From Montego Bay to Metropolis: A Philosopher’s Lament for the Arts

From Montego Bay to Metropolis: A Philosophical Threnody for the Arts

Ah, Montego Bay— second city where the sea whispers ancient tales and the sunsets paint the skies with artistry that Hollywood can only dream of. Where everyday is like living a Netflix series and there is also a community named Hollywood nestled in the ghettoes above the Donald Sangster International Airport, a Hollywood that conceptually eludes the imagination of California directors. As I sit here, a philosopher and a blerd (that’s Black nerd for the uninitiated), sipping my morning guinea hen tea and watching as L.A. burns, and Gavin Newsom fiddles, I can’t help but reflect on the dismal state of modern storytelling, particularly in the realm of comics, movies, and culture at large. What happened to the magic? Where did the soul go? And why, oh why, can’t I persuade my daughter to pick up a classic Marvel or DC comic?

The Curse of Wokeness and the Death of Imagination

Let’s not dance around the matter: wokeness has hurt the arts. Now, before someone accuses me of being a reactionary, let me clarify. I am not against inclusivity or diversity—far from it. I am against the shallow, performative gestures that masquerade as progress but ultimately reduce storytelling to bland propaganda. Race-swapping established characters isn’t creative; it’s lazy. It’s a hollow attempt to virtue-signal rather than an honest effort to craft something meaningful. Instead of painting old characters black, why not create new heroes rooted in the rich tapestry of Black folklore, mythology, and history?

I am pretty confident that I am not just writing this from a place of nostalgia and redolence, nor am I looking at the past with rose-tinted glasses as there were lame shows then as there are now. The trouble is no one remembers the lame stuff from yesteryear, it's the hits that get recorded to memory and go down in the annals of history. In the 80's I'd watch The Never Ending Story, and never ever tire of it. In that movie, the nothing, a metaphorical and in the movie metaphysical manifestation of imagination's undoing. I could never imagine that in modernity it would be wokeness and not the nothing that seem to be bringing about the end of imagination. Or maybe wokeness is an agent of the nothing like Gmork.

A comic I am working on called 'The Scarab'

The world is brimming with stories waiting to be told—Anansi the spider trickster, the legends of the Maroons, the Akan cosmology, or even the harrowing yet inspiring tales of the Middle Passage. These stories are powerful, authentic, and unique. They deserve to stand on their own rather than being shoehorned into the skin of a white character who was never meant to carry such a narrative.

Manga, Anime, and the Art of Storytelling

These days, my content diet has opened to Asian content. My daughter introduced my to the Life of Saiki K, My Hero Academia and of course all of Studio Ghibli. I loved Howl's Moving Castle, while her favourite is My Neighbour Totoro. My wife and I binged The Blue Eyed Samurai not last Christmas but the one before. To me in the 80's my closest brushes with anime were stuff, like Vampire Hunter D,  G-Force, Voltron and Gundam Wing. I hated Pokemon, Digimon and Dragon Ball Z. High school in the 90's saw Pokemon and Dragon Ball Z being all the rave. Kids would race home from Cornwall College to reach home and watch it on JBC which by then had morphed into Super Supreme TV before becoming TVJ. Man I hated that era.  I even hated 3D in those days, 2D art was more attractive to me and to some degree still is. I hated the influence of anime on American cartoons as the FOX Batman and Spider-Man, even though they channeled the Fleischer era toons, I also the line and big eyes of anime creeping into western culture.

My daughter doesn’t care about Superman or Captain Marvel; she’s engrossed in anime and manga. And I can’t blame her. Manga and anime know the secret Hollywood has forgotten: people don’t want to be preached at; they want to be entertained. They want to be transported to worlds where characters grow, struggle, and achieve, not worlds where the script feels like a didactic essay dressed up in spandex.

Take Naruto or One Piece, for instance. These stories resonate because they are rooted in universal themes—friendship, perseverance, and the quest for meaning. The characters evolve. The stakes feel real. Compare that to modern Marvel or DC fare, where the status quo reigns supreme, and characters are stuck in an eternal loop of stagnation. Spider-Man, my favorite hero, has become a shadow of his former self. Peter Parker no longer grows; he merely exists, a placeholder for tired, recycled plots. And while I appreciate Miles Morales as a fresh take on Spider-Man, even his stories are starting to feel formulaic.

Every now and then my daughter and I discuss some meta stuff like, why the manga and anime stories are so weird and feel like one big slice of life show, how they neglect or reject western 3 arch story structures etc. Occasionally we all watch a documentary or two on anime and manga. She has immersed herself in a Japanese dictionary and we even went to an anime festival in Kingston. Man I was proud of that moment as, when I was young I'd dream of going to comic conventions and now I live in an age where Jamaica has AnimeFest and it was grand and fabulous. All the pomp and pageantry and costumes, I am truly glad we connected like that. One of these days gonna get her a BOXXSU or supm. 

