GISHWHES 2018

Suddenly it's 2018 and I'm part of a team competing in GISHWHES, but it's not GISHWHES, it's just GISH, and I'm not entirely sure why.

I've been reading http://www.mangareader.net/nausicaa-of-the-valley-of-the-wind/1

So here's the background for my question:

When I was 17, my friend Jun gave me these manga and I read them.  And was addicted!  I couldn't wait for the English translations to come out.  Nausicaa was so fierce and loving, and so carried along by the winds that drove her.  I felt admiration and kinship.  And something more.

There are times when Nausicaa says or does something that is very giving of herself, and insightful, and full of clarity and passion for life.  There are other times when those surrounding Nausicaa recognize her as a living a symbol of purity and generosity, someone you would want to protect.  

At these times in the story, I get a feeling that can't be described in English.  I feel a heat in my chest, rising through my throat into my head.  My face gets warm.  It burns almost like tears, but I'm both sad, happy, and serene.  And so overwhelmed!  

In my Japanese history class, the teacher told us a word that has no English translation.  It means ‘having deep sentiment’ but I couldn’t find it online.  A word I think it was similar in strength, but perhaps not the same meaning as I'm looking for, is 'amae' which translates as 'a kind of joy at being completely accepted'.  (What does this amae actually mean?)  

Can you think of a word that conveys the meaning I'm trying to express?  It's a powerful word like amae, only as recognition of the purity and strength within yourself.

In India they have a word 'namaste' which is a greeting that loosely translates as 'the divine within me recognizes the divine within you'.  I am sure this word also has something to do with what  I'm trying to express.

When I read Nausicaa, it’s almost as if the act of recognizing something so good means that there is something pure and right, wonderful and amazing within myself--able to recognize this thing!

And I had forgotten it was there!

What's going on...

Here it is. I'm working as an artist and getting paid for it. Well, at this moment I'm employed as a Sign Maker at a local health-food store. To do my job, I have to write the signs found around the store. I get the impression that this will be a long-term job, because there are so many signs and I've been told to redo them all in my own style. The goal is consistency, so I need to practice. Also, I've been commissioned to do about 80 pieces of pottery in the next few weeks, so I'm working on that as well. The goal is to maintain $1200 a month so I don't have to work as a substitute teacher as often. Here's hoping!

Industrial Design program

If I were to develop my own industrial design program, here are some things I would require of it:

a program that fosters creativity by rewarding excellence and promoting experimentation

foundation studies--key to any art degree are the basics: drawing composition, color theory, printmaking, sculpture, drawing techniques, 3d design, figure drawing, etc.

research methods

facilitating creative thinking

public speaking

persuasive writing

marketing

model and prototype development: from 3d computer models to actual prototypes requiring professional standards of accuracy and finish

mass production considerations (materials and processes)

corporate problem solving scenarios--dealing with real-world clients

development of personal direction

collaboration

portfolio

a thesis project

Apathy in schoolkids

Just got through talking with a friend. He has a 13 year old and we both agreed that there is some apathy in the way middle school kids are approaching the world. I suggested it is at least a little cultural.

Earlier today, one of the 13 year old kids in my class asked, "How old are you?" When I said 36, she said "That's how old my mom is." I am in the parents generation. Are we the reason so many kids are apathetic? Have we (generation x) taught them this approach?

And is there something larger that the kids are tapping into? A general "blah", that comes from expecting the government to give us whatever we want, and comes from being so distant from the land, and comes from the ability to manifest our lives virtually yet without any physical effort.

Welcome to the 21st century.

Women's Myths of Yore

It occurs to me that, as the fight-or-flight research was done only using male test subjects, and that a tend-or-befriend model is more applicable to women, maybe Joseph Campbell's "The Hero's Journey" is based on mythologies rooted in a male dominated society.

In Mary Renault's The King Must Die the hero Theseus makes his way about the Greek back-country encountering matriarchal societies whose goddesses have been seduced by Zeus; these groups were pretty much overwhelmed by the Greeks, and their mythologies incorporated into Greek mythology to quell any resistance. What became of the matriarchal societies? And what came of their belief systems?

In the song "I hope you're happy" the two main characters from "Wicked" argue about the means by which each has chosen to achieve her ends. Their friendship wins out, however. In the book I'm currently reading, Hunger Games, a strong bond of friendship develops between two female characters. (In an effort not to spoil, I will say no more about the book.) There appears to be a current of compassion that runs through each of these stories, and I am curious to find if there are more metaphoric stories that speak to the buried mythology of women.

The Heroine's Journey by Maureen Murdock, a contemporary of Campbell, has parallels to Campbell's Hero's Journey but seems rooted in the same rationale. Any suggestions for further study?

Looking for a Career

Here's how you do it:

1. What big changes do you want to affect with your life?

These can be worldwide phenomenon that you want to do something about.

2. What sort of activities associated with #1 would you be able to do?

This has to do with your skills, personality, knowing your limits, and knowing what you won't let limit you.

3. What jobs match #2.

4. Where do you want to live?

5. What employment options are there (within commuting range)?

6. What job skills do you need for #5?

7. Go to college for the specific job skills...

or get on-the-job training

or build up to the job you want by working somewhere similar

Consider moving...where would you move?

Consider your needs...what will you be doing for yourself?

Consider ignoring all this and just living life as it comes to you.