incarnating integrative positive trending economic development, as transmillennial revolution away from pursuing wealth, toward co-operative health as our ecological paradigm for dialogical and economically sustainable re-exodus toward wealth optimization with equivalent creative freedom for all, in Beloved co-passionate peace.

Copyright © Gerald Dillenbeck | Year Posted 2015

Long poem by

Gerald Dillenbeck

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Details

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Revolutionary Story

They called their gang The ReVolutionaries, my Father Sun and Mother Earth drew time with them, but they often called themselves Yang and YinYin, respectively and mutually respectful yet privately erotic, not so much politically and economically where Yang could not fit in for rabid competition and YinYin could not alone float her dipolar WinWin health-care priority boat. Where was I in my Creation Geneology, YinYin? Once again you did not get past much of a preliminary introduction, without me, Sugar Daddy Yang. Oh yes, Father Sun and Mother Earth got together co-gravitationally, first creating a nondual revolution out of spacetime's co-arising and revolving implied-fractal-seasoned syntax, natural systemic order of healthy evolution, as not-not pathologically dual-dark devolution, probably too much Yin-recessive in this Yang-dominant Creation Story. Even so, Father Sun with Mother Earth revolved their bilateral health potential. Then, next time you know, here you are, bangin around with too-dominant Left-brained Yang, slippin' in some wise ol' tough love, stirrin' up your Owl with your Moose Medicine for stronger regenerative tissue issues, still struggling between SunPowerLens and EarthFlowLens, primally RNA-balanced informating regenerative health and therapy relationship re-issues articulating as bicamerally climatic neural-temporal boundary tissue, or is it the other way? So confusing all this time travel appositional and dialectical health language, like RNA, pointing toward your lovely and always mindful DiPolar EcoPresence as HereNow Time in self-refining, reiteratively flowing, spring of love's rich nutritional water and incarnate soil, soul mating Heaven's fire warm photosynthetic transformational co-redemptively climaxing air of sweeping surfing elating Time's Full ReGenerate Occupation, living still within our TransParent Elders, of which we each share equal DNA/RNA neural-temporal regenerative-fractal Implicate-Concave Orders of rhythm and pattern and syntax, folding and unfolding, holonic-Holy Exegetical Syntax Scripture teleologizing enriching enculturing composting time's revolutionary health through TransParent CoOperating Golden Rule of Prime (0)-soul/soil, ego/eco, Interior/Exterior, Fractal PolyCultural Relationship. That's nice, Daddy Yang, having said all that, I'm wondering if I might add that as I most kindly remember, there are two sides to every Creation Story, one is Ego's Yang Exterior Universal view, while EcoOther YinYin echoes our Interior Landscape nondual co-arising love for empathic capacity as rich nutritional experience, co-elational syntax-voices of primal feeling and knowing Yang/Yin is healthier as LoseSome BusinessAsUsual to WinSome YinYin Tipping Point CoOperative Wisdom. Yet even this wu wei PostMillennial TaoZen Bicameral Hybrid Story is not the Fat Lady Death's Door final message you are fearing within YinYin's WinWin EcoRevolutionary 0-soul Creation Story of a bicamerally self-optimizing health and safety global network with local cooperative poli-economic communication guilds, nutrient 0-interest investment through implementation polycultural local ecosystemic-balancing glory, cooperating our WinWin Mutual PolyEnculturation Story. YinYin, namaste for your generous and kind-natured right-time reminder, to win dialogical Solitaire, not only does Yang Ego think therefore I Win, but nondual co-arising of Right-time's sequence and dialect syntaxed cards of Other cooperatively win this balancing fractal 4 spacetimed principle of steering co-gravitational positivity, implied predelivery doctors and progenitors of ReGenetic-Health Optimization Time, most sacred Positive BiCameral Psychology of more humane natural ecosystems, RNA-iconic as ionic, CoMessianic Cross with Tao-Time Universal Black full-diastatic and dipolar synaptic absorbs WhiteNoise Aptic EcoPresent TransParentcy, and vice versa with reverse-temporal imaging ecoconscious capacity. We are both GooeyRight and PricklyLeft more truly balanced as positive/negative deviant equity seekers, healthy optimizers ecotherapeutic lovers of peace with ecojustice, evolving an Ego/Eco Deductive/Inductive ConScience of BiNomial (0)-Centric 4D spacetime as our CoOperative Creation Story. Group Theory's Zero-bilateral symmetrical implied dipolar function as bilinear double-bound soul could be RealTime expressed: fold, unfold, refold, pregenitive full-4 revolutionary closure Byte-Fold Balance, inside-double-negative with outside double-boundaried dynamically revolving, waving-linear Tao-sign, principle of thermodynamic balancing dipolarity. PolyNomial ++ evolves WinWin equivalent to LoseLose (--) NotNot PolyNomial 4D spacetime prime 0-centric Origin Point of Language and Scripture toward future's (0)Mega Point Bicameral Creation Story as EcoPresent Now, our timeless invitation into full healthy love, life as co-empathic bicameral love-positive, restrained only by its absence, cognitive-affective neural informating health/pathology-dissonance, heading toward climatic long-term TransMillennial effects of chronic stress, sleep deprivation, overly competitive ecosystems of all paradigmatic and polymorphic varieties, and crappy nightmare claustrophobic death and dying dreams. Yang space flows through YinYin Time's Light as Time's syntaxed memory folds and unfolds, refolds and prefolds revolutionary ecosystemic transitions, emerging Full-PolyCultural Diastatically Elational Climaxing Beloved PolyPathic BiCameral Communicating Interior Landscaped LoveNow-EcoTherapySpace. Was that my Fat Lady YinYin? Now you know I am just right for you; you're the one getting too hefty for your own internal and external balancing capacity. Maybe I need more exercise. Maybe you need to get off me, and help me paddle... Did I say "paddle"? Yes, love I know, you mean to flow your Revolution Creation Story right through PostMillennial cooperative enculturation

