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Homer and the Indian Ocean

My friend Carla Bocchetti, a researcher at the French Institute in South Africa, has just produced a wonderful film detailing her work on Homerian epic and the Indian Ocean. Working in Mozambique and Kenya, she has engaged artists and other researchers to explore the potential linkages between Homer’s epic and the Indian Ocean, using local textiles and the terraqueous nature of Homer’s poem.

Perhaps the clearest link between Homer and the Indian Ocean is Luís de Camões’s 1572 epic, Os Lusíadas, which borrows heavily from Homer’s Odyssey and sets much of the epic’s action on the eastern coast of Africa. I appear briefly in the video mentioning this, though my contribution is hardly groundbreaking (who actually enjoys seeing themselves in video?).

Dr. Bocchetti’s goal now is to continue developing this project along with others that connect classical Greek literature (especially Homer) with the world beyond the Mediterranean. The point here is not to suggest that Homer himself had some connection to Mombasa or Maputo but rather to open up new linkages and discussions about what the world’s great cultures have in common and can share. Africa has always been a crossroads of dynamic cultures and their stories, and Dr. Bocchetti is artfully placing Homer and the Greeks into that tradition.

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Rhythm and the Genius of Bernardo Sassetti

Bernardo Sassetti, whose work continues to resonate within the world of jazz and contemporary classical music in Portugal, deserves much broader study and appreciation beyond his home country. His music, characterized by its sophisticated interplay of rhythm and melody, is highly innovative but also explores new intellectual ground. I’ve wanted to write on Sassetti since his premature death in 2012 (he was only 41), and this post is a kind of ice-breaker. My hope is to examine his contributions to art and music through an analytical lens that combines musicology with philosophical inquiry.

Early Life and Musical Foundations

Born in Lisbon in 1970 to a prominent Portuguese family, Sassetti began his formal music education at the age of nine. He studied classical piano under the tutelage of renowned Portuguese musicians and eventually moved to jazz by his teens.

Sassetti’s initial foray into jazz was marked by an intense study of seminal figures such as Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett. These influences are evident in his nuanced approach to harmony and rhythm. However, what sets Sassetti apart is his ability to synthesize these elements with a uniquely Iberian sensibility—an integration of fado’s melancholic undertones with the improvisational freedom of jazz. There are likely few jazz composers (including Miles Davis) who more fruitfully exploited the possibilities of silence.

Rhythmanalysis

One cannot discuss Sassetti without addressing his profound (if unspoken) engagement with rhythmanalysis—a concept originally formulated by Portuguese philosopher Lúcio Pinheiro dos Santos and further developed by Henri Lefebvre. Rhythmanalysis involves the study of rhythms as they manifest across different contexts: natural phenomena, urban life, and artistic expressions. In Sassetti’ s work, this manifests as a meticulous, even obsessive focus on temporal structures within his compositions.

For instance, in albums such as Unreal: Sidewalk Cartoon (2006) and Dúvida (2007), one observes a deliberate manipulation of rhythmic patterns that evoke both tension and resolution. These works are not merely collections of pieces but rather cohesive narratives where rhythm serves as both subject and medium. His use of polyrhythms—multiple contrasting rhythms played simultaneously—creates a complex auditory tapestry that challenges listeners to engage actively with the music. One finds a similar exploration of temporality and rhythm in his movie soundtracks, such as in Marco Martins’s 2005 film, Alice. His Timbuktu Solo Sessions from not long before his death are likewise a masterclass in rhythm and silence.

Another profound aspect of Sassetti’s work is his photography. He was photographing near the Praia do Abano (Cascais) when he fell to his death, and his commitment to visual art is unexpectedly tied to his focus on rhythm. His photographs often make their way to his album covers, and one can see some of this work at the Casa Bernardo Sassetti website. His "Passagem" series is a kind of musical composition in its own way. Watching/hearing him improvise alongside Carl Theodor Dreyer's 1928 film La passion de Jeanne d'Arc at the 2011 Arts Festival in Coimbra also provides a powerful way of appreciating his commitment to the interruption of flow in image and sound.

