Changing Culture

[Cheryl]

What specifically would you like to change about the current culture and how would you go about doing that?

That's worth a lot of thought. If we sing nice songs, make nice movies, write nice words and do nice art will all the people in the world become nice? Hmmm......

I've been a supporter of Feature Films for Families since my kids were little, and I see this as a way to be supportive of families who already have good moral values. But what about all the families that are clueless, and the people who are totally against moral values and want the freedom to do anything they please?

The world is vile and corrupt; how do we effect change? Can we do something that is different from or better than what has been done in the past?

[Kurt Garrison]

wow, thanks for sharing that Cheryl. I've experienced similar things during museum visits. Not as deeply with tears but just really moved by what someone else had poured so much heart and effort to create. And like you said, I've been to museums before and felt nothing really and then if I went with some kind of spiritual preparation, unconsciously none the less, and had such a different experience. Even before reading your post I was thinking back the other day and feeling like it would be nice to visit a good museum some time soon. It really can spark some inspiration and new possibility when you see what great work people have done. It really can inspire us to be better in whatever we do and be better people!
I read the book "Lust for Life" about Van Gogh a few years ago and was really moved by this book. I think Van Gogh would really be beside himself with all the attention his life and work has gotten after he died. I don't think he even sold 1 painting while he was alive. Like you said, we just have to keep giving of ourselves, share what God has given us in our own unique ways, and believe that it has value..you never know how it could impact someone else!

best,
Kurt

[Cheryl]

I recently went to the opening of the newly renovated Currier Museum in Manchester, NH where I live. Some of the art was so deeply moving to me that days later I cried while remembering some of the paintings. I was moved by the intensity of devotion it took to create certian masterpieces. Devotion to master the technical aspects of painting, but the reason behind even doing that would be to express the heart of the subject matter.

I've been to many museums and art shows in my lifetime, but this was different. I was different (maybe a bit spiritually open). I experienced everything in a new way. Two or three paintings from centuries ago moved my heart so deeply that I had to reflect on my life, my humanity, my character, my relationships, my offering. Wow. I felt I have to do something more, be something more, give more, love more, invest more.

I had the same experience last night when I was listening to a lawyer and writer give a speech at my daughters school. He was speaking to the students being inducted to the National Honor Society, but it was one of the best speeches I've ever heard. He used words in such a masterful way, but he spoke from the heart with incredible sincerity and depth. He shared from his heart with love. He was younger than me but I felt he was wiser and I admired him. I felt judged and motivated to be a better person. I thanked him later and told him how much I appreciated what he said. He was humble and grateful.

We all have the ability to impact others beyond our awareness. The impact may be felt now or later, we may become aware of our impact or not. We just have to keep giving of ourselves, sharing what God has given us in our own unique ways, and believe that it has value.

[Cheryl]

These are amazing things you are writing about. We never know what may inspire or motivate another person. I think the heart, the reason we do something has a great impact. Maybe the songwriter wanted to share his feelings about suicide because he knew it could help others who felt the same way. Why else do we share our art? Because deep inside we know or hope that there are others who can identify with or appreciate what we express.

[Kurt Garrison]

hi Cathlene! great post. That's a really good question about the negative music. Even with songs about heartbreak (like country music :)) people feel a sense of relatability and healing from the content in that they are not alone. From the perspective of someone talking about suicide..well, they obviously didn't do it if they're singing about it :) Maybe the song was in a way a cry for help..a way for the artist to express what they were going through and through sharing it they could overcome it? So I think there's definitely value in being honest and talking about real issues in Art. I think people who can go so far as to take their own life feel very ALONE. I think it took some courage to write about it. So even though it may have been expressed in an angry way it still could have some positive effect on someone.
I also think there's a big difference between anger and hatred. Gotta go for now..

best,
Uncle Kurt

[Cathlene Bell-Dumas]

Hi everyone!

Wow, this kind of discussion is so awesome. Compared to the college environment, it's like an oasis in the desert. You guys have such great insight, hopefully I can contribute something. Bear with me, as I'm writing this on the spot.

It's no secret that culture is an extremely inflential aspect of our lives. It was during my junior year of high school that I discovered what Uncle Kurt stated - that our internal state as a society directly impacts the culture we produce. Furthermore, I realized that society and culture form this endless cycle. Society shapes culture, which goes on to shape society, and so on. Unless someone chooses to change the content within the cycle, the same lies will continue to circulate.

I agree with both Cheryl and Uncle Kurt in our means of affecting society. It takes a unified effort of internal and external investment. I know that it took a certain degree of growth and maturity for me to decide to make a change in this world through culture. And I know that once I had joined the WAIT team, I became much more powerful in my ability to positively impact people, sometimes without even trying. I guess the first step is recognizing the need for change. Then comes the recognition of one's personal ability to affect change (many people don't think it's possible to change things, or think it's futile). Then, we begin to change the world - starting with ourselves. Once we change our own attitudess, that becomes a silent revolution in itself. Match that up with our God given talents and skills, and you've got everything you need. :)

As I'm writing this though, I'm thinking about a friend of mine I met this semester. I was explaining to him how negative music is something I can't stand. But he told me about how he once attempted suicide, but then this song came on, which basically changed his perspective, and he didn't go through with his suicide. The song wasn't inspirational or hopeful; it was about someone else going through the same thing. My friend explained that in hearing someone else going through the same thing, he realized that he wasn't alone. Thus, he wanted me to see the goodness in negative "angry music." Your thoughts?

