Exploring the ways in which artists, artisans and technicians are intelligently expressing their creativity with a passion for culture, technology, marketing and advertising.
Where do you, the essence of you, exist? In the mind? The body? The soul?
The TED Conference (Technology, Entertainment and Design) brings together the world’s most fascinating thinkers and doers, who are challenged to give the talk of their lives (in 18 minutes.) Each conference is structured around an overarching idea. A TED Remix is a new juxtaposition of talks around a specific theme.
And not just end-of-year but also end-of-decade. Here are some of the most interesting lists I’ve seen, interspersed with some of the best work I’ve discovered this year and some suggestions for creative gifts.
• Pixar’s Up: It delivered what is perhaps the most poignant animated sequence ever created. This heartwarming video shows the evolution of Carl and Ellie’s relationship from the first concept sketches to the final shots of the movie.
• Google Wave continues to confound most everyone. And then you see this:
• GE Plug Into The Smart Grid: This is the first example I encountered of Augmented Reality actually implemented. A whole creative department stood huddled around a computer, mouths open, uttering small cries of disbelief.
• Tarsem’s The Fall: For the visual artist in you. Produced by David Fincher and Spike Jones. Incredibly rich visuals used to tell a simple, universal story. Exquisite.
• I love dance. I watch this on tv and realize that I may be witnessing the evolution of the dance form:
And then I learn there is more.
• The LXD is launching an online, episodic series, with hints of graphic novel myth-making all told through dance. This is a creative endeavor that is practically custom made for me.
• The Top 10 Flash Mobs Of 2009: If we are ever together in a crowded public space and music starts playing, people start dancing, there is a very big possibility I’ll be joining in.
• Paloma Faith is the latest eclectic British singer to do the soul thing. A former magician’s assistant, she delivers a great record that feels a bit like the anti Amy Winehouse’s Rehab. Do You Want the Truth Or Something Beautiful
• Jill Taylor’s My Stroke of Insight recounts a neuroscientist’s experience with a stroke and her recovery. It is an inspiring exploration of human consciousness.
Alain de Botton is a philosopher with a decidedly 21st century edge. He is capable of presenting the works of the Philosophy masters in a way that is simple but not simplistic, while adjusting their ideas to reflect current day realities. It should not be a surprise that I first discovered de Botton via TED, where earlier this year he did a talk presenting a kindler, gentler idea of success. You can see that talk here.
The talk resonated with me and I went searching for more. What I discovered was an eclectic body of work full of deep explorations of everyday challenges from unique and interesting perspectives, the very definition of thought provoking. His most recent book “The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work” dives into, well, work. In “The Architecture of Happiness,” featured in the movie “(500) Days of Summer,” he argues that architecture should play an important role in our happiness. “The Consolations of Philosophy” led to a BBC series that can be seen below. Monocle recently asked him, and 24 other thinkers, what’s next for our world, you can see his answer here.
If you want a tour guide to the world from a philosophical standpoint de Botton is your man.
: It delivered what is perhaps the most poignant animated sequence ever created. 
is a brilliant comedy series about what it takes to run a Shakespeare festival. And what it takes to be creative. 
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: For the visual artist in you. Produced by David Fincher and Spike Jones. Incredibly rich visuals used to tell a simple, universal story. Exquisite. 
. Which in turn gave us the innovative transmedia marketing campaign for the movie. 
is a must read.
Chandler Burr renders the complex science of fragrances into compelling poetry.
by Ken Robinson will inspire you.