[random-notes-and-jottings]

The Flaws in White Fragility Theory: A Primer

Helen Pluckrose

As social unrest spreads throughout America after the death of George Floyd, Robin DiAngelo’s White Fragility has recently made its way back on the bestseller lists. What is the theory of white fragility? How does it apparently explain, as its subtitle says, why it is so hard to talk to white people about racism, especially given how so many white progressives have joined nationwide protests over the death of George Floyd, even kneeling in unison in a Houston event, asking for forgiveness?

According to DiAngelo, white people have been raised in a society anchored entirely on the ideologies and discourses of racism and white supremacy. Not the racism of slavery and Jim Crow, or even the so-called “back-stage” racism where white people say bad things about nonwhite people behind their backs. It is a much more insidious and largely invisible thing known simply as “Whiteness.” According to Whiteness scholars like DiAngelo, to be white is to be raised in a culture of Whiteness and thus to be a racist. Especially if you are a white progressive. As DiAngelo says (see at 13:00), white progressives “land the most harshly on people of color day in and day out.”

Because these ideas are so deeply rooted in the theoretical academic literature about racism, it is difficult to understand them without understanding some of their basis. In the case of white fragility, we have to understand “Whiteness” as a person like Robin DiAngelo understands it in particular.

What is Whiteness?

Whiteness is understood to be a central belief system that supports and upholds white supremacy. The dismantling of Whiteness is thus the key objective in the critical evaluation of social norms and institutions. But what is it? Whiteness is vaguely defined as a “constellation of processes and practices” consisting of “basic rights, values, beliefs, perspectives and experiences purported to be commonly shared by all but which are actually only consistently afforded to white people.” These processes and practices are “dynamic, relational, and operating at all times and on myriad levels.” Whiteness is everywhere white people are and in everything they do. White people have been “socialized” into “racialized” roles in which they perpetuate “white” norms of speech, acts, beliefs, and practices which unwittingly but ruthlessly reinstate and reinforce Whiteness.

