Ideas are really cool. Sex is really cool. What’s really, really cool is when ideas have sex. According to Matt Ridley, when ideas start having major sex — in the form of cultural exchange between different groups of humans — we end up with major cultural evolution and, in turn, prosperity.
I’ve been a big fan of Ridley’s since I read his “The Red Queen: Sex and the Evolution of Human Nature,” and this recent TED talk by him is wonderful. I highly recommend you check it out. Even if you don’t agree with Ridley’s thinking, I’m sure you’ll find some of his thoughts intreguing. If nothing else, your thoughts will have the chance to have sex with Ridley’s thoughts and Ridley is right, this could be very good for all of us.
Category: Photographers — Ethan G. Salwen @ 12:01 pm
“Photojournalist James Nachtwey is considered by many to be the greatest war photographer of recent decades.” This is from Nachtwey’s bio on theTED Talks website. This is true — that Nachtwey is often considered the greatest living war photographer. However, whether or not James Nachtwey is the “greatest” war photographer is really not that interesting of a question.
In fact, the question itself belittles the photographic contributions of all image makers of conflict. (Good god, this is not the Oscars!) Even talking about there being one, greatest war photographer (as in, “I vote for Robert Capa!”) overly romanticizes a photographic specialty that is not romantic at all. (Just check out what Don McCullin has to say on the topic.)
While Nachtwey’s brilliance as an image maker seems unquestionable, to me what makes him truly intriguing is his personality. This man has an intense charisma that is impossible to ignore, whether you are drawn to it or repelled by it. When you are in a room with him — craning your neck as you try to hear his soft words — he has the power of attraction that rivals the gravitational pull of a black hole.
OK, actually, what behavioral economist Dan Ariely asks is, “Are we in control of our own decisions?” Or at least that’s the name of hisfantastic, provocative TED talk. Definitely check it out.
Ideas are really cool. Sex is really cool. What’s really, really cool is when ideas have sex. According to Matt Ridley, when ideas start having major sex — in the form of cultural exchange between different groups of humans — we end up with major cultural evolution and, in turn, prosperity.