Hollywood’s Girl Boss Problem

And then there’s Hollywood’s obsession with the “girl boss” archetype. Listen, I have a daughter, I have no issue with powerful female characters. Chun Li, Storm, Wonder Woman, and even Ripley from Alien are some of the most compelling figures in fiction. But modern “girl boss” narratives often lack nuance. They mistake strength for perfection, forgetting that it’s the struggle that makes a character relatable and inspiring. Instead of browbeating the audience with didactic lectures, why not let the story do the talking? Show, don’t tell. Convince me through the narrative, not through a monologue that feels like it was lifted from a Twitter thread.

Am I the only one that finds it boring watching 120 lb women, defeat 250 lb men? Am I the only one who is tired of your heroes being derided, debased and deconstructed to death? I despised seeing Indiana Jones being emasculated in the last film, being made into a miserable cuck and old fuddy-duddy, while his female side is elevated to no end? Come on, Indy was my Dad's thing, he and I went on all the Indiana Jones stuff at Disneyland or Disney World, he bought his Indy hat there and got the whip and everything. He would hang it on my mothers vanity or is it bureau? But me nor any of my siblings could touch it. 

The Stagnation of Marvel and DC

Marvel and DC, once the titans of creative storytelling, are now the epitome of stagnation. Their movies and comics have become soulless cash grabs, more interested in pushing an agenda or setting up the next franchise installment than in telling a good story. The Marvel Cinematic Universe, once a beacon of innovation, has devolved into a factory line of forgettable, CGI-laden spectacles. And don’t even get me started on Disney’s recent output. It’s as if the House of Mouse has forgotten how to weave magic and is now content to churn out bland, preachy content that appeals to no one.

A Call for Authenticity

What we need is a renaissance of storytelling—stories that are honest, authentic, and unafraid to take risks. We need creators who are willing to dig deep, to explore the human condition, and to craft narratives that resonate on a profound level. We need new Intellectual Property that draw from the wellspring of diverse cultures and experiences, not shallow reboots or hollow adaptations.

Imagine a cinematic universe based on African mythology, with heroes and villains inspired by the Orishas or the legends of ancient Egypt. Imagine a series of graphic novels that delve into the rich history of the Caribbean, from the Maroon uprisings to the Rastafari movement. Imagine stories that don’t just check boxes but genuinely move the soul.

I remember how blown away I was with Alex Ross' art and Kingdom Come, how Wally West's Flash Born to Run origin tale empowered me as my parents separated and I was navigating High School life. I remember how my mother would read my Amazing Spider-Man comics and was impressed with his strong sense of morality. I remember the philosophy of Earth X, and how motivational I found Frank Miller's Batman Year One. I slept with that comic. I rewatched Christopher Reeves Superman 1 and 2 as well as Back to the Future 1, 2 and 3, endlessly. Those stories were, immortal. 

The Jamaican Philosopher’s Hope

As a philosopher, I believe in the power of stories to shape culture and inspire change. But that power is squandered when storytelling becomes a battleground for political wars and culture clashes. Let’s return to the roots of what makes a story great: compelling characters, meaningful conflict, and a narrative that speaks to the human experience.

So here’s my challenge to creators, studios, and publishers: be bold. Be authentic. And for the love of Anansi, stop insulting your audience’s intelligence. We don’t want to be lectured; we want to be moved. We want stories that make us laugh, cry, and think—not propaganda dressed up as entertainment.

As I finish my tea and gaze out at the listen to the community come to life, I hold onto hope. Maybe, just maybe, the tide will turn. Until then, I’ll keep introducing my daughter to the classics, hoping that one day she’ll see what I see—the magic that once was and could be again.

Out Here On A Limb!

The Great Renaming: A Humorous Yet Thought-Provoking Musing on Animal Anatomy and Evolution 

Ladies and gentlemen, hold onto your hats—or your fins, wings, and webbed fingers, as the case may be—because I am here to challenge the very foundations of zoological nomenclature with the audacity of a squirrel challenging gravity during a leap of faith. It's time we reexamine what we *think* we know about our animal kin. Let me present to you a thesis that is as witty as it is scientifically provocative: Animals are mislabeled, misunderstood, and dare I say, misrepresented in the great book of life.  

All the data presented here is based on my own HANDS ON experience!

The Case Against "Four-Footedness"  

Let’s take a moment and truly consider the so-called "four-footed" animals. Cats and dogs—pardon, *puss and dawg*—are among the most egregious victims of this anatomical propaganda. Anyone who has spent years sketching their skeletal frames (as I have, with the fervour of a Renaissance anatomist) will tell you: the front "legs" of these creatures are not legs at all, but rather arms. Yes, arms! The bone structure is nearly identical to the human arm—humerus, radius, ulna, and let’s not even get started on the wrist-like carpus.  

And those paws? They’re hands in disguise, my friends. Hands! Observe a cat batting at a toy or a dog digging a hole with surgical precision, and tell me that isn’t a form of manual dexterity. If these creatures are walking on all fours, they are, in fact, walking on their hands. Ponder that the next time you see a Labrador sauntering down the street with regal nonchalance.  