Sassetti’s genius lies not just in technical prowess or compositional skill but also in his ability to weave together disparate strands—from jazz improvisation to literary allusion—into coherent yet multifaceted works. His contributions extend beyond mere entertainment; they invite us into deeper contemplation about time, narrative structure, and creative potentiality.

If my 2020 book of rhythm looks mostly at Presocratic and more recent African ideas on rhythm as form, it may be that a focus on Sassetti and rhythmanalysis allows for a more focused examination of how rhythm conditions our lives.

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Notes on Bracha Ettinger

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perfect new meme template just dropped

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Maps and the Hell of the Same

https://vincentbarletta.com/blog/maps-and-the-hell-of-the-same

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Maps and the Hell of the Same

In late April 1500, a large maritime expedition from Portugal to India veered off course far enough that it struck land at what is now Porto Seguro, Brazil. The captain of the expedition, Pedro Álvares Cabral, decided to take advantage of the accident and go ashore with a landing party to investigate what they had found. A member of the crew named Pêro Vaz de Caminha would accompany him and subsequently write a letter to Portuguese king Manuel I to describe what he had seen. Vaz da Caminha’s letter is the earliest European account of Brazil, and it is popularly referred to as Brazil’s “birth certificate.” What does Vaz de Caminha see at Porto Seguro? Perhaps more importantly, what does he hear? At first, practically nothing:

Acodirã pela praya homee[n]s quando dous quando tres de maneira que quando o batel chegou aa boca do rrio heram aly xbiij ou xx homee[n]s pardos todos nuus sem nhuu[m]a cousa que lhes cobrisse suas vergonhas. Traziam arcos nas maãs e suas seetas. Vijnham todos rrijos pera o batel e nicolaao coelho lhes fez sinal que posesem os arcos. E eles os poseram. Aly nom pode deles auer fala ne[m] ente[n] dimento que aproueitasse polo mar quebrar na costa.[1]

[Men came to the beach two or three at a time so that when our boat reached the mouth of the river, there were 18 or 20 of them, all dark-skinned and naked—with nothing whatsoever to cover their privates. They carried bows and arrows. They approached our boat with their weapons at the ready, and Nicolão Coelho signaled them to put down their bows, which they did. We were unable to speak with them or come to any useful understanding due to the sound of the sea breaking on the coast.]  

What Vaz de Caminha sees at Porto Seguro are roughly two dozen Tupinambá men with bows and arrows. He also sees that they are naked (he will spend even more time lingering over the nudity of Tupinambá women), a distinction that for sixteenth-century Portuguese readers would point at once to savagery and prelapsarian innocence. What he hears, however, is only the sound of waves hitting the shore, a kind of natural white noise that precludes communication.

Later in his letter to Manuel I, Vaz de Caminha recounts a scene of dancing and music on the far shore of the Buranhém River:

Alem do rrio amdauã mujtos deles dançando e folgando huu[n]s ante outros sem se tomarem pelas maãos e faziãno bem. Pasouse emtam aalem do rrio diego dijz alxe que foy de sacauem que he home[m] gracioso e de prazer e levou comsigo huu[m] gayteiro noso cõ sua gaita e meteose cõ eles a dançar tomandoos pelas maãos e eles folgauam e rriam e amdauam cõ ele muy bem ao soõ da gaita. Despois de dançarem fezlhe aly amdando no chaão mujtas voltas ligeiras e salto rreal deque se eles espantauam e rriam e folgauã mujto. E com quanto os cõ aquilo muito segurou e afaagou. Tomauam logo huu[m]a esqujueza coma monteses e foranse pera cjma.[2]

[Beyond the river there were many of them, and some were dancing and playing in front of the others without holding hands and doing it well. Diogo Dias, a tax official from Sacavem and a fun-loving man, went across the river and brought one of our pipers with him along with his instrument. He then joined them dancing and took them by the hand, and they danced and laughed and followed him very well to the sound of the pipe. After dancing, Dias showed them several quick turns on the ground and a somersault, which surprised them and made them laugh. With all this, he held their attention and pleased them; however, they soon took fright (as mountain creatures do) and went away inland.]

