10/7/18: Class 62: Presentation from Casey on CFI

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10/7/18: Class 62: Presentation from Casey on CFI

Hi Projects class,

Sending along this retroactive class email giving a slight recap of last week.

Look out for another message soon from Vic with a few details on tomorrow!

- - -

We began class with a few words from Josiah, reflecting on John Ruth's visit, the specious idea that the current economy is healthy or robust, linkages with environmental concerns including the "hot house" effect, and the book Emergent Strategy.

In case you missed it in his earlier email, Josiah circulated a doc with two readings and space to add your own, if you are interested in forming reading clusters outside of class.

- - -

We then moved into my lo-o-o-ong presentation on CFI.

I just shared you all on a Google Doc with a [1]raw transcript, which you have comment access on if you'd like to annotate anything there. And you can re-watch the screen recording here.

Thanks for listening patiently through what is admittedly still a way-too-long ramble across a tangle of "research", thoughts, and feelings taking shape for me over the past ten years.

And thanks especially for your questions, reactions, and responses throughout the presentation and after class. If anything is lingering or has arisen for you I'd be super grateful to hear what feels resonant. I am somewhat in the weeds with the topic, so it can be hard to get a sense of what threads people think are worth pursuing. You can respond to the group on this thread or write to me individually.

I'll keep you all posted as I make "progress..."

"..." because I'd like to get away from the idea, as we workshop ideas together, that I (or any of us) have to present a solution or solve a puzzle or sharpen an argument towards some end, and think more about how to widen ambiguities in a time that feels full of false-certainty.

I'm reminded of the word "Project", and how we might be inadvertently mis-characterizing it in our class title... Dictionary sez "Project" is "an individual or collaborative enterprise that is carefully planned and designed to achieve a particular aim".

That's not it at all!! (For me, at least.)

I'd like to think with you all more about Projects as Projections

  • to estimate or forecast (something) on the basis of present trends
  • to extend outward beyond something else
  • to throw or cause to move forward or outward
  • to present or promote (a particular view or image)
  • to make a projection of (the earth, sky, etc.) on a plane surface

Casey