Kangaroos are fascinating creatures, particularly when you examine their front limbs, which resemble human arms in both structure and function. These "arms" are equipped with powerful pectoral muscles that enable them to deliver impressive punches during their unique form of boxing. When kangaroos engage in this sparring behavior, their muscular build and the ability to extend their limbs showcase a remarkable similarity to human upper-body mechanics. The kangaroo’s forelimbs are not just for balance or support; they are adept at striking, allowing these marsupials to assert dominance and communicate through physical displays. This anthropomorphic quality in their anatomy highlights the evolutionary adaptations that allow kangaroos to thrive in their environment while also captivating our imagination with their human-like strength and agility. Don't you think it is something to think about or consider?

Birds Do Not Have Wings—They Have Hands That Fly  

Now, let us turn to the aviators of the animal kingdom: birds. The so-called "wing" is nothing more than a glorified hand wearing a particularly fashionable feathered cape. Anatomically speaking, the avian wing comprises the same basic structure as your own arm—shoulder, elbow, wrist, and fingers. Yes, fingers! Those feathers are just the avant-garde extensions of what evolutionarily amounts to jazz hands.  

Bats, of course, have taken this concept to its logical extreme. Their "wings" are merely webbed fingers stretched to improbable lengths, like something out of a Tim Burton sketchbook. They don’t flap wings; they high-five the air.  

The Aquatic Ape Theory: Humans, Seals, and the Ghosts of Our Webbed Ancestors  

Now that we’ve established the hand-walking, hand-flying reality of terrestrial and aerial creatures, let’s dive—literally—into the aquatic realm. There’s a theory, whispered among the more rebellious anthropologists, that humans are not merely distant cousins of the chimpanzee but rather the offspring of an aquatic ape. Think about it: humans are oddly suited for water. We have subcutaneous fat (blubber, if you will) much like seals and whales, and our babies, when submerged, instinctively hold their breath and perform a rudimentary doggy paddle. Could it be that we are the web-fingered descendants of some long-forgotten coastal ape that decided to take a swim and never stopped?  

Seals, of course, are the obvious sea-dog analog. Their skeletal structure screams "canine cousin," and their vocalizations—those charming *arfs*—are but a watery echo of their terrestrial counterparts. Meanwhile, the walrus, with its saber-toothed maw, could very well be the aquatic equivalent of a prehistoric lion forced to adapt to icy oceans.  

Whales, Wolves, and Porpoise-Pigs  

And what of the great leviathans of the sea? Whales are often said to have evolved from wolf-like ancestors, and dolphins, in ancient times, bore the name "porpoise," a term derived from the Latin *porcus piscis*, meaning "pig fish." While I admit I have yet to personally compare dolphin and pig bones in the manner of a Victorian naturalist, the linguistic and behavioral parallels are uncanny.  

Dolphins are social, intelligent, and occasionally mischievous—traits they share with pigs. Perhaps they are the aquatic swine of yore, frolicking in the waves instead of rooting in the dirt.

Lobsters, Scorpions, and the Arthropod Ancestry  

Finally, let us consider the crustaceans and their terrestrial doppelgängers. Is a lobster not but a scorpion in a diving suit? And what of the crab, with its spider-like gait and penchant for scuttling sideways? Shrimp and roaches, too, seem to share a common lineage, their exoskeletal forms suggesting a family reunion that spans both land and sea.  

A Call to Action (and Renaming)  

Time for a New Nomenclature

So, my fellow thinkers, artists, and amateur anatomists, I propose that we abandon outdated labels like "four-footed" and "winged" in favor of terms that reflect the reality of these creatures’ anatomy and evolution. Let us celebrate the hand-walking, hand-flying, web-fingered wonders of our world. And while we’re at it, let’s give some thought to the connections that bind us all—from the scuttling lobster to the soaring bird, from the barking dog to the blubbery seal.  

After all, in the grand tapestry of life, we are all but variations on a theme, our bones echoing the same ancient melodies, our forms shaped by the whims of evolution. And if that’s not worth a hearty *arf* or a jubilant high-five, I don’t know what is.  

References:  

- Darwin, C. (1859). *On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection.* (Also, a great read if you like long sentences and Victorian drama.)  

- Shubin, N. (2008). *Your Inner Fish.* (Or, why your hand is also a fish fin.)  

- Ancient sailors who mistook dolphins for pigs and seals for sea-dogs. (Unpublished anecdotes but undeniably compelling.)  

And with that, I leave you to ponder the marvels of the natural world, one humorous bone structure at a time.

Conscious and Never Woke: My Treatise on Conscience

Consciousness: The Dancehall Between Mind, Brain, and the Universe

Yuh ever stop fi wonder if yuh mind is di driver or di passenger inna yuh life? Is consciousness just di brain running its computations like a high-tech quantum computer, or is it something deeper—like a cosmic hand reaching through space and time to whisper, “Yuh alive, mi fren”?

