Friday Selection Box: 12th June 2020

How Google Docs became the social media of the resistance

This piece from MIT’s Technology Review documents how people are using Google Docs to organise online in preference or in addition to social media

People want a persistent artifact, [Clay] Shirky says. “If you are in an action-oriented network, you need an artifact to coordinate with those outside of the conversation and the platform you’re using, so you can actually go outside of the feed and do something.”

This article reminds me of how we humans create technology that we then use in unimagined ways.  I am reminded of a great summary from the archaeologist Mike Pitts:

We used to study the pots that people made, then we studied the people who made the pots, now we study how the pots made the people.

I wonder how coronavirus is making us.

People priorities for the new now

A thought provoking piece from Boston Consulting Group that explores how we move from crisis to the New Now.

Diagram with two boxes

 

The History of Now

A fascinating series of podcasts from historians putting aspects of our present situation into a historical context.

Patagonia CEO Rose Marcario stepping down

Described as one of the world’s most distinctive and innovative chief executives, Rose Marcario has put activism and strong values at the core of Patagonia’s development. An interesting example for thinking about organising differently.

 We’re living in a time when it’s so important for business to drive this new economy, this new view, this aspirational future of business as a force for good. Because what we’ve seen in the last 25 years has been business as a force for evil.

Ssshake Blog: Creative industry grants and prizes

A great list of grants and prizes to help creatives find new opportunities.

Uncomfortable Oxford

A student-led organisation designed to raise awareness of the ‘uncomfortable’ aspects of our shared history including inequalities, discrimination and imperialism. The website has a range of resources including podcasts, events and a blog. Check out a really interesting piece on (De)colonising the Pitt Rivers Museum.

Radical Care: Embracing feminist finance

Really interesting cross disciplinary Zine that challenges dominant economic systems and looks at embracing different values such as locality, cooperation and caring. It contains some strong views and poses powerful questions. I found it a good vehicle for testing my own assumptions.

Museum Detox

Championing fair representation and inclusion of BAME cultural, intellectual and creative contributions. Their website features a comprehensive set of resources to help allies stand in support of BLM.

Susan & Dawn