The next revolution

11 Fevereiro 2020, 14:00 • Daniel Gregg Lopes da Silva

Watching a talk about meat and environment.

Exile

11 Fevereiro 2020, 12:00 • Zuzanna Zarebska

Students read an essay by Emanuel Melo entitled "Exile". We discuss the idea of exile. What are its implications on "the state of separation" and belonging. We enumerate expressions used by the author when he speaks abut traveling: emotional journey, visceral reaction, incomplete being, scattered and tossed, language, geography.

The next revolution

11 Fevereiro 2020, 10:00 • Daniel Gregg Lopes da Silva

Watching a talk about meat and environment.

Essay writing

10 Fevereiro 2020, 16:00 • Cecília Maria Beecher Martins

A collective essay was constructed (see below) from some student paragraphs. Students need to write a conclusion for the next class

The Power of Imagination

Introduction: Henry David Thoreau alluded to imagination being one of the most powerful human tools when he wrote “the world is but a canvas to the imagination” [CMBM1] However, today it seems we have grown a little afraid of imagination, especially as everyday technology seems to develop even more, and it seems the world we live in can change drastically from one moment to the next[CMBM2] . Nevertheless, imagination and change have been part of the human existence since time immemorial, and it is worth reflecting on how they have affected human development. [CMBM3] 

Paragraph One: Our world today would not be the same if it had not experienced peaks of imagination. [CMBM4] For instance, the Renaissance was the light at the end of the tunnel that were the Dark Ages, and it was powered by the imagination of a precious few. One of these was undoubtedly Michelangelo. One does not have to be a Christian to admire either the technical masterpiece that is the Pietà or the beautiful ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. He not only made huge technical advances in the fields of painting and sculpture; he also taught his fellow artists the innovations he created. Thus, he positioned himself beyond the boundaries built around him, and opened the way for others. [CMBM5] 

Paragraph Two Cézanne offers another example of how the imagination and creative power of artists can permit artistic and technological advances[CMBM6] . Cézanne invented pluri-perspective, which allows objects to be looked at in different ways, thus introducing geometrization. This contributed to the conceptualization of cubism. This very important artistic movement of the 1910’s now only brought a new meaning to art, but also a new way of seeing the world. Thus, Cézanne’s power to see what had not been seen before, led to revolutionary movement.  

Paragraph Three Referring to revolutions today, with the advances in robot technology and Artificial Intelligence, many people are concerned about the future. Dealing with the unknown often leads to fearful attitudes; however, because imagination allows visualise hypothetical situations, it can help abate this problem[CMBM7] .  Video game designer, David Cage, did just this when he developed Detroit Become Human. In this game the players interact with three different characters who are robots. They can choose their path depending on the choices they make. In this game it is up to us, the ones who play, to choose if humanity will be able to live with robots. Interaction eliminates or at least diminishes unfounded fears and may in fact highlight potential real problems. Players have access to these choices because of the imagination of a creative person.

Conclusion …..

 [CMBM1]lead

 [CMBM2]bridge

 [CMBM3]thesis statement

 [CMBM4]paragraph 1: topic sentence

 [CMBM5]ending the idea, making it more general and preparing to link this idea with another one.

 [CMBM6]Topic sentence

 [CMBM7]Topic sentence

Black Mirror (1)

10 Fevereiro 2020, 12:00 • Bernardo Manzoni Palmeirim