Popular Culture

Last Saturday on TEDxSP Regina Casé talked about the prejudices we carry when we judge legitimate cultural movements, such as funk, technobregra, kuduro and others around the world. Although these movements gather hundreds of thousands, we rarely acknowledge their importance and tend to consider them low class, not good enough to receive attention and investment. Therefore, we never see them on the official media, never offer governmental support (we send the police instead) and don’t even consider it culture.

Well, this Friday I had the pleasure of going to the São Cristóvão markets in Rio and experience other amazing undervalued expression: Brazil’s northeastern culture.

As soon as Hanna and I got there, we felt the different atmosphere. The place was not in a fancy suburb, the tickets cost only a dollar, most of the visitors were northeasterns living in Rio and everybody was incredibly welcoming, smiling all the time.

Inside, there was not only one stage, but perhaps 20 of them: 2 bigger shows, karaoke, forró playing at every corner and live 3-family-members’ bands at their relatives’ restaurants.

On top of that, the food was amazing and one could find fresh northeastern cooking ingredients, particularly manioc flour types (apparently, the flour gets thicker as we go north).

Enjoying the shows were people from all ethnicities and ages, all dancing together, respecting each other and having the best time. One of the top moments was to hear the forró version of the song Rise Up (My dream is to fly / Over the rainbow so high). It goes like this:

Gatinha, tu gosta mais
De red label ou ice
Pra mim tanto faz
Ou red label ou ice

For me, the São Cristóvão markets represented some of the coolest things about Brazil: diversity, creativity, receptiveness and fun.

Considering the world needs a lot more equality, respect and widespread opportunities, maybe we should privilege the São Cristóvão markets model rather than big one-artist shows for a small rich audience.

Therefore, we might be able to redefine what popular culture really is.

The fun theory

What can change our behaviour for better? FUN can!!!

The impact of giant companies

Everybody knows giant companies cause a lot of impact: environmental damages where they produce goods, greenhouse gas emissions while transporting these goods, cultural interferences as they advertise and social issues all along the chain.

German RWE energy company sensitively created a video to question: what if giant companies caused a lot of... POSITIVE impact?

Hakuna Matata

As my 2-week holidays approach, I ask: are you worried about anything?

Hakuna Matata
It means no worries for the rest of your days
It's our problem free philosophy
Hakuna Matata

Now in your own language:

Sustainability Online Games

I'm doing a research for a sustainable business online training I'm designing for the bank's employees and came across some interesting free online courses.

The Vinyl game represents a PVC manufacturer. The player should decide on what industrial plants to invest and what sustainability measures to adopt, while managing the cash flow and suffering stakeholders' pressures. I recommend it.

The McDonald's game doesn't allow as many options, but it has at least two merits: promote a more systemic view of the food chain and bring up the power of democracy and decentralised criticism. There's basically no way one can do well!

The animals save the planet

Because of work, I have been involved in a lot of baby talk recently. Let me explain: 4 out of 9 people in my team are either pregnant or had a baby in the last 3 months.

On top of that, there are 2 Mums and 2 Dads of kids up to 4 years old.

As they exchange experiences, ask advice to each other and comment on the latest cartoons, I learn interesting lessons for the future :-)

The series of short cartoons I want to share is 2 year-old Isabelle's hit. Using a simple and funny language, it talks about some of the most important environmental issues.

Here comes Isabelle's favourite:



And this is the one I really like:



You can find all the others at http://www.animalssavetheplanet.com. Engage the kids you know, too!

I think I lost my job...

How to be creative

So you want to be more creative, in art, in business, whatever. Here are some tips that have worked for me over the years:

1. Ignore everybody.

2. The idea doesn't have to be big. It just has to change the world.

3. Put the hours in.

4. If your biz plan depends on you suddenly being "discovered" by some big shot, your plan will probably fail.

5. You are responsible for your own experience.

6. Everyone is born creative; everyone is given a box of crayons in kindergarten.

7. Keep your day job.

8. Companies that squelch creativity can no longer compete with companies that champion creativity.

9. Everybody has their own private Mount Everest they were put on this earth to climb.

10. The more talented somebody is, the less they need the props.

11. Don't try to stand out from the crowd; avoid crowds altogether.

12. If you accept the pain, it cannot hurt you.

13. Never compare your inside with somebody else's outside.

14. Dying young is overrated.

15. The most important thing a creative person can learn professionally is where to draw the red line that separates what you are willing to do, and what you are not.

