Navigating Art World Hierarchies for Inspiration and Joy: Flora Yukhnovich's journey proves that inspiration can come from unexpected places and that finding joy in your work is just as important as navigating established art world hierarchies.
Flora Yukhnovich navigated the established hierarchies of value in the art world to find inspiration for her own work. She initially aspired to become a portrait painter but discovered she didn't enjoy it. She then delved into more art training and found inspiration in the works of Frank Auerbach and Lucien Freud. She understood the importance of established artists in the art world and the notion of déclassé. However, she also discovered her love for playfulness and joy in art while looking at Disney cartoons and wallpaper designs. Yukhnovich's journey shows that it is possible to gain inspiration from a wide range of sources, and to find one's own voice while navigating existing hierarchies of value.
Embracing the Playful and Erotic Nature of Rococo Art: Appreciating art involves learning to appreciate the skill and intention behind any style, even those that may seem opulent or lacking in class. It is a constantly evolving process that requires an open mind and an appreciation for the nuances of different artistic styles.
Flora Yukhnovich, a serious art student, initially dismissed the Rococo style paintings of Jean-Honoré Fragonard. She, like many, believed the opulence of the paintings made them 'designed to please' and therefore devoid of class. However, upon rediscovering Fragonard as a more experienced artist, Yukhnovich began to appreciate the playful, erotic and colorful nature of Rococo art. She realized that the challenge of art comes not just from complexity, but from learning to appreciate the skill and intention behind any style. Rather than dismissing Fragonard and Rococo, Yukhnovich has embraced the style and incorporated elements into her own work, showing that appreciating art is complex and constantly evolving.
Embrace Your Passion for "Tacky" Culture: Don't be afraid to follow your own interests, even if they are considered unconventional. True happiness comes from being true to yourself and embracing what you love.
Don't be afraid to embrace what you love, even if it's considered déclassé or tacky by others. Following your own passions and interests can lead to surprising success and joy. Don't feel pressured to conform to what others consider tasteful or acceptable. Rax King's book, Tacky: Love Letters to the Worst Culture We Have to Offer, celebrates the beauty and enjoyment found in so-called trash culture. True happiness comes from being true to yourself, even if it means going against the norm.
Tacky, Trashy, and Déclassé: An Exploration of Enjoying Things Others Deem Embarrassing.: Success doesn't always come from following the highest-prestige activity. Utilizing common sense and data can lead to unexpected triumph.
Tacky, trashy, and déclassé are categories that point to things people should be embarrassed to enjoy, yet they still find enjoyment in them. There aren't strict definitions for these categories, but rather a feeling or intuition. This extends beyond art and culture and can encompass academic research topics as well, such as sumo wrestling, baby names, and TV game show discrimination. Steve Levitt found that following the highest-prestige activity, such as theory in economics, doesn't always lead to success. Instead, following a tacky path, one that utilizes common sense and data, can lead to unexpected success.
Pursuing Unconventional Interests to Achieve Success: Follow your passion, even if it's unusual, and focus on transparency and simplicity to explain your research effectively. With dedication and clear methods, you can achieve recognition and success in your career.
Don't be afraid to pursue your interests, even if they are unconventional. Steve Levitt's love for crime and data led to his success in economics, despite not following the traditional methods or topics. Additionally, it's important to be able to explain your research in a way that anyone can understand. Transparency and simplicity in methodology can be just as effective as complex formulas. As Levitt's career demonstrates, pursuing what you love and using clear methods can lead to success and prestigious recognition.
The Value of Pursuing One's Interests in Research: A Lesson from Steve Levitt: Don't be afraid to explore topics that interest you in your research, even if they seem trivial. Creative approaches can yield valuable insights and challenge traditional views of what constitutes "serious" research.
Meticulously kept data on bagel and donut sales were used by economist Paul Feldman and then by Steve Levitt to study the marginal cost of firms. Though initially dismissed, Levitt's research paper based on this data taught his peers about economics and gave him a valuable intuition about human behavior. By pursuing topics that interest him, Levitt was able to uncover useful insights from seemingly trivial data. This highlights the importance of following one's interests and taking a creative approach to research, even if it challenges traditional views of what constitutes 'serious' research.
