Kuukausi: syyskuu 2015

To challenge the brain, do schools do that enough?

| Henna Timanttimetsä
It can feel like a nuisance, it is hard work, it requires focus and questioning, endless questioning and especially challenging the society. Society that does not want to be challenged is the one that has to be put against the wall. I am puzzled how easily information that is incorrect passes as correct and people think they know someone.. To hear a rumor about someone does not mean you know anything about the person rumor is about, but it tells something about the people who pass the rumor on. Never forget. Better choose your friends more carefully.

To challenge the brain is our duty. It is truly strange to know how little faith people have for the brain, how little respect this organ actually gets. When we are what we think, how does it show on the outside? Schools just doing their jobs (mere existence is not it, nor is the power status or delivering diplomas) without interest for students as individuals thinking little of students means not to pay attention to the constant development of education and people as persons, and what needs to be taught. Is it what society thinks need to be taught, what is trending at the moment like making apps and how do we make a fortune? Most important seems to be who we know. It is a high credit. (Does not have much to do with credit but something quite different.)

Lack of interest is the worst crime an educator can do as is contempt towards students. You know how contempt shows? When teachers become too comfortable and full of themselves at that high valuable position which means power, what kind of power do they have is quite interesting. For those who study much as myself importance of high quality teaching is vital and poor quality is seen more often than should be allowed. Undervaluing happens too easily and it is intolerable as it is a continuous nonstop happening. When evidence of capabilities is not good enough why present any. When hearsay is more trustworthy than knowing the facts it is simply wrong and out of the question when we have to know the truth about things. When university does this one can ask where is the university, what university. The kind of teacher I have met at art schools is the one who does it for the money and when student knows more than the teacher studying is useless, don’t you think. You have contempt for your students: fuck off. You have contempt for new ways of expressing, thinking and doing you are in the wrong place. When you repeat same kind of methods from year out year in do you really believe in what you do? For quality of teaching which we all of course desperately want because it is so scarce teachers also need to do their homework. Are teachers worth the money they are paid, worth the time to go to the course where teacher is not interested in what students know already. You don’t know what your students know and can do you should ask them.

Strong moral conviction: what a solid good set of words and not just words but an idea of how to live.

| Henna Timanttimetsä
When universities do not seem to hold such conviction, how can society have it, how can every individual have it when society does not? What is place of universities if it is not to educate people the best possible way? If university serves as merit factory, diploma plant without even trying to provide best possible teaching, without obviously knowing what is best possible education there is, what do universities serve? Corporations, individual ambitions? When you have university for morons I understand if students are taught as morons, otherwise I do not accept poor quality from university. Yes you can have a good reputation, if that is a bubble it is short-lived reputation full of air. High standard is the only standard for high education. Anything other pisses me off, especially if I have to learn something what I already know just because it is compulsory. That is wasting my time and money. Surely university should be interested in such not so tiny matter as what their students can do when they enter the school! Also pay attention: it is far more important what the contents is than how things seem outside.
In general strong moral conviction means that we are responsible for our actions to other people, that our actions have consequences and we have to deal with those upcoming consequences. We can’t turn our back’s and think problems as vast as we are facing are problems of those others far away. Something which has happened in history effecting today does not mean it is not our task to make things better and take responsibility for something that clearly has a profound impact today such as colonialism has had. History of entitlement and privilege has not gone anywhere.

 

How do you free your mind? Dancing might help. It frees your body and when your body is free it helps your mind to become more free and accepting. When prejudice is what keeps your identity in power you think you are in power in comparison to others, you can’t let your prejudice go because it is what makes you. Power is intoxicating. This is my theory. What do you think?

| Henna Timanttimetsä
mullah-omar
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/afghanistan/2015-09-01/legend-mullah-omar

 

Menstruation/Kuukautiset, öljypastelli, 76*56cm, 2003

Kuva | | Henna Timanttimetsä

Taliban with small hands

Kuva | | Henna Timanttimetsä

Taliban with small hands

How do you work in a system which has a set of values opposite to yours, total conflict of values? When you think you are correct and they are wrong.

| Henna Timanttimetsä

How does one work in a system that does nothing but humiliate, restrain and abuse person who dares to call herself an artist? How does one oppose and challenge such system that thinks it is perfect and only does good when there is clear evidence it does quite a lot damage instead? One option is not to work, not call one’s doings work of art at all. It means to resign from tradition of art the best way one can. That is a free fall and the result is unknown. It can be hobbyist but not without goals. To make without burdens of professionalism, without need to fit in the system, without need to please those who need to be pleased to get credit and be paid. Art in capitalism is nothing but luxury items and a means to show off one’s interest and knowledge. Civilized society supports arts, civilized people go see art, civilized people make art: when art loses its voice and noise is that civilized?

