Umberto Eco: From Internet to Gutenberg (1996)

Excerpt from a lecture presented by Umberto Eco at Columbia University, The Italian Academy for Advanced Studies in America, November 12, 1996:

Today the concept of literacy comprises many media. An enlightened policy of literacy must take into account the possibilities of all of these media. Educational preoccupation must be extended to the whole of media. Responsibilities and tasks must be carefully balanced. If for learning languages, tapes are better than books, take care of cassettes. If a presentation of Chopin, with commentary on compact disks, helps people to understand Chopin, don't worry if people do not buy five volumes of the history of music.

Even if it were true that today visual communication overwhelms written communication, the problem is not to oppose written to visual communication. The problem is how to improve both. In the Middle Ages visual communication was, for the masses, more important than writing. But Chartres Cathedral was not culturally inferior to the Imago Mundi of Honorius of Autun. Cathedrals were the TV of those times, and the difference from our TV was that the directors of the medieval TV --read: good books-- had a lot of imagination, and worked for the public profit (or, at least, for what they believed to be public profit).

The Struggle for Art in A World Obsessed with Popularity

This new Delve tv video essay takes a look at the forgotten difficult years of a celebrated artist and wonders what it means for creative people working today.

Chris Anderson: Follow the Money

In this 99u talk, 3D Robotics founder Chris Anderson shares three lessons he learned transitioning from Wired Magazine editor to helming a 275-person drone company. From “paying” his children in juice for assembling the early prototypes to building a massive factory in Mexico, Anderson’s journey was random and often accidental. But thanks to some healthy ignorance, open source technology, and some rising tech trends, Anderson’s new venture is a successful one, boasting over 100,000 customers.

The key for building a company, he says, is to not wait. Ride the tides of community and macro trends, and keep iterating. “Everything we learned about manufacturing, about the products, we learned by actually doing it.”

Meet The Man Who Saved Apple

Patrick Hanlon profiles Craig Tanimoto for Forbes:

Lee Clow, Chiat/Day’s worldwide creative director and one of the creators of ‘1984’ came into the room. He walked along the walls looking at ideas, pausing at some and totally dismissing others. He was looking very quickly to get an overview of the work. When he came up to Tanimoto’s campaign he stopped and looked.

He turned to Tanimoto and said. “Shouldn’t it be ‘Think Differently’?”

“No,” answered Tanimoto.

Clow thought about it for a minute and agreed. “You’re right.” He turned to the group and announced, “Everyone’s working on this. I want to blow this execution out.”

24 Maxims from Werner Herzog

1. Always take the initiative.
2. There is nothing wrong with spending a night in jail if it means getting the shot you need.
3. Send out all your dogs and one might return with prey.
4. Never wallow in your troubles; despair must be kept private and brief.
5. Learn to live with your mistakes.
6. Expand your knowledge and understanding of music and literature, old and modern.
7. That roll of unexposed celluloid you have in your hand might be the last in existence, so do something impressive with it.
8. There is never an excuse not to finish a film.
9. Carry bolt cutters everywhere.
10. Thwart institutional cowardice.
11. Ask for forgiveness, not permission.
12. Take your fate into your own hands.
13. Learn to read the inner essence of a landscape.
14. Ignite the fire within and explore unknown territory.
15. Walk straight ahead, never detour.
16. Maneuver and mislead, but always deliver.
17. Don’t be fearful of rejection.
18. Develop your own voice.
19. Day one is the point of no return.
20. A badge of honor is to fail a film theory class.
21. Chance is the lifeblood of cinema.
22. Guerrilla tactics are best.
23. Take revenge if need be.
24. Get used to the bear behind you.