I've instinctively believed this to be true from I realized thinking starts in the brain as a child. I just automatically thought consciousness was the experience of all the computation happening in he brain to create a real time interplay with the environment the organism is in!

Is Consciousness a conscience, is the mind a soul, is the brains house to the mind or the soul? Is consciousness tied to identity? I started wrestling with these topics after starting the #Spiderman clone saga and the story when Chameleon tried to con Peter Parker with fake parents. It triggered years of story telling where Spider-Man wondered if his memories were real. If memories or biology or soul determined who we were. Was he Peter because of his parents or his memory of them etc his experiences and if his clone had those memories did it mean the clone was the same person and was that determined by his biology. That shit was trippy for a 10 year black Caribbean child wrestling with similar ideas in a Jamaican context. Wally West's Flash made me question physics, could molecules and atoms really vibrate and make a material man become immaterial? Could a man or anything move so fast that time could slow and eventually reverse? Yep sci-fi had me thinking and going deeper than the STEM in the education system!

Di mind-brain duality has always been one big debate, like whether curry chicken or chicken curry is di right way fi seh it. (Spoiler: it’s curry chicken. Don’t argue wid mi.) But jokes aside, dis reasoning is as old as philosophy itself. From di Greek man Democritus a chat ‘bout atoms to Descartes wid him famous “I think, therefore I am,” philosophers an’ scientists been trying fi figure out if di mind is just di brain’s vibes or if it’s something more mystical—something beyond di flesh an’ bone.

Your Brain: The Quantum Machine in Your Skull

Now, let’s talk about di brain itself. Picture it as a quantum supercomputer processing trillions of bits of information per second. It’s a mad ting, nuh true? DON'T! But here’s where we get to the seasoning in the reasoning: A bredda name Dr. Stuart Hameroff—di same man weh been stirring up controversy from di 1990s—claims dat consciousness is more than just neurons firing like gun salute. Him seh it’s rooted in quantum processes deep inside di microtubules of di brain.

Microtubules? A weh dat? Don’t worry, mi nah tek yuh back to high school biology. Just know seh microtubules are like tiny highways inside yuh cells. Hameroff, along wid Sir Roger Penrose, seh dese highways nuh just carry proteins an’ waste; dem also carry di quantum signals dat create consciousness. Imagine yuh brain as a dance floor, an’ di microtubules are di riddim section, coordinating every move in perfect harmony.

But wait, it get deeper. Dem seh dis quantum computing inna di brain nuh just process yuh thoughts an’ feelings. It might actually link yuh consciousness wid di foundation of di universe itself—space-time. Yeah, mi seh it. Di universe could a di big selector, an’ yuh consciousness is di dance.

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Mind vs Brain: Who’s Running the Show?

Now here’s di big question: If di brain a di hardware, is di mind di software, or is it something else entirely? Di mind-brain duality argument is a classic “chicken or di egg” situation. Brain scientists seh consciousness is just what happen when di brain compute all di sensory input an’ memories inna real time. It’s like di brain a run one big virtual reality simulation, an’ di mind is just experiencing di show.  

But spiritualists, mystics, an’ even some quantum physicists seh, “Hold on now. What if consciousness is separate from di brain? What if di brain is just di radio, an’ consciousness is di signal coming from somewhere else?”  

Hameroff’s theory seh consciousness might even have a quantum connection to di afterlife. Wild, right? Him argument is dat since quantum states can interact wid spacetime, maybe yuh consciousness is part of a bigger universal network dat nuh dead when di brain shut off. It’s like when yuh phone battery dead, but di Wi-Fi signal still on.  

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The Cosmic Connection: Space-Time and Quantum Consciousness

Alright, let’s zoom out fi a second. Tek a deep breath an’ look up at di stars. What if consciousness is more dan just a ting happening inna yuh head? What if it’s tied to di very fabric of reality itself?

Quantum mechanics already twist up wi brains wid ideas like particles existing in multiple states at once (superposition) an’ particles affecting each other instantly across distances (entanglement).

Unnu see why me watch sci-fi and read comic now? A dem sittn yah a rattle in me head as it me brain a tackle... when you see me a easy, nuh feel like me idle and the engine on just a throttle... parri man inna intellectual battles. Any back to wah mi did a seh...

Hameroff and Penrose argue dat di brain’s microtubules are like tiny quantum computers dat interact wid di quantum fabric of space-time. Mi know, it sound wild—like some sci-fi movie. But di truth is, nobody fully understand di quantum world yet. Well certainly #Marvel and #Antman don't overstand it yet.

Imagine if consciousness is like a ripple inna di ocean of space-time. Yuh brain is just di tool dat translate di ripple into thoughts, memories, an’ experiences. In dis view, di universe itself might be conscious, an’ we are all just likkle sparks of dat greater awareness.

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Jamaican Reasoning: What Dis Mean Fi We?