Despite being so vaguely defined and unmeasurable, Whiteness is treated by the scholars who study it and the activists who demand social change as a real, material thing having real material impact upon the world. How? Through discourse—what we talk about and how we talk about it. For example, as DiAngelo explains in her dissertation (p. 94), if a white person relies on personal experience in inter-racial dialogue, she fails to understand how she remains complicit in the reign of Whiteness, and is also unwittingly working to reinstate and reinforce Whiteness by positioning herself as an individual rather than as a member of the dominant “white” group. White people use this discourse to “protect their positions and preclude attempts to problematize or deconstruct their claims.” They are able to do so because the “discourse of individualism” is a “move” of Whiteness that puts the white person “outside of socialization factors, rather than as the product of multidimensional social interaction.”

The idea is that white people are not merely unaware of how they think and talk about race. They are socially constructed to be unaware by a society which systematically “socializes” white people into a frame of mind in which they see themselves, however unwittingly, as superior. It is inescapable. To be white is to be a racist. That does not mean white people are “bad” people. It means that “being white” effectively reifies Whiteness every time white people participate in society. One that way white people do this is by thinking of themselves as individuals rather than as “white” people (i.e. racists).

DiAngelo and Whiteness scholars draw numerous conclusions about racial inequality from the idea that Whiteness is reified in society. Reification, which mistakes an abstract idea, i.e. Whiteness, for a concrete reality, is a fallacy because abstractions are not real things. But the real problem is that the scope and scope of what Whiteness entails has expanded so widely that it has become virtually meaningless. As the labor historian Eric Arsenen writes, “whiteness has become a blank screen onto which those who claim to analyze it can project their own meanings.”

The reification fallacy thus effectively becomes a fallacy of ambiguity, which refers to “[w]hen an unclear phrase with multiple definitions is used within the argument; therefore, does not support the conclusion.” In this case, the unclear phrase is Whiteness. Drawing numerous conclusions about racial inequality from a premise in which the meaning of Whiteness is value is a fallacy of ambiguity.

Implicit Bias: Is there any evidence for ideological Whiteness?

Not really.

The theory of white fragility relies on the flawed premise of implicit bias, which is now known to be a form of pseudoscience. Implicit bias is supposed to refer to when people have unacknowledged biases which affect their behavior. DiAngelo takes for granted that implicit biases are pervasive, that implicit biases predict behavior, and that most people are unaware that they have implicit biases. Her understanding, however, is based on studies from the first generation of implicit bias research, which arose after publication of a paper describing the “Implicit Association Test.” In The Chronicle of Higher Education, Tom Bartlett writes, “[a]bout 70 percent of people who take the race version of the Implicit Association Test show the same tendency — that is, they prefer faces with typically European-American features over those with African-American features.” It does not take much imagination to see how these apparent findings led to a popular narrative that racism is a system built on implicit bias.

Imagination, however, would be wrong. A second generation of research in the psychology literature has raised serious doubts about implicit bias. It is not clear what exactly implicit bias measures. Implicit bias is not the same thing as unconscious bias. Several studies, including this meta-study, find that implicit bias does not predict how people will act in real life. Finally, the validity of the test is also cast into doubt by a lack of any evidence that results are consistent even for the same person on the same day. In sum, psychologists do not know exactly what implicit bias is or how to define it. Implicit bias is almost certainly not a measure of unconscious prejudice. It does not reliably predict behavior. It does not seem to explain much about racial inequality.

What is White Fragility?

Unsurprisingly, DiAngelo has encountered a lot of resistance in attempting to persuade white people that they are irredeemably racist, and they have been coded since they were born to be so. In her position as a diversity trainer, she writes, “I have observed countless enactments of white fragility.”

Formally, DiAngelo defines “white fragility” as “a state in which even a minimum amount of racial stress becomes intolerable, triggering a range of defensive moves,” including the outward display of emotions such as anger, fear, and guilt, and behaviors such as argumentation, silence, and leaving the stress-inducing situation. These behaviors, in turn, function to reinstate white racial equilibrium.”