16. The world is changing.

17. Merit can be bought. Passion can't.

18. Avoid the Watercooler Gang.

19. Sing in your own voice.

20. The choice of media is irrelevant.

21. Selling out is harder than it looks.

22. Nobody cares. Do it for yourself.

23. Worrying about "Commercial vs. Artistic" is a complete waste of time.

24. Don't worry about finding inspiration. It comes eventually.

25. You have to find your own schtick.

26. Write from the heart.

27. The best way to get approval is not to need it.

28. Power is never given. Power is taken.

29. Whatever choice you make, The Devil gets his due eventually.

30. The hardest part of being creative is getting used to it.

31. Remain frugal.



Source: http://www.gapingvoid.com/Moveable_Type/archives/000932.html

Olympic Games in Rio Grande do Sul

I'm sincerely sorry for the English speakers, who not even will a translator will be able to laugh at this wonderful article. Brazilians, enjoy! Gauchos, delight yourselves!


Por JURANDIR FEIJÓ

Só porque vai sediar o Pan, o Rio quer também organizar os Jogos Olímpicos de 2016. Não sei quem toma essas decisões, mas gostaria de apresentar uma proposta: a candidatura da cidade de Pedro Osório. Nada mais justo do que homenagear esse município que traz na sua origem o nome de Vila Olimpo.

É uma cidade predestinada. Nós, os gaúchos, somos o povo mais preparado para sediar os jogos, se levarmos em conta alguns fatores. Por exemplo, a tocha olímpica. Ninguém sabe fazer um fogo como nós. Qualquer índio velho junta umas achas de lenhas, acende um fósforo e pronto. E aí, aproveita o braseiro, enfia um naco de picanha gorda no espeto... Não há dúvida, seria uma olimpíada inesquecível.

É claro, teríamos que fazer algumas adaptações. As modalidades de esportes precisariam incorporar jogos com características mais regionais, como a Bocha, o Truco e o Jogo do Osso.
O espírito olímpico do Barão de Coubertain - "o importante é competir" - teria que ser alterado para alguma coisa do tipo "não te fresqueia, bagual". O Boxe poderia ser substituído pela Briga de Baile, mais emocionante. Só termina quando alguém abre a cabeça do outro com uma garrafa de cerveja.

Nas artes marciais temos a Queda de Braço e a Guerra de Bosta. Tênis de Mesa, o tal do Ping-Pong, pra nós é jogo de criança. Já que tem diversão pra gurizada, podiam incluir também Bolinha de Gude, Pandorga e Bodoque com Caroço de Cinamomo. Arco e Flecha é barbada, é coisa de índio. A gente mexe com isso desde o tempo dos guaranis. E esse negócio de Ciclismo é passeio de bici. Vamos botar as mulheres pra disputar com eles. Agora, aquela corrida esquisita em que os homens ficam se requebrando com passos de mulherzinha, está proibida.

Natação terá Nado de Costa com Poncho em Açude, esporte para poucos. Hipismo vamos manter, o que não falta é cavalo pra Cancha Reta. Tiro ao alvo também, mirando uns maçanicos do banhado. A Esgrima vai usar adagas de verdade e não aqueles arames fininhos, sem graça. E se tocarem uma rancheira, melhor, a coisa vira Dança dos Facões.

Futebol será o de Campanha - com bota e espora - para se adaptar às condições do estádio, que durante a semana funciona como pastagem para o gado. A Ginástica Olímpica será substituída, com vantagens, por Chula e Chimarrita. E vamos promover alguns esportes até então considerados menores, como Cuspe em Distância, Peteleco e Halterocopismo.

Tudo isso sem falar da festa de abertura: som de 300 bombos legüeros, apresentação de Gisele Bündchen e shows com Luiz Marenco, César Oliveira e Rogério Mello.... E por aí a fora.

Vamos amadurecer a idéia. Não quero cantar vitória antes do tempo.