Do something innovative this weekend...

In class this week we talked about the concept of innovation. What does it mean to be innovative? What makes someone an innovator? Is Steve Jobs an innovator? I thought it was fitting when I found this post on the Chive today: Do Something Innovative This Weekend. While yes, all of these pictures made me laugh, are they really innovative. Creative, maybe, but I wouldn't necessarily say innovative. But I think this is an interesting point, the concepts of innovation and creativity are starting to be used synonymously. But does being creative really mean innovative too? What would an artist (like Picasso) say about this? What would Steve Jobs say about this (I'm sure he would tell you you're fired)? 

KCCO- Keep Calm and Chive On

theCHIVE is a photo-entertainment website. The site (and app) post pictures and videos everyday of whatever Chivers submit. A Chiver is me, its you, its anyone; anyone who creates an account can submit photos or videos to be posted on the site. Photos are added to all kind of categories, from travel, animals, and DIY to bachelor pads, creepy, and mind blowing. Daily posts include things like daily morning awesomeness and daily afternoon randomness. Any Chiver can submit photos and comment on photos but not everyone is a Chiver. 

Chive is for a mature audience only because, yeah, there are some inappropriate things (most specifically pictures of women). As explained in an article, "teenagers, 20-somethings, 30-somethings, and even open-minded middle-agers will enjoy The Chive." The Chives audience is young but also mostly men. AS a result, The Berry (a more girl friendly version of the Chive) was created in 2009. Because the Chive has a specific audience, it can be seen as more of a lifestyle enclave in Bellah's terms. 

                                     

However, one way the Chive and it's Chivers really come together and a sense of community is formed, is through Chive Charities. All money made through donations and merchandise sales gets put to a good cause by helping those in need; especially the underdogs. The Chive is a lifestyle enclave that posts funny pictures to brighten your day, but in the works to give back to the community and people in need. 

Karōshi

Another aspect of the documentary Happy that I watched this week that was I found interesting was this relation to the first and second languages we talked about in class. Throughout the documentary, it was really interesting to see people identify and describe their lives through their second language; talking about their material values, jobs, wealth. The focus is placed on utilitarian individualism and careers rather than expressive individualism and private, personal satisfaction. This made me realize how much of an issue it actually is for people to see past this second language to their first language and find ways to make themselves happy. 

In Japan people have been over working themselves so much that they literally overwork themselves to death. This concept is so common now that there is a word for it; karoshi. It's sad to see so much importance placed on work and having a successful career that personal happiness and development of the Self gets downplayed and takes a second place to this sort of material success. People need to realize that there is more to success, happiness, and life in general than just a good or successful job. They need to realize that personal happiness is what is really important in life and that you can achieve that in many different ways as long as you move past the little (second language) aspects of life. 

Happiness, Success, and... Money?

Yesterday my roommates and I watched Happy (Happy-Netflix). This 2011 documentary explored what it really means to people to be happy. The filmmakers went all over the world interviewing different people in search of what it is that really makes people happy in life, similar to how Bellah looked at the four different americans. All of the people in the documentary are so different (in their cultures, daily lives, and in what makes them each happy), but at the same time, all of these different people want to be happy in their lives in one way or another.

One part of the documentary that stuck out to me was this young businessman in America who was asked about his happiness:

          Reporter: What would make you happy?

          Young businessman: Success

          Reporter: And what would make you successful?

          Young businessman: Well, right now, money of course, lots of money. 

To me, this man's response was not surprising at all. I think one issue within America is that there is a common misconception about what it means to be happy or successful and often the two concepts are combined and have the answer of money, money is what would make people both happy and successful. Americans, especially today's younger generation, seem to be consumed by utilitarian individualism and this idea that the only kind of success there is is that of professional success, that making a lot of money at your job equals success in life.

But how far can money really go? Of course if you were living on the streets money would be great to buy yourself some food and shelter. But what about someone like Bill Gates? He has all the money he could imagine, but does that mean he is necessarily successful or happy? I think we can all agree that professionally Bill Gates is successful, but what about with his personal life, does his money make him successful then?

iTribute- think different

In class the other day after watching the 1997 Apple "Crazy Ones" commercial, we talked about using Apple's different products as tools to make a difference in the world like the crazy ones. The 2011 song/video, "iTribute" by the hip-hop/rap duo Timeflies, was made using only Apple products. Timeflies created the song in October 2011 as a tribute to the late Steve Jobs. The lyrics are about different Apple products/software and Steve Jobs himself. The song showcases Apple products from iCal to the iPod and everything in between. The song even includes excerpts from Jobs's Stanford commencement speech ("stay hungry, stay foolish"). Timeflies used these various Apple products as tools to create something great. The duo has gone from making weekly YouTube videos (Timeflies Tuesday) in their apartment to selling out arenas in major cities across the country. 