Here again, there is no sound—at least from the Tupinambá. They dance, but Vaz de Caminha does not mention their music or singing, as if the whole performance were a silent pantomime. The only music here—the only sound, really—comes from a Portuguese piper. Dias takes the Tupinambá by the hand and leads them in a dance, but it bears asking to what extent there is any real contact between them. What hands does Dias touch and hold? Are they the hands of an Other capable of interrupting or even placing in doubt his enjoyment of the scene? Of course they are, but concepts quickly intervene to mitigate the risk of contact and contagion. For Dias, these are native hands, strange hands, naked hands—and they remain distant to him by means of the conceptual map he has already constructed of them.[3] There is no Other, and so there is only the simulacrum of proximity, a map.

In the end, the Portuguese would keep their distance just well enough to carve out a Brazil-sized piece of South America and claim dominion over it. They secured the Tupinambá and other indigenous groups to the land (as extensions of nature itself), brought in millions of enslaved African laborers to extract resources, and eventually built a vast commercial empire out of sugar and gold. Through generations of miscegenation and co-existence, the Portuguese would adopt closeness as their imperial brand; but it is important to study the limits of that closeness, the risks the Portuguese—like Odysseus—will not take. In the end, the Portuguese Empire is an empire of maps, not earth and sea.

What is the effect that maps have on our world? At what point does our need for conceptualization—and more broadly, to understand—preclude any possibility of closeness or ethics? Franco Farinelli speaks at (book) length of the order that emerges from our reduction of the earth—a labyrinth of interconnected peoples, stories, fantasies, nature, and much else—to flat, conceptualized space. Building on ideas articulated by early nineteenth-century geographer Carl Ritter, Farinelli criticizes the “cartographic dictatorship” that emerges from classical Greece, a conceptual order that reduces the three-dimensional, rhizomatic chaos (and alterity) of the world to a neat grid of measured-out lines.[4] For Farinelli, Christopher Columbus does not prove the world is a sphere so much as he reduces that sphere to a flat, plottable map:

Neither space nor time exists, things endure, in the world of Columbus, dominated instead by the spatio-temporal abstraction. […] Things are exactly the opposite of what is often still believed today: the impact of Columbus was not by any means that of making the image of the Earth spherical when it was previously believed to be flat, but of transforming the whole Earth, from the sphere that it had been believed to be, into a gigantic table.[5]

A master of dead reckoning (and perhaps little else), Columbus is for Farinelli an heir to Odysseus. He sails along, past, and through the Atlantic world, reducing what he sees and hears to points on a grid—a map. As when Odysseus and his men defeat Polyphemus through subtle trickery (telling the one-eyed giant that Odysseus is “nobody” so that others won’t come to his aid), Columbus attempts to take power over the world he has encountered by mapping it. For Farinelli, our maps do not represent the earth so much as the earth has come to take the form of our maps. The result of all this mapping is incredible power for the map-makers (see, for example, the 1835-36 Toledo War), but it also has the effect of smoothing over all meaningful alterity and reducing the world to what Byung-Chul Han has referred to as the “Hell of the same.”[6]

References

[1] Vaz de Caminha, Pêro. Carta de achamento do Brasil, 1500, Gaveta 15, Maço 8, no. 2, f. 1v, Arquivo Nacional, Torre do Tombo, Lisbon.

[2] Vaz de Caminha, Carta de achamento do Brasil, f. 7v.