So weh all dis leave us? Fi wi culture always teach wi fi question di deeper meaning of life. Whether it’s reasoning pon di corner wid di elders or looking out pon di sea an’ wondering if God deh in di breeze, Jamaicans have an instinct fi connect di physical wid di spiritual.  

If Hameroff right, den maybe consciousness is di bridge between di physical brain an’ di infinite universe. Maybe wi nuh jus’ a live fi wi likkle lives, but wi connected to something bigger—something cosmic. It’s a humbling thought, nuh true? Like di same way yuh feel small but connected when yuh look out pon di Milky Way.

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Final Thoughts: Consciousness as Di Ultimate Mystery

At di end of di day, consciousness is still one of di biggest mysteries inna science an’ philosophy. Is it just di brain computing everything like a supercomputer? Or is it a quantum connection to di universe itself? Maybe it’s both.  

What we do know is dis: Yuh brain is a marvel, an’ di fact dat yuh can even sit down an’ reason ‘bout dis topic means di dance between di mind an’ di brain is alive an’ kicking. So next time yuh deh pon di veranda or di beach, just smile an’ remember: yuh consciousness is di ultimate dancehall between yuh brain and di universe. An’ mi nuh know ‘bout yuh, but mi glad fi be a part of di big dance inna the big lawn.

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Dere yuh have it—my thoughts and take pon di whole mind-brain-universe ting. Walk good, mi fren, an’ keep reasoning deep! Till then... this Jamaican Philosopher is out here in the streets!

Graphic Design's Future in Machine Learning and SVG Graphics: A Perspective from Montego Bay

Introduction:

 

 

As the buzz around artificial intelligence (AI) continues to grow, the market for AI tools geared towards artists and designers has expanded rapidly. As a graphic designer and philosopher based in Montego Bay, I am constantly seeking new trends and innovations that can improve the quality and efficiency of my work. One area that has piqued my interest recently is the potential of using scalable vector graphics (SVGs) in machine learning applications. In this article, I will delve into why SVGs may be an ideal format for machine learning and how this technology has the potential to revolutionize the way we design and create graphics. 

Over the past few years, we've seen a surge in AI-powered software geared towards the creative industries. Some examples of popular tools include Adobe's Sensei, which uses machine learning to assist with tasks like image editing and layout design, and Canva's Magic Resize feature, which automatically adjusts designs to fit different platforms and sizes. Another notable AI tool is Nvidia's GauGAN, which uses deep learning algorithms to generate realistic landscapes from simple sketches. These tools have not only increased efficiency and productivity for designers but have also opened up new possibilities for artistic expression. As we continue to push the boundaries of what AI can do in the creative realm, it's exciting to consider the potential impact of using SVGs as a format for machine learning applications.

But before we dive in, let's define some key terms to ensure we're all on the same page.

Definitions:

• Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG): A file format for vector graphics that is based on XML. SVG images can be scaled without losing quality and are commonly used for logos, icons, and other graphics that need to be used in multiple contexts.

• Machine Learning: A type of artificial intelligence that allows computers to learn from data without being explicitly programmed. Machine learning algorithms can recognize patterns and make predictions based on data.

 

Section 1: The Benefits of SVGs for Machine Learning

One of the main advantages of using SVGs in machine learning is that they are scalable and resolution-independent. Unlike raster-based formats like JPEG or PNG, which use a grid of pixels to represent images, SVGs use mathematical equations to represent graphics. This means that SVGs can be resized without losing image quality, and are ideal for creating designs that need to be used in multiple contexts, such as logos or icons.

Another advantage of using SVGs in machine learning is that they are easily manipulable using code. Because SVGs are a text-based format, they can be parsed and manipulated using code, making them ideal for machine learning applications that need to process large amounts of data quickly. Additionally, SVGs are lightweight and use less memory and processing power compared to raster-based formats, which can be important for machine learning applications that need to run on resource-constrained devices.

 

Section 2: Case Studies of SVGs in Machine Learning

There are already several examples of how SVGs are being used in machine learning applications. For example, researchers at Google have developed an algorithm that can generate detailed 3D models of objects using only a single SVG image as input. The algorithm uses machine learning techniques to extrapolate the missing depth information from the SVG image, allowing it to generate highly detailed 3D models.

Another example comes from the field of natural language processing, where researchers are using SVGs to generate visual representations of text. By mapping each word in a sentence to a corresponding SVG image, researchers can generate a visual summary of the text that can be easily interpreted by humans or other machine learning algorithms.

Section 3: Implications and Future Directions

As SVGs become more widely used in machine learning applications, there are several potential implications for the future of graphic design and visual communication. For example, designers may be able to use machine learning algorithms to generate complex graphics and visualizations based on simple text prompts, freeing up time and resources for other creative pursuits. Additionally, SVG-based machine learning algorithms may be able to generate highly personalized graphics and visualizations based on user data, creating new opportunities for targeted advertising and personalized content.