If you have felt any hint that you disagree with the claims about Whiteness above, you are exhibiting white fragility. Do you doubt that too? More white fragility. Getting frustrated now? More white fragility. Until you see that the system of Whiteness has led to white people being insulated from having to acknowledge their racism, you are exhibiting white fragility (and even then, you might be feeling uncomfortable about it, in which case, more white fragility). Any response to being told by DiAngelo that one is complicit in racism, apart from agreeing with her, is evidence of white fragility. If white fragility sounds like a Kafka trap, congratulations, you are right. It is.

A Kafka trap, named for the story “The Trial” written by Franz Kafka, is when any denial of the truth of an accusation is taken as evidence of guilt.

In the case of white fragility, it looks like this:

“You are white, therefore, you are a racist.”

“No, I’m not.”

“That’s precisely what a fragile white person would say.”

In sum, the theory of white fragility says: any disagreement that you are racist because you are white in a “white” society built on the ideologies and discourses of Whiteness, whether that takes the form of arguing, staying silent, or going away, is evidence of white fragility which, in turn, reinstates white supremacy.

The house of cards tumbles.

To recap, we have no clear definition of Whiteness. Although every speech and act of white people are interpreted as a “moves” of Whiteness, which perpetuates racism because racism is based on Whiteness, the meaning of Whiteness and racism remain ambiguous. Whiteness studies therefore fall prey to the fallacy of ambiguity which refers to “[w]hen an unclear phrase with multiple definitions is used within the argument [and] therefore, does not support the conclusion.”

Despite this ambiguity, Whiteness is nevertheless presented in a reified form as a materially real system in which white people are socialized into ideologies and discourses that begin infecting them with implicit biases from the day they are born. As the literature increasingly makes clear, psychologists are not clear on what, in fact, implicit bias is, or what it measures. If psychologists are not clear on what implicit bias is, then we have reason to doubt whether Whiteness scholars are clear about what Whiteness is. If Whiteness has no convincing claim to validity, then the concept of white fragility as an evasive response to being held complicit in whiteness has none either.

The theory of white fragility purports to offer us a way forward with an explanation of how racism works and why it is so hard to talk to white people about it. This is appealing because we all have an interest in the pursuit of racial justice and the eradication of racism. Unfortunately, the theory of white fragility does not help. It is so riddled with conceptual, empirical, and logical errors that it is useless.

[kalitimes-blog]

Long -timed evil historic norm buried in Ethio-Somali Regional State

  Author(Abdirashid Muse Abdi) Somali is a society of major ethnic groups do dwell on the north-eastern horn of African continent. They are linguistically, ethnically and religiously one of the largest peoples inhabiting the Horn of Africa across four recognized states: the Republic of Somalia, south-east Ethiopia, Djibouti and north-east Kenya.