The Value of Low-Brow Culture in Understanding Everyday Behavior: Examining low-brow culture can give us insight into people's routines, habits, and preferences. The origins of the slam-dunk contest in basketball demonstrate the importance of entertainment in sports and remind us to pay attention to seemingly trivial aspects of everyday life.
Understanding low-brow culture can provide valuable insight into how people behave on a day-to-day basis, as it reflects their daily routines, habits, and preferences. Tacky, trashy culture may seem unimportant in the grand scheme of things, but it can reveal a lot about what people enjoy and value in their leisure time. This is evident in the origins of the slam-dunk contest in basketball, which was originally a feature of the rival American Basketball Association (ABA). The ABA recognized the importance of entertainment and show business in sports, and pioneered the use of cheerleaders, a red-white-and-blue basketball, and flamboyant, high-flying dunks that delighted audiences. Understanding this history reminds us that sometimes, to understand what people truly care about, we need to look beyond the elite, ivory-tower view of the world and pay attention to the seemingly trivial aspects of everyday life.
The Rise and Fall and Rise of the Dunk and 3-Point Shot: In basketball, taking an unconventional approach can lead to innovation and success. The banning and revival of the dunk and the introduction of the 3-point shot in the ABA and its eventual adoption by the NBA proves this.
The dunk was banned from college basketball in the 1960s as the NCAA deemed it an unskillful shot. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was then known as Lew Alcindor, believed that discrimination played a role in the ban's implementation because most Black athletes could dunk. However, the American Basketball Association (ABA) revived the dunk by using it as a means to entertain fans and stir up interest. The ABA also introduced the 3-point shot, which was initially seen as a gimmick by both the ABA and the National Basketball Association (NBA). The NBA eventually adopted the 3-point shot and saw it as a strategic component to win games. This shows that sometimes embracing an unconventional approach can lead to innovation and success.
The Impact of A.B.A. on N.B.A and the Rediscovery of Rococo Art: The A.B.A. influenced N.B.A. with its ball movement, dunks, and 3-point shooting style despite being dismissed earlier. Similarly, Rococo art was re-discovered and appreciated by artists like Flora Yukhnovich despite being dismissed as feminine.
The A.B.A. had a significant impact on the development of the N.B.A., with its style and DNA being fully absorbed into the league. The A.B.A. was seen as a 'Blacker product' than the N.B.A. and was initially dismissed by the Establishment as déclassé. However, its influence on the game was undeniable, as seen in the ball movement, spectacular dunks, and 3-point shooting style that is prevalent in the N.B.A. today. Similarly, the Rococo style of art was seen as feminine and decorative, and therefore dismissed by the Establishment after the French Revolution. However, artists like Flora Yukhnovich have rediscovered its beauty and use it as inspiration for their work.
Flora Yukhnovich's Artistic Success and Process: Flora Yukhnovich's unique approach blends traditional Rococo painting with modern cheekiness, creating striking, beautiful yet self-effacing paintings. Her success proves that embracing one's individuality can lead to high demand and acclaim.
Flora Yukhnovich's success as a painter is attributed to her embracing her so-called poor taste and thirst for the déclassé, as well as her ability to merge traditional Rococo painting with modern cheekiness. She often starts with a digital collage as a rough map, and then creates large canvases with a slow process of finding her way and balancing abstraction with figuration. Her paintings are drop-dead beautiful yet embarrassed by their own beauty, evoking a sense of both sarcasm and serious romanticism. Despite some criticism from art-world gatekeepers, her paintings have become highly sought-after and have recently sold at auction for millions of dollars.
Flora Yukhnovich and the 'Eager-To-Please' Aesthetic: Creating something deliberately beautiful can be an effective Trojan horse for conveying a deeper message. Embracing the déclassé can be successful in art and life, so don't worry, be tacky.
