Culture

The Passing Of Neil Armstrong

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Neil Armstrong 1930-2012

Neil Armstrong was my childhood hero.  I wanted to be an astronaut as a child (who didn’t), but it was serious for me, and that led me into science and computers, which has been my calling to this day.  Neil was one of my inspirations because he walked on the Moon.

He was the first person to set foot on another world in human history.  He and two other brave, hearty, souls strapped into a giant pillar of fuel designed by intelligent men who had never done anything like this, and got shot into the void of space.  Then they managed to land on the surface of the Moon and walk on it.  Then, they came back.  He was the hero we remember the most out of a great deal of heroes, geniuses, planners, thinkers, and doers.

In today’s high-tech world of iPads and streaming video, of 3D printers and artificial joints, you also have to remember this was done in the 60’s.

He’s gone now.  He’s also immortal.

Next time you look up at the night sky you remember he made it up there.  Remember all the people with him, all the people who made the rocket and the lander and the suits, all of that effort and fear and inspiration and courage.

And because of that Neil Armstrong walked on the moon.

The, with the moon shining down on you, go back to your life.  Go on to do great things.  Go on and remember the hero we remember and the many heroes with him and behind him.

Find your own moon and your own walk upon it and never, ever quit.  Shoot yourself into the void between hope and result and face it with bravery.

Neil Armstrong was my first hero.  I think I made a pretty damn good choice of first heroes.

– Steven Savage

Just Go Buy A Copy Of Make Magazine Already

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I would like to very strongly recommend you give a look at Make Magazine (http://makezine.com/).

I have a friend who’s into Maker culture.  He also is the reason I now lust for a 3D printer, and he got me to go to Maker Faire (http://makerfaire.com/).  One of my interests now is to examine the connections and possible connections between geek and maker culture.

In that spirit, trust me, go buy a copy of this and take a look at it and see if it’s you.

Essentially it’s a collection of projects, reviews, and interesting stories by Makers doing what they do – making, repairing, and molding stuff at home.  It’s science, imagination, engineering, cooking, and double-reverse Mythbusters fused together in what is essentially a publication of applied home mad science.  Decorative LEDs, books on fermentation, furniture from PVC, it’s all there.

Why you should check it out?

  • Well it’s pretty cool.
  • It’s pure geek culture, even if Maker culture is both geeky and it’s own distinct thing.
  • There are a lot of things you probably have not heard about that you bloody well should as a geek.  Programmers should know about systems like the Arduino.  Cosplayers can find amazing tools and gizmos.  Science geeks will just pass out with pleasure.
  • It’a an examination of an evolving culture – finding out about the Makers has taught me a lot about an evolving “literati” culture.
  • It’s a way to understand how people leverage and spread knowledge, and modern knowledge.  Just notice how a guy can make a toy with his understanding 3D modeling and a 3D printer, upload it to a site, then everyone can make it.  Now multiply that . . .

Now my “make” is books and cooking, not Quadracopters or coffee makers that turn on via the internet.  But it’s still valuable for me (and exposes me to a lot of fascinating tech).  Give it a shot.

And, yes, I plan to explore Geek/Maker/Career intersections more.  You’ve been warned.

– Steven Savage

Steven Savage is a Geek 2.0 writer, speaker, blogger, and job coach for professional and potentially professional geeks, fans, and otaku. He can be reached at https://www.stevensavage.com/

 

 

Fandom, Critique, and Art

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In order to criticize a movie, you have to make another movie.

– Jean-Luc Godard (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000419/bio)

Fellow blogger Serdar turned me on to the above quote, which speaks volumes really about media, culture, and profans (and fans doing pro-activity as fans).

I’m a great believer in people practicing an art, be it writing, or music, or drawing.  Some form of communication is worth practicing and even mastering, for the sake of expressing ourselves, understanding how others communicate, understanding how others manipulate, and to create a dialogue.  To have an art is to engage other people.

This is one of the reasons I love fandom, geeks, nerds, otaku, and more.  Many of them are engaged in their art, from fanfic to fanart to fan games.  They are practicing their creativity and communication.

Godard’s quote made me realize that in a way, they’re really engaging other creators in a dialogue and in a critique.

Think of many fanfics go down paths that authors avoided.  Yes at times there were damn good reasons for that.  But still, the dialogue is there, even if it’s more telling about a fans desires or a misinterpretation or a wish fulfillment.

Think of the artists who show characters in new light, from the humorous to the deep to the bizarre.  Each piece of art is a glimpse into an opinion, and analysis, and/or an artists ideas.  Even if it’s just pandering or a simple piece for fun it tells you something.

Fan creations are a kind of dialogue.  Often about the fans themselves and among the fans themselves, but it is a dialogue.  So many of us are following Godard’s advice in writing, art, music videos and more.

In some cases however it breaks into the larger world (even if not always well received). Hasbro’s engagement with the Bronies.  50 Shades of Gray bringing fanfic and taboo subjects to the fore.  User-created content being encouraged by gaming companies.  There are moments the fan/otaku/nerd/geek dialogue breaks out – and it’s magic when it does.

In a way, I think that’s part of what I’m trying to do in my work here and elsewhere – connect people up and expand the horizons of what they do and who they reach.  I want to see the dialogue expand.

Of course I also want to see you make money at it too.  That’s a given.  Seeing what it can be can help.

The fanart, fanfic, games, RPGs, and more are all, in a way, a form of dialogue.  We’re all doing a critique or commentary on previous art, even if we never go as far as Godard and make a movie to critique another film.  It’s powerful and amazing, and it should be appreciated as such.

– Steven Savage

Steven Savage is a Geek 2.0 writer, speaker, blogger, and job coach for professional and potentially professional geeks, fans, and otaku. He can be reached at https://www.stevensavage.com/