Conclusion:

As a graphic designer and philosopher in Montego Bay, I'm excited about the potential of SVGs in machine learning applications. By leveraging the scalability, manipulability, and efficiency of SVGs, we may be able to revolutionize the way we design and create graphics, and create new opportunities for personalized, targeted visual communication. I look forward to seeing how this technology develops in the coming years, and how it will shape the future of graphic design and visual communication.

On Being an Artist in Western Jamaica

"You can't be a starving artist if you don't make art"
~Unknown

A few months ago, I entered the Jamaica Cultural Development's Visual Arts Competition for the first time. To my great surprise two week, I actually won 2 bronze medals. It was a most humbling experience especially when I went to the artist presentations in Montego Bay and Kingston and saw what a pantheon of talent I was fortunate to be amongst. An old friend from UWI, Mona Ms. Liz Toby received western Jamaica's gold medal for a fantastic piece that was most enlightening. She captured an important but lesser known figure and moment in Jamaica's history for Jamaica 60. She immaculately render Sir Harold Allen Jamaica's first black Minister of Finance, an independent politician, statesman, legislator, teacher, sportsman and business man. All this sudden surge of art, especially across the city (who do I need to bad up to get a mural contract) has me thinking of the power of art and public spaces. The impact of art cannot and should never be underestimated. It can help to heal our nation and move it forward. Music isn't the only inspiring art form.

Art Is a Weapon in the Battle of Ideas

Our city streets can be gloomy grey concrete-covered places; the genius of street art can transform everyday objects and situations into fun and playful social spaces. Therefore supporting arts and culture initiatives like the Fair Saturday or Saturday Bazaar movement like the city had back in the 80’s when I was a child only makes sense. It would allow our city to take advantage of a billion dollar industry that creates strong, vibrant communities, employs local workers, attracts tourism, and boosts local economic development. And what of MoBay Nite Out and the community Nite Out events? Those were the beginnings of a movement that could have given our city a serious boost and possibly alleviated this violent turn our city has taken while being an economic opportunity for artists. 

Summer in the city is marked by community gatherings and street dances, farmers’ markets plus a buzz of outdoor activities, especially Sumfest, Mobay Jerk Fest and the myriad of Fish Fries Bike Shows and parties like Yellow Diamond. In many places throughout the city such as the craft markets and the vending hubs need more robust help to prepare for the influx of tourists and foot traffic, so their stocks and inventory are big. In our city local arts and culture are should be on greater display. If the friendly city wants to recapture the air of friendliness then Montego Bay ought to seek to capture, harness and grow this energy year-round. One way to possibly do this is by starting or restarting a Saturday Bazaar to promote arts, culture and community giving this November. This could possibly be the makings of indigenous arts movement in the city. A Saturday Bazaar and MoBay Nite Out compounded by community nite outs, could spark the upturn in economic community life.

 

Art & Activism in the Age of Jamaican Independence

Artists living in Kingston have many advantages over artists abiding in small towns, isolated villages and even the second city of Montego Bay. Art galleries often are more commonplace in corporate area. There are also more opportunities for artists, such as residencies, art grants, art associations, art clubs, studio space and artist events. More artists in these locations means a better chance of of meeting other artists, gallery owners and curators. Of course, the biggest drawback of living in a smaller city or town is access to a larger group of regular art buyers and patrons.

Montego Bay is a tourism focused city. It's the sort of place where everyone kind of knows everyone — a town where, sometimes, I feel it's not the place for me, as small city life can have it's limitations. Don't get me wrong. I am the Montegonian and my city is a beautiful with appealing urban ambience. Rich red soil and rolling hills with rustic communities and garrisons that surround my life. It's also a city full of people that have been truly inspirational. Using my skills and Caribbean experience and injecting them into or projecting them onto modern media and design has always been my aim. Remixing and reinterpreting modern media and design ideas with Caribbean culture, ethos and cognitive elements are my personal dream. 

 

I like most artists dream to one day have a career as a practicing artist. Art is my escape. To be able to create artwork is a fantastic gift, and I want everyone to share it. Using art I can change the world, because awareness is the first step to change. Some people may think art is just for fun, but to me it is a whole lot more than painting a pretty picture. You can say so many things with your art. You can have a voice. I want to make a statement. I want to voice an opinion. I understand many people don't quite get my choosing to be an artist as one of my paths, among writing and journalism. When you live in a small city, where tourism dollars and scamming money is what tickles women's fancy and garners men's respect, being different isn't entirely accepted. To succeed in my dream I've had to work hard to show my friends and family that I can do it. Media and Art Mogul, Yannick's Montegonian Montage, second city coloured collage... How does it sound?

When people view my work, I feel so powerful, like someone is listening and reacting to my opinion. It drives me to continue voicing my opinion, hopefully to make a difference. I will continue to work hard to make my dream a reality. One day I hope to inspire other children from Montego Bay who dream of becoming professional artists. My greatest hope would be to make my city proud.