"If apple taught us anything that's to think different"

Timelfies- iTribute lyrics

The Whole Earth Catalog: the brain's perception

"I can't think of another book as well-made as this one. It is well designed, illustrated, and diagramed. The writing is excellent, the subject matter important and new. The book is inexpensive. Altogether Eye and Brain lets you see how crappy most books are." 

This introductory paragraph to the Eye and Brain book sounds exactly like something Steve Jobs would say. A smart straight forward description and promotion of the product followed by a quick slap in the face to others like it; typical Jobs style. This reminded me of Jobs's commencement speech at Stanford where he says something along the lines of how there wouldn't have ever been personal computers like this today if it weren't from himself because really Windows just stole from Apple (a great inspirational statement followed by that slap in the face to Windows). 

Eye and Brain also reminded me of Jobs in the sense that the book focuses on the way in which the eyes and brain perceive objects in every day life. Jobs's particular attention to detail and beauty in his products is something he takes pride in because he understands the importance of how an object is perceived by someone. Jobs understands that a product needs to be both good in quality as well as aesthetically pleasing to the customer to be the most successful. 

Jobs strives to make each product better and better with each detail that goes into the production, focusing on design and function as well as the way the consumer will perceive the product. In a similar manner,  this book, as well as many others in the Whole Earth Catalog, shows the reader how to better themselves in the sense of brain perception to objects. Understanding how the brain perceives objects can help someone better understand themselves. 

Steve Jobs: Follow your heart and intuition

In his speech, Steve Jobs told Stanford's graduating class of 2005 three stories from his life. Jobs first told the class about his college experience, how he dropped out after a year but stayed on campus to take a few classes. Jobs was no longer taking the classes required by the university, he was taking the ones he wanted using them as tools to better himself as an individual. Jobs chose classes that would better his Self similar to how someone can choose their faith to find and better themselves. He proceeded to tell the class how even though he didn't finish college or know what he wanted to do with his life, you need to have faith that the dots in your life will connect somehow. Believing and trusting in life, or religion, give you faith to keep going through life each day. As a college senior getting ready to graduate myself I know its scary to think about what will come in the rest of my life once I leave Lawrence but its reassuring to hear things like Jobs' speech ensuring that all of the dots will connect and to simply have faith that they will. 

Steve then told the class about how he was fired from Apple, the company he and Woz had started. Even though he was bitter that his own company fired him, Jobs loved what he did which gave him courage to start over. As a result Jobs started a few more companies (like Pixar) that eventually ended up bringing him back to Apple. Again his message was clear, even though you might get shot down, don't lose faith. The most successful people aren't successful because their firs idea worked perfectly, they hit some bumps in the road too but never lost faith and didn't give up on what they loved. Steve Jobs would never have been as successful of a person if he had lost faith every time he hit a bump in the road. I think this is perfectly fitting for a commencement speech because all of these students are about to be thrown into the real world where their first job or plan might not work out but that keeping faith will help them work through the hard times. 

The last part of Jobs' speech was about his battle with cancer. Steve told the class to leave each day like it could be your last and to ask themselves one thing each day: will you like what you're going t do today? He told the class to remember you'll all be dead soon, don't fall into the trap of living in fear of doing something; time is limited so don't waste it. Its kind of scary to be so blatantly reminded that you will die but Jobs does it in a way to encourage the class to not hold back and live in fear of death or of what could happen but to go out there and make things happen while you have the time and opportunity. 

Jobs ended his speech by telling everyone to follow their hearts and intuition because somehow they know what you want.  This is a perfect summary of Jobs' points; he is telling everyone to keep faith and believe in what they do because one day you'll be dead, so don't give up. Basically he just wants everyone to have faith in not only life itself but also in what everyone does with their lives. Even though this speech might not seem to be related to religion it is in the aspect of having faith in something; without something to believe in or have faith in, getting through life (both the good times and the bad times) can be difficult.