Somalis are usually categorized as a "Cushitic" since it has been considered ethnically homogeneous , the better known pastoral nomadic section of society was perceived as representatives And they are restricted their norms and beliefs that they are known to apartheid each other as clans and tribes which is the footsteps of their ancestors according to all Somali tribes wherever they do dwell. Though, they(Somalis)all discriminate one same clan among them called Gaboye by discriminating in a same way the outcaste groups are collectively referred to as “Midgan” or “Madhiban,” the former term being much more disrespectful and insulting than the latter one. However, there are actually many more Somali outcaste groups. Each is connected as clients, former slaves or servants to a noble clan group. The Midgan constitute the largest Somali outcaste family, and its sub clans include the Madhiban, Mohamed Gargaarte, Muuse-Dariye, Tumaal, Yibir, Hawle, and hidden others. Each outcaste clan has its own dialect. When the noble tribes’ patrons and rulers engage in conflict, their outcaste Midgans clients are forced to fight for them. However they are neither protected nor defended, nor given any share of the resources. Even the most heroic and accomplished Midgan outcaste fighter cannot dream of socializing as an equal or marrying into the noble clan that he is attached to. When convenient, the Midgan outcaste clients are counted numerically as part of the noble clan they come under. When the Midgan outcaste oppressed groups try to organize, (as all the noble clans do), they are threatened, abused, and physically attacked. Due to the power and arms of the noble clans, most Midgan outcaste Somali people have been forced to keep silent. Any attempt to protest inequality or gain redress meets brutal reprisals. The Midgan outcaste groups control no land of their own; they are also not usually allowed to live in villages to drink or get water from the “pure” wells or to use the plates, cups or utensils of the noble clan’s people. Their status can be compared to the Dalits of India or “untouchables” of South Asia. Yet, they do not even have the constitutional guarantees that (reserved places) of Indian Dalits have, at least in theory. Only under the last government of Somalia General President Mohamed Siad Barre did Midgans have some rights in their own country. But, when he was deposed, they suffered reprisals from his noble clan rivals who accused them of supporting him. The Midgan-Madhiban is the largest of several Somali minority outcaste clans. Thus they are collectively designated as Midgan-Madhiban. Somali society is divided into patrilineal kinship-based clans and sub-clans. All Somalis can trace their ancestry to a clan or sub clan. The three main large clans (Darood, Hawiye and Isaak), traditionally control large areas of lands, many resources and exercise great political power. Certain smaller clans have respectable status but fewer resources and less political leverage due to their smaller populations. Often those small, respected clans must affiliate with and relate to nearby clans as clients and for incase of conflicts. Midgan-Madhiban, Tumal and other outcaste groups are still facing restrictions, prejudice, discrimination, harassment, abuse and attacks everywhere in the world. Not only this treatment is a continuation of their historic exploitation but it is also because they are known for impure and downplayed who is the lower level status among Somali community. It is deeply rooted historic perspectives that is long-timed norm, in spite of being very hard to bring an end the hidden feelings and beliefs that bear in community’s mind, now Ethio-Somali regional state initiated good beginning to come an end. Though, it is not held international meeting discussed about this long-termed issue in order to take mutual understandings and break this long -termed attitudes now Ethiopian-Somali regional state president Mr. Abdi Mohamud Omer took an unforgettable brave decision to come an end for this long-timed norm that has no roots to Somali ritual beliefs and faiths. ESRS president Mr. Abdi Mohamud Omar intentionally concentrated how to break this deeply rooted evil norm by initiating annual meeting forum held in raaso woreda of afdher zone that the whole different parts of the community such as community elders, religious leaders, politicians, scholars, young generations, women, etc came to gather. In fact, it was highly conducted grass root panel discussions took for days and months so the president addressed highly admirable historic speech by narrating the origin of this long lasted evil norms and how they are ignored their rights and badly treated by using these misinterpreting abusive words, we mentioned below whereas the original meanings of those abusive words of out coasted group mid-gan means “Shoot your bullet gun by one” which construes “saving bullets” and since the daily life of mid-gans were based on hunting and also they were poor comparing to other Somali tribes life style. However, the origin of mid-gan word the president said in panel discussions, “is from the old hunting system plus poverty meaning shoot your bullet gun by one and that indicates  a kind of saving bullets pointing every single bullet shouldn't miss its target and also shows that their skills of hitting the target.’’ In addition, Tumaal is one of the outcaste Somali groups under gaboye which “the word Tumaal stands blacksmith in Somali language- a person who makes and repairs things in iron by hand. Tun means repair and Maal means finance or invest, “as president Abdi stated. By giving the exact and original meaning President Abdi M. Omar also expressed Ma-dhibaan the stable ones which means easy going or trouble free people those do not disturb any one. The different meetings and panel discussions held at regional level were also discussed and agreed that every action resulting despising towards these out coasted groups should be erased totally in the region however its powerful historic evil norms lasted long and however it is not forgettable that the psychological construction impacts of this outcaste groups yet, their self deception is insidious and stealthy and it is well recognized that we discriminated them how they are professionally and technically better than others. This is why somalis started making misinterpreted abusive words but likely pointing their technical profession is dirty and unique for them. Eventually, Gaboye have traditionally held a client relationship with a patron group working and technically fit as smiths, barbers and leather workers, as well as midwives. Gabooye women and men perform infibulations and circumcision respectively. Other Gaboye are tailors, singers, and butchers. Getting know this inherits that these people are more civilized than other Somali tribes due to what they are discriminated since Somali elite elders misinterpreted without any reason except their arrogance and tribalism ideology because all other tribes or clans haven't technically professional people, they are dependent on these out casted groups and this is the footsteps of elite elders. Though, there has been an effort by some Somali civic and cultural leaders to discourage use of this term yet this has run up against deeply-entrenched prejudice. unfortunately Somalia government faced political chaos and human made catastrophic that resulted absolute devastation both human and property, Now Ethiopian-Somali regional state successfully buried this evil historic norm after long panel discussions mutually recognized that the Raaso meeting would be the first historic meeting that was underlined and come to an end this long -lasted evil norm and this score is enclosed in Ethiopia Somali regional state, especially the young visionary president Mr. Abdi Mohamud Omer who firstly brought this admirable conception of ending discrimination Finally, president Abdi settled new strategic that can bring for long term solution to the whole Somali community by making well and widely  arranged intermixed marriage ceremony from both tribes outcaste and noble tribes which the state and entrepreneurs cooperated each other full filling and accomplishing this memorable marriage ceremony of 29 intermixed marriage couples which was successfully held wide wedding ceremony participated by all regional officials and the different parts of the Somali society and then rewarded modern building G+1 houses each, two hundred thousand birr allocated to entice and beautify their homes and five hundred thousand birr to establish new businesses. THANKS MR. PRESIDENT FOR YOUR VISIONARY AND ADMIRABLE SIGHT YOU PUTT IT AWAY THE GARBAGE LONG EXISTED BLEIF AMONG THE SOMALIS. IT’S REALLY HISTORICAL EVENT THAT IS BENIFITABLE TO THE NEXT GENERATIONS. ************