Abii Paris, Saba Art Gallery 

In terms of export value, arts and culture industries drive tourism. Arts travellers are ideal tourists, staying longer and spending more to search for genuine cultural experiences, and arts destinations grow local economies by attracting “cashy-er” foreign visitor spending. The percentage of international travellers including art gallery and museum visits on their trip grows yearly, and the share attending concerts, plays, and musicals is growing also. Montego Bay has a prolific host of artists and craft entrepreneurs. Artists such as Hilroy Bulgin, Elgo, Fernendez, Anthony Scott, myself Yannick Pessoa , Danii Noey, Paul-Dean Galimore, Jeffrey Samuels alongside the works of greats like Granville’s Errol Allen and Polish immigrant Michael Lester. I’d love to see tattoo artists in the same space with conventional artists as well as Reader Women or Obeah Man like the fortune tellers in North American Fairs. Craft entrepreneurs like Isis Harris of Isis Impressions, Kameilia Brown of Expressif Wear, Paula Hurlock of Indigo Soul, Hodges, Pablo Peirao Ras Manager of IzizI T-Shirts, Garfield Ustanny whose unique colourful crocus bags designs are unique and epic fashion statements, there is Nandi the Bow Queen and a host of others.

So whether as a means to advance the arts for their own sake, or to support local artists and local charities, or to grow economic prosperity by leveraging cultural assets, city leaders should explore the value of a Saturday Bazaar, MoBay and community Nite Outs —  if the city starts planning now and maybe we can paint a better picture of the city; A City of Heart, a City of Art! Leaders at the Municipal Corporation and Chambers of Commerce, can we come up with a work of heart?

When we think of resources, we don't always think about creating context for talent development. But that is my hope for the future of artist support and development, especially in small towns, and especially for our young creative people. So here are some thoughts on what that might look like for you if you are a leader in a small town, and interested in the same thing

Try not to make us feel guilty for not having the same historical memory of past initiatives as the more established artists and leaders in the community. Of course, let us know if something has been tried before, but don't shut us down completely even if the last time it was tried it was a failure. You might scare us away forever. Look at our enthusiasm as an asset, not a threat. And even if it sounds the same as something that's been done before, consider that it might actually be very, very different.

Set aside resources specifically for artists under 35.

If you're in a position to do so, consider creating a grant program, workshop or fellowship specifically for young artists in small communities. Find ways to help young artists find each other and incentivize collaboration, so that we can deepen our relationships with one another. We tend to stay committed to a place when we feel like we are part of something bigger.

Yes, we need jobs, economic development and vital services. But we also need the arts–they are the most powerful way to address violence, suicide and addictions. In art there are purpose and meaning; there’s imagination. Most depression and violence can be characterized as the closing of our imagination. What is art but the spirit in each of us to reshape our lives in the face of debilitating and often destructive circumstances? I’m convinced this is as compelling a concern for government and society to address as any other. Art has the power to transform, heal, progress, enrich, and even saves someones life. Without "Art"  the E'art'h would be just "eh"! Boring.... Selah

On Being a Philosopher in Western Jamaica

“In order to live, man must act; in order to act, he must make choices; in order to make choices, he must define a code of values; in order to define a code of values, he must know what he is and where he is—i.e., he must know his own nature (including his means of knowledge) and the nature of the universe in which he acts—i.e., he needs metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, which means: philosophy. He cannot escape from this need; his only alternative is whether the philosophy guiding him is to be chosen by his mind or by chance.”
~Ayn Rand

In an age of M.B.A.'s and computer scientists, still thousands of university and college students graduate each year with a bachelor's degree in the ancient discipline known as Philosophy. Sometimes their parents and friends wonder what will happen to them... I am one such student, a UWI, Mona graduate with a degree in philosophy. I live in Montego Bay, Jamaica and this is my tale and journey in the 21st century making my way in the world. This article is a record of my experience as a philosopher in western Jamaica and not so much a defense of philosophy, though I suspect some of that will emerge in the writing eventually.

The advancements of science and technology, the progress and achievements of some disciplines within the fields of humanities all tend to engender relative indifference to Philosophy which is sometimes considered abstract, speculative and as a career, non-professional and less lucrative. Lots and lots of people say why philosophy? What of other philosophy majors? What do they do when confronted with the real world, where there are groceries to buy and mortgages to pay? How do they compete for jobs with all those sensible accounting and engineering majors? Sigh... The quest for the utility of or the question of the futility of Philosophy is a real concern to parents and the public especially in a world that currently progresses on the provisions of post-modernity... I don't propose to answer that question at all. And for those of you out there who measure standing, status and merit based on material gain and financial success well, I suspect this discourse isn't for you.

What I can tell you though...  is that philosophy has caused me to think about thinking. I was always and old soul, filled with nostalgia and redolence, so thinking was never ever merely a shallow thing or ever done less than consciously for me. Yes, philosophy helped me question myself even more deeply. To question my reasoning and to identify flaws and errors in thought. Oh and it gave me more tools with which to analyze art, literature and culture. It made me appreciate the philosophical discourse taking place in The Matrix, Star Trek TNG, WandaVision, Comics like Asterix and Obelix as well as Calvin and Hobbes, Lord of the Rings and so much more. Yeah... it has armed me with tools to dissect pop culture and mainstream media.I keep up with philosophy not only because I find it incredibly interesting; I have also found it to be remarkably useful. Yep I read Cornel West and watch him on Youtube, I actively follow Noam Chomsky, Arundhati Roy, Slavoj Žižek, Thomas Sowell, Russel Brand, Jimmy Dore, Joe Rogan and so many more.