Flora Yukhnovich is a revered young painter who embraces the 'eager-to-please' aesthetic. She believes that something beautiful lacks meaning and tries to set it up in a fine-art setting to see how people respond to it. It's easier to make something deliberately beautiful than in opposition to someone who says it shouldn't be. Yukhnovich sees it as a Trojan horse, using a pleasing aesthetic to obscure what's inside. She explains that it's her way of creating something palatable with a bit of abrasiveness to make it interesting. This idea of embracing the déclassé has been successful for her and others like Steve Levitt and Dr. J. They all have a message for us: don't worry, be tacky.
499. Don't Worry, Be Tacky
British art superstar Flora Yukhnovich and economists like Steve Levitt were known for following their passion despite Establishment criticism, with the American Basketball Association also embracing its joie-de-vivre.
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- SOURCES:
- Eric Posner, professor of law at the University of Chicago Law School.
- Koleman Strumpf, professor of economics at Wake Forest University.
- RESOURCES:
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- The Demagogue's Playbook: The Battle for American Democracy from the Founders to Trump, by Eric Posner (2020).
- "The Long History of Political Betting Markets: An International Perspective," by Paul W. Rhode and Koleman Strumpf (The Oxford Handbook of the Economics of Gambling, 2013).
- "Manipulating Political Stock Markets: A Field Experiment and a Century of Observational Data," by Paul W. Rhode and Koleman S. Strumpf (Working Paper, 2007).
- "Historical Presidential Betting Markets," by Paul W. Rhode and Koleman S. Strumpf (Journal of Economic Perspectives, 2004).
- EXTRAS:
- "Has the U.S. Presidency Become a Dictatorship? (Update)," by Freakonomics Radio (2024).
- “Does the President Matter as Much as You Think?” by Freakonomics Radio (2020).
- "How Much Does the President Really Matter?" by Freakonomics Radio (2010).
Has the U.S. Presidency Become a Dictatorship? (Update)
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I Create
We are all creators. Creating is our nature, it is as innate as breathing. We are created to create. As we live each day, we create. Whether it’s intentionally, or something as seemingly small as choosing a cup from the cabinet for your favorite morning drink. Or the choice of ingredients you put together to create a meal that all started from a spark in your mind.
Every decision we make, every thought we think, every word we speak, we are creating.
So in case you need the reminder today, you are a creative being. It is your gift, your inheritance. May these vows help further ignite your creative power.
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Building Connection Through Creativity with Morgan Harper Nichols
The Relaunch Episode & The Abundant Mindset
Welcome back to The ARC Creative Podcast!
Hosted by Sachin Khona, a London-born Brit turned Vancouver wedding photographer, coach, and conference organizer.
Sachin shares his journey from accountant to creative entrepreneur and his commitment to prioritizing health and well-being.
About the Podcast:
- The ARC Creative Podcast aims to empower photographers and creatives in business and life, offering insights into business, creativity, and wellness.
Sachin draws from over a decade of experience as a wedding photographer and his ventures in coaching and conference organization.
Episode Highlights:
- Sachin shares insights on the upcoming ARC Conference - The Experience, returning in 2024 and reflects on his mission at ARC: to educate, inspire, and entertain while keeping listeners informed and engaged.
- The relaunch episode features a giveaway of "The Creative Act: A Way of Being" by Rick Rubin, with a reading from the Abundance Mindset chapter.
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The SpaceShip Earth - Episode 16 - Fridays for Future School Climate Strike Live from Bristol
Ticks: Lobsterbird Solo on Sacred Ground
In her first solo walk with us in months, Lobsterbird travels along a magical path lined with multi-colored mushrooms, catching us up on her adventures through the many realms of spirituality, entrepreneurship, pilgrimage, the quantum field and more. Join us on the border of the forest of the New Jersey Pine Barrens, where the New Jersey Devil is in fact said to live, as Lobsterbird faces parasitic hunters in order to return home with the healing elixir she discovered along her hero's journey.
Your Creative Sparks:
- COLLABORATE with FEAR. Think of it as a fun art project.
- We are going through a real DEATH PERIOD right now, in which we will be REBIRTHED.
- We are being asked to RAMP IT UP in our ability to deal with LETTING GO, SURRENDER AND FAITH.
- POLARITY is like a FALSE MATRIX of thinking.