Abdirashid Muse Abdi   Read the full article

[jennypark-phases]

Week 5 - Future Worlds Contextual Research

Millennials - the anxious generation

https://www.google.co.nz/search?q=millennial+generation+anxiety&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiryLul0I3WAhVHObwKHRKoC8IQ1QIIaygB&biw=1311&bih=739

Millennials are considered an anxious generation, and people are generally all too ready to give reasons why.

Simple explanations tend to revolve around the modern day obsession with technology. A lack of sleep is caused by watching one too many episodes of the latest binge worthy Netflix series; stress comes from an obsession with social media, which either paints the picture that everyone is out having fun but us, or has us checking how many likes our latest selfie has in the same anxious way we check how many pounds we have in the bank.

There’s no doubt both these things have caused a disenchantment with politics, which in the current climate of elections is a fair cause for anxiety. However, just like the impact of technology, this is not an issue exclusive to Millennials, and doesn’t tell the full story of Millennial anxiety.

Instead, the answer lies in the fact that anxiety comes from uncertainty, and Millennials, as an age group and a generation, have plenty to be uncertain about.

Millennials spend longer in education, in differing jobs and in gap years, than any generation before them. They also marry later. As a result they spend longer at a stage in life where employment isn’t a guarantee, lifestyles aren’t built around rigid routine, and they can’t look ahead to the future with complete certainty.

There are milestones for the typical life which we are all aware of. Getting GCSEs and A-Levels, passing the driving test, moving away from home, entering full time employment, owning a house, etc. But there’s no doubt that attitude and access towards the things that society considers to ‘settle’ us, is changing.

In reality, the abundance of opportunities available today means that doing something different to what was once the norm is nothing millennials deserve to be made feel anxious about.

https://www.unilad.co.uk/featured/millennials-are-an-anxious-generation-and-this-is-why/

https://generationanxiety.com

Generation Y is the most anxious generation in history. With so many of us feeling constantly stressed, we believe that anxiety isn’t just a medical problem to be treated like a bacterial infection, but as a sign that something is deeply wrong with our society.

Young people today have a lot to be anxious about: we face high unemployment, insecure housing, a looming climate crisis, mounting debts, growing inequality and increasingly less support from government.