[3] For more on such Brazilian encounters and their Biblical connections, see Luca Bacchini, Nudi come Adamo: l’immaginario biblico nelle cronache dal Nuovo Mondo, Mimesis, 2018.

[4] Farinelli, Franco. Blinding Polyphemus: Geography and the Models of the World. Translated by Christina Chalmers, Seagull, 2018, p. 27. My thanks to Emanuele Lugli for directing me to Farinelli’s work.

[5] Farinelli, Blinding Polyphemus, pp. 20-21.

[6] Han, Byung-Chul. The Expulsion of the Other. Translated by Wieland Hoban, Polity, 2018.

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Unveiling Tomorrow: The Shaping Forces of Future Technology

The ceaseless march of technology is set to propel us into a future that promises unprecedented advancements. As we peer into the horizon of innovation, dissecting the key components that will define tomorrow's technological landscape becomes imperative.

Robotics and Automation

Intelligent Automation

Robotics and automation are evolving beyond repetitive tasks, stepping into realms of intelligence and adaptability. Integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into robotics allows robots to learn from experience, collaborate with humans, and perform intricate tasks in diverse environments. Industries from manufacturing to healthcare are witnessing a transformative wave of efficiency and precision.

Socioeconomic Impacts

The surge in automation, however, raises concerns about job displacement and societal inequalities. Striking a balance between the advantages of automation and the potential socioeconomic challenges will be crucial. Education and upskilling programs will be pivotal in preparing the workforce for the evolving job landscape.

Space Exploration and Colonization

Beyond Earth's Borders

The future of technology extends beyond our planet, with space exploration and colonization on the horizon. Advancements in propulsion systems, life support technologies, and sustainable space habitats make the dream of humans living on other celestial bodies a tangible possibility.

Ethical Considerations in Space

As humanity extends its reach into space, ethical considerations become paramount. Questions about the responsible use of space resources, potential conflicts, and the preservation of celestial environments demand careful examination. Crafting an ethical framework for space exploration will be vital in ensuring the sustainability of our ventures beyond Earth.

5G Technology

Hyperconnectivity

The advent of 5G technology is set to revolutionize connectivity, offering speeds and bandwidth that were previously unimaginable. This leap in communication capabilities will foster the growth of the Internet of Things (IoT), enabling real-time data transfer and enhancing the efficiency of various industries, from smart cities to autonomous vehicles.

Infrastructure Challenges

While 5G brings promises of hyperconnectivity, its implementation poses challenges related to infrastructure. Building a robust and widespread 5G network requires substantial investment and collaborative efforts between governments and private sectors. Overcoming these challenges will be instrumental in unlocking the full potential of 5G technology.

Brain-Computer Interfaces

Merging Minds and Machines

The convergence of neuroscience and technology is giving rise to Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs). These interfaces enable direct communication between the brain and external devices, opening new frontiers in healthcare, communication, and human-computer interaction. From controlling prosthetics with thoughts to immersive virtual reality experiences, BCIs hold transformative potential.

Ethical and Privacy Concerns

Integrating BCIs into daily life raises ethical concerns about privacy, security, and the potential misuse of neural data. Establishing ethical guidelines and robust security measures will be imperative in ensuring the responsible development and deployment of Brain-Computer Interfaces.

Nanotechnology

Microscopic Marvels

Nanotechnology involves manipulating matter at the nanoscale, leading to groundbreaking innovations in various fields. From medicine and electronics to materials science, nanotechnology can revolutionize how we create, interact, and understand the world around us.

Environmental and Health Considerations

While nanotechnology holds immense promise, concerns about its environmental impact and potential health risks must be addressed. Ethical research practices and stringent safety measures will be essential in harnessing the full potential of nanotechnology without compromising the well-being of ecosystems and human health.

