I know I’m a little late to this party, but over the past few weeks of complete catastrophe, during which intelligent thinking has been in little supply, I’ve taken refuge in the RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce) animation series, RSA Animate.
Every couple of months, the RSA, “an enlightenment organisation (sic, brits) committed to finding innovative practical solutions to today’s social challenges,” posts a new animation of a recent lecture given at their London headquarters by one of the most radical contemporary minds. Using a method called Video-Scribing, a talented artist renders the audio of the speech in clear and amusing whiteboard illustrations. The lectures, which are edited for clarity, are funny, touching, urgent, and remind us that intelligent life is out there (just maybe not on this continent).
My favorites include Sir Ken Robinson discussing the current crisis in education and the fake epidemic of ADHD-
“Our children, this generation, do not suffer the plague of tonsillectomies. Instead they suffer this. This is the modern epidemic and it is as misplaced and it is as fictitious. This is the plague of ADHD.”
Slavoj Zizek discussing the ethics of charity in late capitalism, while taking on George Soros, Toms Shoes, and Starbucks.
And David Harvey asking the seemingly impossible.
Ken Robinson:
Zizek:
David Harvey:
Take solace in smart people talking, and entertain your eyes at the same time! It’s a win-win!
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