Part news, part analysis and part group counselling session to help our generation get out of bed in the morning. Generation Anxiety explores the social conditions that are making us stressed, and asks how can we work together to solve them.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/commentisfree/2017/feb/25/anxiety-is-a-way-of-life-for-gen-y-in-an-insecure-world-is-it-any-surprise

Increasing job insecurity, housing stress, economic and income instability, and a future of climate change, environmental destruction and conflict, have turned stress – and in turn anxiety – into a way of life.

https://www.google.co.nz/search?q=the+anxious+generation&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiryLul0I3WAhVHObwKHRKoC8IQ1QIIbCgC&biw=1311&bih=739

Anxiety disorders are not just medical problems. They are inherently social illnesses

Just as significant stressful events are shown to cause anxiety disorders, research suggests that this long-term stress has a similar impact. For example, research from the University of Michigan found in 2009 that stress from job insecurity is worse for your mental health than unemployment. Similar data has been found regarding housing, with research from the Swinburne-Monash Research Centre finding a strong correlation between different forms of housing insecurity and mental health problems such as anxiety. Many researchers also believe that when it comes to climate change we are undergoing “a collective anxiety that is insidious, even if we haven’t managed to connect all the dots”.

These material conditions are met with what Richard Eckersley calls a “western cultural crisis” – a breakdown of communal structures that are important for our mental wellbeing. Whether it is the commercialisation of public space or increasing working hours that reduce time for social activity, we live in a society in which we are all increasingly socially isolated and lonely, destroying one of the key mechanisms available to protect against mental anguish.

Anxiety disorders are not just medical problems. They are inherently social illnesses, ones that are becoming more of an issue as economic insecurity increases and social connections are destroyed.

“Anxiety-as-disease is treated much like an infection, as if the symptoms were a bacterium that should be eradicated.” NGO campaigns are very similar, with awareness programs, which dominate the sector, working primarily in an after-the-fact approach.

But if we really want to solve our anxiety epidemic we have to think of solutions that look at the causes of the problem, and not just the symptoms. Otherwise we face a whole generation or more plagued by this illness.

Music Festival Culture

http://liveforlivemusic.com/features/inside-the-rapidly-rising-bubble-bursting-culture-of-music-festivals/

While each festival had its own unique aesthetic, at the core, they were all the same. They provided a rare opportunity to separate from society and submerge in another world, where you could explore the simplest pleasures in life without judgment or consequence.

A decade ago, there were no smart phones or selfie sticks in the air — just hands and gravity-friendly fans seeking a better view. Social media hadn’t been invented yet. Silent disco was the only way you could describe the 3 a.m., music-less dance party at your neighbor’s campsite.

Advancements in mobile technology and the rise of social media have also played a massive role in filling out these events . Following artists and the entire music scene has never been easier, thanks to blogs (like this one) and social media platforms.

Listening to music and expanding one’s palate has become an instantaneous exercise with a few swipes and thumb punches on a smart phone standing in the way. As the artist impressions stack up, so does our desire to see them beyond the screen.

This is basically the mass commercialization of an underground culture that was already alive and well,” Browning said. “There’s no doubt (the EDM) scene has been responsible for a ton of the growth, because you’re talking about a captive audience that has a relatively large disposable amount of income and they like to come together and do drugs and that was apparent to (many successful promoters out there).”

https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/articles/around-the-world-in-60-music-festivals/

https://uanews.arizona.edu/story/four-questions-changing-nature-music-and-festivals

The technology that amplifies sound has allowed for better experiences for huge outdoor venues. You can steadily see festival sizes growing. In terms of technology, I also suspect that there are links between the ways people relate through social media, which creates bonds between fans as they document their festival experiences.

Q: How has technology impacted and influenced musicians?

A:  We're still finding out what technology is doing to the industry. In the past five years, the number of times you visit a band's Wikipedia page can tell if a band is going to break in the next year or so. For instance, about eight months before The Weeknd began to play across radio stations throughout the country, there was a huge spike of views on their Wikipedia page. And there are now firms that create analytics of data of the number of YouTube clips that are played.

