Lo—TEK. is about Traditional Ecological Knowledge, meaning the way indigenous people understand their environments so deeply, through a cumulation of multigenerational practices and beliefs. Through four chapters (Mountains, Forests, Deserts, and Wetlands) this book explores thousands of years of human wisdom and invention from 20 countries including Peru, the Philippines, Tanzania, Kenya, Iran, Iraq, India, and Indonesia.
The author Julia Watson, who is a designer and environmentalist, argues the point that tribal communities, who are often seen as primitive, are highly advanced in creating systems that are nature based. Watson calls for the tech industry to adopt these thousands of years old principles of indigenous design to help cities around the world to not only reduce the impact of climate change, but to be resilient for future generations.
Explore the nature-based technology that is incredible environmental architecture.
From the Publisher: In an era of high-tech and climate extremes, we are drowning in information while starving for wisdom. Enter Lo—TEK, a design movement building on indigenous philosophy and vernacular infrastructure to generate sustainable, resilient, nature-based technology. With a foreword by anthropologist Wade Davis and spanning 18 countries from Peru to the Philippines, Tanzania to Iran, this book explores millennia-old human ingenuity on how to live in symbiosis with nature.
Watch: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom on Netflix
In this film adaptation of August Wilson’s 1982 play, two-time Tony-winning director George C. Wolfe presents more than just Gertrude “Ma” Rainey’s bold personality and iconic voice to the audience.
This story mixes tense relationships between the controlling white management, Ma Rainey, and the other black musicians amongst a time of Great Migration for promised socioeconomic opportunities for Black Americans. It is a fictional account of a day in Chicago, the summer of 1927. In the recording studio with her band, Ma Rainey makes sure she is the one in control because after all, she is the “Mother of the Blues” and management needs her voice to succeed.
The film stars Oscar-winner Viola Davis as Ma Rainey and is the last performance of the late Chadwick Boseman, as the restless trumpet player Levee.
Listen to: Rina Sawayama
British-Japanese musician Rina Sawayama is a powerhouse– her debut album SAWAYAMA has been named a top album on many 2020 lists, including Pitchfork and NPR. And an even higher honor, in June (yes, only half way through the year) Elton John named it his favorite album of the year. So it is safe to say that SAWAYAMA is worth a listen because you will get hooked.
The way Rina Sawayama blends genres pushes the limits of what pop is and to her–there is no limit. Heavily influenced by the sounds of the early 2000s, notable pop acts such as Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera inspire Rina alongside heavier rock bands like Evanescence. The wide range of genres makes her a rebel of pop who welcomes sounds of nu metal, R&B, electronic, and then some.
Her newest single LUCID dropped in November and we can’t get enough of it. The singer-songwriter explained that the single is about living a different life through dreaming, whether it’s to be with or to be the dream girl. The BloodPop® beat makes for the ultimate dance hit.
(BTW! the deluxe version of SAWAYAMA just came out early December, so go check out the bonus tracks too)