When art is an accessory it is design rather than philosophy. If we want art as accessory and style to accompany us what happens to art? It stops being political, it stops being activism, it stops doing the most important job it has which is take part in conversation, take part in society as an independent voice.

What is intelligence and how are we intelligent?

| Henna Timanttimetsä
I ask because it is the main characteristic in humans that people like pay attention to, find and define by measurements of their own which society confirms. What does intellect become to be when it is decided within society without understanding how complex the issue is and what intellect means? What does it mean to have intellect and what to do with it? So far to me conclusions have been insanely absurd and something deep is seen as a blank paper, thin and white. When intellect is measured by looking at someone’s appearance conclusions are to go wrong and the very idea of knowing the brain of anyone is crooked. How are we intelligent and how are we not, the judgment happens in seconds so my conclusion is we know it, we know what is intelligent, what impresses us and what does an intelligent person do. So far those who consider themselves intelligent put other people down because they are the best of the best, intelligence as something of a privilege has a diabolic history for which patriarchy and science are to blame for their part. Men being more clever than women still lives on, adults more clever than children. I must remind you that learning abilities of children beat any adult.
We have to make an impression in a highly demanding task, know how computer works (do you know how computer works? You push the button and surf, log in to fb? You are so clever.), how society works, know without telling, look smart, impress, how to present yourself to belong, say the right things at the right spot, know the right people. We have intelligent everything because if it wasn’t intelligent we would not need it, right? Gossiping is stupid but still it happens frequently: you don’t like her, they don’t like her. Doesn’t sound hugely clever, but as a process it is for its purpose which gossiping serves: to shut certain kind of people out, to make distinction, and it surely makes society. So one can ask in what kind of society do we live? Conduction of thought is a straight line (jumping to conclusions is not something intelligent people do as they must see sides to things and to people) and you trust what that friend of yours says because he/she is a friend the one you trust, buddies on your side against the stupid ones. Stupid ones, you mean losers? Sounds like bullying. I must ask how bullies become teachers? The assumption is teachers have intellect. We like stupid things too even though we are the cream because we like to laugh at the losers. Lack of empathy is clear. It is no wonder our society is dragging in shit. Cream does not mean cream has intellect because it is cream, sadly.
We tend to find groups of people who think the same, do the same things as we do. It is us liking to do what we like and get together. There is a teeny tiny error in the way that idea of bonding appears and closes, stays closed. Bonding with similar minds and friends which in the long run become a pretty large flaw on every level of society. Something trickling down? Well it ain’t money. Similar minds preferring something that stays the same and changes very little as I notice because it is serving. When there is talk about change and progress which there is a lot, I understand you truly wish to make change,,,deep down inside. It is my advice to seek difference, all out of the box. Yes it is scary because you won’t be having your buddies, your safety net. My conclusion about people is quite horrifying and I see it is not wrong at all as very little changes eventually, especially in the arts. Arts the progressive, dear Lord. To have institutions have the power is sadly the interest of art. We live in meritocracy. Institutions gladly give credit to good and capable people, don’t they. It is one reason progress is not happening within the arts, the fame bubble, the privilege and the good you do. Bureaucrats taking credit, dictating what is good and worth while doing, what is art in this, who will be lifted up, who will be silenced. You will stay behind as long as the self-love and self-interest are those most important traits to reach out. This little I have faith in you too.
Fearlessness, ability to brake harmful destructive patterns and curiosity represent intelligence as does kindness of heart to me. Emotional intelligent is actually an extremely important part of being intelligent, finding out intelligence in yourself and in others. This not so minor detail continuously is failing as hard science and technological thinking prevail as the highest intellectual achievement, something to conquer and master. Cold formal behavior is made to represent something that is the very brain of the West and the good within civilization. Following orders, filling up forms, making rules to be obeyed, white wall, lack of emotion, inability to show compassion for someone you do not know. Inability to take and answer to critique is clear sign of masters liking their position too much.
 orchid