Another way record labels or representatives of an artist are able to tell if an artist is going to break is through the use of Shazam (an app that identifies the media playing around you). Shazam is able to show the most "Shazamed" song in your particular area. For instance, in Tucson right now, "Guys My Age" by Hey Violet has been Shazamed more than any other song in Tucson. With this data, a record label or artist representative is able to promote the artist or their music by showing this data in the hopes of getting it released nationally.

This is very different from pre-social media and the pre-internet era, because technology creates data that the industry can use which reflects actual taste and not instinct. In the past, record executives would instinctively know this song or artist was going to be a hit. But that led to repetitive-sounding music that often was the same thing time and time again. Now we have songs and artists that sound really distinct, and that diversity is in part because it's possible for the data and technology to draw attention to people's taste.

https://thebubble.com.mt

“I am impressed by the strong focus on sustainability of The Bubble Festival; the event is a very positive occurrence which allows people to celebrate sustainable living.”

https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2016/07/28/festivals-more-popular/

https://www.umbel.com/blog/entertainment/6-factors-driving-massive-growth-of-music-festivals/

Technology’s impact on music festivals

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeremy-wilson/the-future-of-music-festi_b_6806904.html

t’s an amazing moment and a symbol of the new elements that technology is constantly bringing to the festival experience. Top EDM DJ Hardwell shares his thoughts on it’s role: “Technology has grown to play one of the most important roles in the festival experience. From lighting to visuals to live streams, it has added an entirely new dimension to live performances.”

TommorrowWorld is a completely cashless festival, these same wristbands lighting up the dance floor are being used for all transactions and can even sync with those around you and connect you on Facebook.

“Millennials are an experience generation, they want you to take them somewhere totally unique.” - Joe Silberzweig, SFX Entertainment

TomorrowWorld came from the massively successful TomorrowLand festival in Belgium. SFX is constantly working to extend the festival experience to those that can’t physically be there, or to those who were and want to remember it. They are famous for their festival videos, typically racking up over 100 million views on YouTube.

The result is a virtual festival experience that allows you to explore the entire festival, from the campgrounds to heart of the dancefloor. Watch stunning sunsets or see what the world looks like from the perspective of a headlining DJ. In the YouVisit office in New York, Morreale and his colleague Endri Tolka, YouVisit’s COO/CFO, shared how they wanted to take users places where no one gets to go, giving people the chance to experience something they may have never have had the chance to go to.

“It’s not just recreating the experience, it’s taking them places where no one gets to go.” - P.J. Morreale, YouVisit

When the virtual tour was released on the web, fans from all 50 states and over 100 countries engaged with it: Fans reliving the festival, others around the world seeing it for the first time. Viewable within a browser, even optimized for smartphones, the average engagement with the tour was ten minutes, which is huge. It helped build excitement for the release of 2015 tickets, of which 360,000 were sold in under an hour.

This type of digital engagement is essential as festival brands seek to remain connected with their audience throughout the entire year.

The Natural Extension

Technology is playing a huge role in creating original experiences for audiences, from Hologram performances from TuPac to 3D projections that place the performer in some kind of action movie. Millennials want to experience something unique that they can be a part of and share with the world.

https://www.umbel.com/blog/entertainment/6-factors-driving-massive-growth-of-music-festivals/

http://www.futurity.org/music-festivals-technology-1322452-2/

https://www.eventbrite.com/blog/xlive-2016-event-tech-festival-experience-ds00/

http://mashable.com/2012/04/22/smartphones-concerts/#z.H09H410qqa

http://edm.com/articles/2016/3/28/virtual-reality

Scholarly Article on the future of music festivals

http://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/23073/7/eventmanagement_publishedversion.pdf

Projecting onto a custom-shape

http://vsquaredlabs.com/project/

http://id-labs.org/in-our-minds-holographic-installation/

http://projection-mapping.org/3d-360o-projection-mapped-skull-burning-man-2014/