[Cheryl]

Thanks so much Kensei and Kurt for responding to my blog posts. I really appreciate Kensei your explination of how you changed culture in your area. It is so inspiring. My own daughter did something similar when she was in middle school by starting a theatrical group that performs in nursing homes. She has continued it through high school always getting new kid's involved. My concern always goes to the people I can't reach or do anything about, the gangs, the kid's doing drugs and drinking, etc, and the kids who are not finding something valuable to be interested in and involved with. The ones who lack motivation and you can't figure out why.

I'm sure my daughter would like to know more about the teen media summit. She's already planning to join the WAIT team after she graduates.

[Kurt Garrison]

discombobulating! I love that! :)
Regarding todays teens. It depends were you look. Your right Cheryl that there are many who are just concerned about themselves and getting ahead but then there's kids like Kensei and the WAIT team who really want to make a difference in the world and are actively doing things. That's inspiring.
I mentioned that only through some personal change can we be effective in making change in culture. I think this is ultimately true but also through working to make a change in culture we can have a personal transformation. So I think it goes both ways.

Cheryl wrote:
"I believe the idealism that touches people's hearts needs to be rooted in a practical method that facilitates change. A beginning point would be to evaluate the good points and bad points of the culture we live in and design systems and processes that would motivate and support both internal and external change."

I think the Teen Media Summit is a good example of something like this. Culture is being discussed and an environment is created for the kids to create music, movies and art that reflect their values and ideals.

[Kensei Tsubata]

Hello Cheryl,
I really enjoyed your post. Pretty deep topic.

By being in this current usual culture of my friends and people my age, I am definitely connected and concerned about this issue.
As an teen, What I notice in this culture is that, for adults mostly they push, teens are only supposed to worry about tests, applications, grades, and paper. In addition, in this culture, I as an teen I am supposed to de-stress from these tests and papers by hooking up with some girl I don't know, or numb, desensitize, or introvert myself by any means possible. This is what I could've chosen to do.

What I think will change the culture is if we all change "the tipping point" of our call to action. In other words, when negativity hits close enough to home, at a certain point, we take action to counteract it. I think we have to realize that so many things can be easily avoided if we take action, and do it quickly.

I reached a tipping point of concern in my neighborhood, where a friend I grew up with began taking and selling drugs. I wanted to make a different path for myself and these kids, so I chose to start a Breakdance class for youth in my neighborhood. In the class, We set a strict rule of drug-free and responsible attitudes, and then we kept the culture in the class free and open, so that the kids themselves could make their own style and moves, within their own creative process.

Now, because of the positive culture in the Breakdance class, these youth are leaders in their own way. They each volunteer up to 10-30 hours a week in their neighborhood, school, and around the DC area, doing positive neighborhood activities and meetings , and HIV/AIDS prevention education promoting positive use of talents and choices.

So, all in all, I am trying to say that our decision to stop the negative, and instead do something positive, is the result of our "tipping point". Yes, We have to make clear the reality of positive and negative effects in order to properly affect the culture by noticing the early warning signs.
In my life, if I did not make clear the reality of positive choices and negative choices, I couldn't change the culture of my community at all, because I wouldn't have a tipping point of concern and call to action.

If we change, then the culture will self perpetually change. I teach my breakdance students, then they can also be a mentor to another person, and that person will realize and change their "tipping point", and the cycle continues.

I hope I am not discombobulating in my thoughts.
Thanks for this topic!
Kensei

[Cheryl]

I agree with you that change begins from within, but I think it's also important to examine culture, to evaluate what is valuable and what is not and why. I grew up in the 60's when it was all about changing the world, revolution, peace, love and truth. Everyone has some kind of ideal in their heart and mind, but when we are vague we can't bring those ideals into reality. What happened to all the Hippies, the communes, the idealism? Don't get me wrong, I don't think we should go back to that era. The point I'm making is that without clear understanding and some sort of methodology people lose their way, become discouraged and get sucked up into the current "reality".

I see that young people today are more materialistic and individualistic than in my generation, and instead of seeking a better or different way they want more of everything that's already out there. Sometimes I wonder if anyone even cares about absolute truth or an original ideal. So many people rushing around trying to create a better life for themselves. And we can't even figure out why these kids keep popping up in schools gunning down all their classmates.

I think CultureMachine is great and I pray for it's success. However, in a society and world that is so diverse, full of problems and lacking solutions that work, I believe the idealism that touches people's hearts needs to be rooted in a practical method that facilitates change. A beginning point would be to evaluate the good points and bad points of the culture we live in and design systems and processes that would motivate and support both internal and external change.

[Kurt Garrison]

Hi Cheryl, good questions. Obviously it's not something that's gonna happen overnight.
Here's what I think, culture (songs, movies, art ect.) is really a reflection of where we are as a culture. I don't think we can just have the intention of making "world changing" culture without having a deep change within ourselves. I think to the extent that this happens, the more effective someone will be in moving or changing others.
With that said, then the culture created is a byproduct of who we are, not just something we're creating with the intent of changing others views. With such a personal change, this spills over into all aspects or ones life and I think can have a ripple effect and make a change in our culture.

Being good or trying to elevate our spirit isn't an easy practice. Some kind of personal victory is needed in order to stand up and influence the world in some kind of altruistic way.
People gravitate towards songs or movies about tragedy, broken relationships and sex because that is a reflection of our culture. Creating something different has to come first then the flow of healthy and uplifting culture will follow.

I think the creation of this CultureMachine community is a good step in bringing together like-minded artists and through music festivals, movies and cultural events this community can have a positive impact on young people.