The future of technology is an intricate tapestry woven with threads of innovation, ethical considerations, and societal impacts. The possibilities are vast, from the intelligent automation of robotics to the hyperconnectivity of 5G, and the exploration of space to the intimate integration of Brain-Computer Interfaces. As we embark on this journey into the future, navigating the evolving technological landscape with a keen awareness of the ethical, social, and environmental implications is paramount. By embracing innovation responsibly, we can ensure that the future unfolds as a marvel of technology and a testament to the harmonious coexistence of progress and humanity.

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Unveiling the Essence of Lusophone: A Journey Through Language and Culture

In a world of diverse languages and cultures, the term "Lusophone" holds a unique significance beyond mere linguistic connections. Derived from "Lusitania," the ancient Roman province that encompassed parts of modern-day Portugal and Spain, "Lusophone" refers to the countries, communities, and cultural spheres united by the Portuguese language. This linguistic thread binds regions with rich histories, intricate traditions, and shared aspirations, creating a fascinating tapestry that spans continents and epochs.

The Lusophone Network: A Global Perspective

The Lusophone community is not limited to Portugal and its immediate neighbors; it encompasses a constellation of countries and territories with historical ties to Portuguese colonialism and exploration. Prominent members include Brazil, Mozambique, Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe, and East Timor. Additionally, regions like Macau in China and Goa in India, which bear the marks of Portuguese influence, contribute to the intricate fabric of Lusophone heritage. This sprawling network demonstrates the far-reaching impact of Portuguese exploration and colonization.

The Power of Language as a Cultural Link

The Portuguese language is the cornerstone of the Lusophone identity, creating a shared bond that transcends borders and historical legacies. This linguistic connection enables meaningful communication, exchange of ideas, and artistic collaboration among nations that might otherwise have little in common. It fosters a sense of unity and familiarity, allowing Lusophone communities to appreciate each other's cultural nuances and engage in cross-cultural dialogue.

Cultural Diversity within the Lusophone World

While the Lusophone community shares a linguistic foundation, its diversity is evident in its myriad cultural expressions. Each member nation brings its unique traditions, music, cuisine, and ways of life to the collective table. From the vibrant rhythms of Brazilian samba and the rhythmic beats of Angolan kuduro to the melancholic melodies of Portuguese fado, the Lusophone world pulsates with a kaleidoscope of artistic diversity. This cultural mosaic is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of Lusophone societies as they have evolved.

Historical Legacy and Contemporary Dynamics

The historical legacy of colonialism is a complex facet of the Lusophone identity. While it has left indelible marks on societies and cultures, it has also been a source of introspection, reconciliation, and growth. Many Lusophone countries have embraced their diverse heritage and worked to address past injustices, fostering a spirit of unity and cooperation. These nations have navigated their unique paths to independence and development, often overcoming challenges through collaboration and shared experiences.

Lusophone in the Modern Context

In the modern world, the concept of Lusophone continues to evolve. The Portuguese language is a gateway to international partnerships, trade, and diplomacy, providing a platform for Lusophone nations to engage with the global community. Organizations like the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) facilitate cooperation among member states, promoting cultural exchange, education, and sustainable development. This collaborative spirit extends to various fields, including science, technology, and the arts, reinforcing the ties that bind the Lusophone community.

Preservation and Innovation: Balancing Tradition and Progress

Preserving cultural heritage while embracing innovation is a delicate balancing act for Lusophone nations. A forward-looking approach to economic and social development complements efforts to safeguard traditional practices, languages, and art forms. For example, countries like Brazil have blended their rich cultural heritage with advancements in technology and industry, leading to a unique fusion of tradition and modernity.

The term "Lusophone" encapsulates far more than a shared language; it embodies a living testament to the interplay between history, culture, and human connections. The Lusophone community showcases the potential for unity amidst diversity, with a linguistic thread that spans continents and fosters mutual understanding. While rooted in a complex history, the Lusophone world is marked by resilience, creativity, and collaboration. As it navigates the complexities of the modern era, the Lusophone identity remains a vibrant tapestry that weaves together the stories, dreams, and aspirations of diverse peoples who share a common bond through the Portuguese language.