Your Travelogue
- It was about a year ago that I had a dark night of the soul that lasted like an entire year. Like it's just finished. There are many times throughout the course of the past year where I actually thought it was over, and then it just kept going. [1:49]
- This is the magic spot, and when I was little, it was in this spot that I knew that I was crossing over the threshold into another realm, much like the bridge to Terabithia. [5:42]
- Ticks. People are super scared of them because apparently they're hunters. [7:56]
- I came home to birth some kind of energy baby. [9:19]
- “I'm walking through the spiderwebs, leave a message and I'll call you back.” The way to collaborate with fear and make it an artistic project is to allow it to be there and make really creative choices with it. [15:55]
- We are in this time right now where people are really being asked to step up and express their truth. [25:31]
- I am going to expose my own darkness and that's what this past year has been about. [30:04]
- A thirty second walking meditation for crossing out of the weird donut hole. [41:49]
- When the Buddhists were talking about duality and seeing through the illusion, I thought I knew what that meant. But the multiverse had to create this amazing obstacle course to really teach me what the Buddhists meant by duality. [43:45]
- We are here, on the path in the woods to liberation. [46:54]
- Because of our conscious awareness, we have an equal role in helping to sustain the planet, much as the planet does. What do you have to say to that, magic forest? [52:43]
- There's a different way to do this y'all, and that's what we have to get to. And we'll only get there if we are investigating really deeply what our own energies are that are running under the surface. And then we must learn how to clear it and how to transmute it and how to turn it into something which then does give us power. [57:03]
- I am convinced that we need new leaders to emerge in this world right now. [59:57]
- It is possible to be in a state of beingness. And it actually doesn't matter if you're walking through a magical forest of your childhood or you're walking around on the streets in New York City amongst all the chaos. [1:02:52]
- IRL Pilgrimages: Let's get enlightened. Purify our Karma. Heal our hearts and save some lives and build some elephant enclosures. It's going to be epic. [1:15:11]
Links and resources:
- Request your free copy of Phase Out: The Secret Guide to Finding Work that Frees Your Soul by Sophia Remolde {Lobsterbird} at PhaseOutBook.com.
- Lobsterbird’s newest book: Level Up: Power Practices for Spiritual Superabundance by Sophia Remolde
Music for this episode was contributed by Daniel Munkus and recorded in the Hudson River Valley at Subtle Soup Studios. For more info, visit: www.subtlesouprecords.com.
Podcast management and creative copy provided by Sonya Louise, founder of Performance Podcasting, and presently practicing Earth Medicine in Vero Beach, Florida.
For Free Energy Alignments from Sophia and to learn more about upcoming Hero’s Way Pilgrimages, visit: lobsterbird.com.
UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES
The Co-Creation Project is our brand new jam! and we are inviting a small group of like-spirited beings to join.
what the world needs right now are Light Warriors who are willing to go deep—to co-create from the quantum field of all potential and fully embody that energy here on earth. it’s not enough to say we’re spiritual, to spout off wisdom and/or meditate in a void. this world needs us to bring all this energy into a state of complete beingness, compassion, and interconnectedness with life, and see what new earth emerges from that kind of collaboration.
we gotta walk our talk. it takes community willing to do the work together to learn to be together in new ways. we must become attuned to the earth and larger ecosystem—physically, intuitively, emotionally, and analytically—to train and develop this kind of intelligence.
this is full-on integration and birthing new ways of being. in The Co-Creation Project, we'll come together as a community, to unleash our creative power and tap into a new realm of collective inspired action. the result will be a social action art project that will add fire to all your other endeavors and ignite possibilities for your life that you’ve dreamt of.
this next journey is going to be wild. it will be deeply healing and transformative. it will be the most rewarding work we can do.
want to Co-Create together? we can do it from anywhere on the planet and all you need is an open heart. if you feel those spirit tingles, inquire: magic@lobsterbird.com
we’ll see what it really means to BE together. from there, a new earth will arise.
+++/or: want Lobsterbird to be your personal healer in 2020? what can't we heal together? (hint: nothing.) there’s one 1:1 spot open and it includes a personalized pilgrimage. woot! email for deetz:
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