off-stage right

Today, as I do everyday, I was catching up on news and blog posts.  I was reading Michelle Obama’s speech at the MOMA ceremony; the recounting of arts leaders meeting with the new arts leaders on the President’s team; Eric Booth’s essay on unifying the arts (linked from The Artful Manager,  and a handful of blog posts on many subjects from across the country.

Suddenly, I was overwhelmed with the thought that we may have entered a new period for American culture, are we in the beginning stages of a modern renaissance for America and perhaps the world?

The rise of social media has had a profound effect on information distribution, this has resulted in a tremendous growth in commentary.  People are thinking, talking and sharing more than ever before.   Ideas are being generated, challenged, refined, and disseminated.  This generative process that in the recent past took months, even years, to complete can now be completed in minutes.   Old rules are being challenged and instead of new rules being created, the great leaders, thinkers, and artists are refusing to conform and are celebrating the individual and individuality.

While others are bemoaning the death of letter-writing, claiming books are becoming ancient relics, and griping that arts and culture have been dumb-down for the masses, I posit another hypothesis – the modern renaissance has begun.

Sure it is easy for the naysayers to scream from the roof-tops about reality shows, mediocre artistic endeavors, the massive influence of pop culture, or the Republican Party, but take a moment and really think about the cultural shift during the last renaissance.

Analytical, philosophical and creative thought were celebrated!  The value of the arts was questioned and challenged  – and flourished as a result.  Research and science challenged the very foundation of society.   Self-awareness and exploration led to insightful commentary on the human condition.

Now re-read the last paragraph.  Read it a third time if you have to .   Try to deny that the current globalization of communication, the devastating effect of the economic collapse, the ability for any one to grab a virtual soapbox and express their thoughts, creativity, commentary, philosophy or critique, has created wealth of rebellion and a demand to be heard.  We are questioning the fundamentals of our culture, region, and country.  We are striving to understand our place in the world, our relationship with the earth itself and how to effectively express ourselves.  We are searching for participatory and community building experiences (more and more often virtually).   We keep talking about user created content – heck a year or two ago time magazine names “You” the user as the person of the year.

We are talking about and craving change.  It started before the presidential election, before the campaign, as a matter of fact the election was a result of this rising demand for knowledge and growth.  This movement is why Barack Obama’s speech at the 2004 democratic convention has such resonance for so many people, especially Generation X and Y.  The Baby Boomers may be the largest generation, but technology and other advances have left many of that generation behind and put power, control and leadership into the hands of the youngest of that generation, as well as generations X and Y.

As we enter further into this Renaissance, we will face more and more struggles.  The world economy, poverty, illness, war, and environmental disasters will likely increase.   But these challenges will lead to a new era.

We must not lose sight on the lessons of history, we must learn our lessons well, so we can deal with future struggles.  We must dedicate ourselves to finding a better balance of opportunity for people of all nations.  We must help children find their voices and revitalize our schools so that they can learn to use their voices.  We must keep questioning art – its form, its distribution, its participants and its creators.   If we keep ourselves focused and hopeful, this renaissance will change the world.

If you are reading this on Facebook, please click-thru to www.off-stage-right.com to be counted and keep reading.

No related posts.