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Unraveling the Impact of Climate on Human Existence

Climate change, a consequence of human actions on Earth, has triggered a complex chain of events with profound implications for human life as global temperatures rise and ecosystems transform, the effects of climate change ripple through various aspects of our existence, influencing health, economies, migration, and even the fundamental fabric of our societies.

Weather Extremes and Health Challenges

One of the most immediate ways climate change affects human life is through its influence on weather patterns. Extreme heatwaves, fueled by rising temperatures, intensify across the globe, putting vulnerable populations at risk. Children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions are particularly susceptible to heat-related illnesses, ranging from heat exhaustion to heatstroke and even death.

Changes in precipitation patterns also increase the frequency of intense storms and flooding. These events endanger lives directly through drowning and injuries and contribute to the spread of waterborne diseases. Moreover, as temperature and humidity conditions shift, disease-carrying vectors like mosquitoes find new regions to thrive in, causing the spread of illnesses such as malaria and dengue fever.

Economic Disruptions and Social Consequences

Climate change has far-reaching economic implications, affecting industries, jobs, and livelihoods. Agricultural systems are especially sensitive to shifts in temperature and precipitation, leading to reduced crop yields and higher food prices. In regions where agriculture is a primary source of income, such changes can lead to poverty and exacerbate existing inequalities.

Disasters like hurricanes, cyclones, and floods can wreak havoc on infrastructure, disrupting trade, transportation, and communication networks. The recovery process from such events can be prolonged and expensive, diverting resources from other crucial sectors like education and healthcare. Additionally, as communities are uprooted due to climate-related disasters, internal and international migration patterns are altered, potentially leading to conflicts over resources and territorial boundaries.

Ecosystem Fragility and Biodiversity Decline

The intricate web of life on Earth is inextricably linked to climate patterns. As temperatures rise and habitats change, many species struggle to adapt or migrate. This leads to imbalances within ecosystems and threatens the very foundation of biodiversity. Polar bears, for instance, face shrinking ice habitats, while coral reefs suffer from bleaching due to warmer waters, impacting marine life and coastal communities.

The loss of biodiversity extends beyond species extinction; it disrupts ecosystem services such as pollination, water purification, and carbon sequestration. These services are vital for maintaining the delicate balance of Earth's ecosystems, and their decline can trigger far-reaching consequences that resonate throughout the food chain and beyond.

Mitigation and Resilience-Building

Addressing the multifaceted effects of climate change requires both global and local efforts. On a global scale, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is paramount. Transitioning to renewable energy sources, implementing energy-efficient technologies, and reforestation are pivotal in mitigating climate change.

At the community level, resilience to climate impacts involves adapting to changing conditions. This can range from constructing climate-resilient infrastructure to diversifying livelihoods and enhancing disaster preparedness plans. Furthermore, embracing sustainable practices like organic farming and regenerative land management helps mitigate climate change and strengthens local economies.

Educational Empowerment and Advocacy

Education serves as a powerful tool in the fight against climate change. By raising awareness about the intricate connections between climate and human life, we empower individuals to take action. Integrating climate science into educational curricula equips future generations with the knowledge and critical thinking skills necessary to address environmental challenges.

From grassroots initiatives to international collaborations, advocacy drives policy changes and shapes public perceptions. Youth-led movements demanding climate action have shown the potential of collective voices in spurring change. International agreements and partnerships, such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, exemplify the global commitment needed to combat climate change.

The far-reaching effects of climate change on human life are complex and interconnected. From weather extremes and health risks to economic disruptions and ecosystem fragility, climate change touches every aspect of our existence. As we confront these challenges, we must adopt sustainable practices, advocate for meaningful policy changes, and empower future generations through education. By acknowledging the profound impact of climate change on our lives, we pave the way for a more resilient and harmonious coexistence with our planet.