Long before I had ever studied Philosophy academically, Mr. Spock made me a utilitarian when I imbibed and embedded the mantra "the good of the many, outweighs the good of the few!" The Vulcans and Data on a whole made me employ the stoicism they eschewed. These ideas fermented in a child in a left leaning household who believed in Michael Manley's democratic socialism, a socialism reflected in my mother's life as a social worker, my grand mother's political activism and the general Christian sense of charity, infected with a world where even Jesus seemed socialist... when I became obsessed with Spider-Man as a hero and again bludgeoned with the philosophical mantra of "with great power, comes great responsibility... phew I was chock full of Philosophy. My parents even wanted my middle name to be Nestor, god of wisdom, it ended up being Nesta after our own musical philosopher. My stars seemed headed on this path with me.

So you see Philosophy has undoubtedly helped me become more effective at clearly communicating my own ideas to others. It has also made it easier for me to understand and critically engage with others’ views. More generally, studying philosophy has made me a better, more analytical thinker – and this is a reward that I have found to be immensely valuable in nearly all aspects of my life, particularly in both an age globally and locally where "dumbing down" is a thing and "critical thinking skills" is a buzz term. So from pondering the 'big questions' in life to overcoming the minutia and small stuff, the skills that I learned through studying philosophy have helped me every step of the way. I try more than ever not to sweat the small stuff.

Now on to... What do we believe and why do we believe it? Who are we and why are we here? What ought we do and why should we do it? Well it is these types of questions Philosophy encourages. It's about critical and systematic inquiry into fundamental questions of right and wrong, truth and falsehood, the meaning of life, and the nature of reality, knowledge and society. More than any other discipline, philosophy explores the core issues of the Western intellectual tradition. Philosophy leads persons to formulate questions and follow arguments.

Of course, philosophy is much more than critical reasoning. We are persons who live in a world that exceeds our ability fully understand. We are bound by time and subject to changes. We laugh. We cry. And in the deepest moments we recognize an urge to find meaning in all of this.

Being a product of a society that is struggling through post-modern thinking as well as colonial and post-colonial ideas, philosophy has been relegated to the shelf. Truth has been deemed impossible to know. Reality is now subjective and morals have become relative. I have not been able to accept this age of absurdity and nihilism. However, philosophy opens up 3000 years of human genius. It gives us a means to methodically apply our ability to reason to interpret the cosmos and propel the very meaning of life itself. It provides an means of understanding and communicating truth.

Did you know there was an idea floating around that continuously following the first link of any Wikipedia article will eventually lead to “Philosophy”? On reading the article it sounded like a reasonable assertion, one that makes a certain amount of sense in retrospect: any description of something will typically use more general terms. Following that idea will eventually lead… somewhere.  So here’s an easy experiment you can do: Pick a Wikipedia page at random. Then, click on the very first hyperlink you see, and repeat. Eventually, you will reach the philosophy page.

In the field of Law, Jurisprudence (the philosophy of law) is essential for formulation of legal theories. In the field of Education, Philosophy is crucial in the areas of pedagogy, educational foundations, management and policies. Ethics is relevant to all facets of life. Within its own academic field, there is philosophy of virtually all disciplines which questions fundamental assumptions of such disciplines. Thus, Philosophy’s relevance remains ineluctable, inescapable and inevitable.

The study of philosophy provides answers to some of the world’s most existential questions revolving around right and wrong, truth and falsehood, the meaning of life, and the nature of human beings and the reality in which they live. Philosophy encourages critical and systematic thinking, explores core issues of intellectual tradition, and offers great preparation for life. Doesn't this sound like something Jamaican society could use?

Philosophy drives me to spend a lot of time doing research that involves reading, writing, experimental work, and data analysis. The reading material can include academic and scholarly journals, articles, and books while in terms of writing philosophy comes out in blogging, publishing articles, op-eds, and much more. Despite the common perception, philosophy majors appear to do remarkably well. That, at least, is the conclusion one can draw from an unscientific survey, 20 years after graduation, of the class of 1977 at four schools: Princeton University, the University of Virginia, the University of Nebraska and Texas A & M University.

Those 40-somethings fell in love with philosophy almost by accident and went on to careers in other fields. But for the most part they are convinced that their studies, which covered logic and ethics among other topics, helped them in their jobs and their lives. Their professional success may stem from the fact that philosophy students seem more likely than those with other degrees to attend graduate or professional school. Of 20 philosophy majors interviewed from the four universities, only four had not added a graduate or professional degree.

I graduated from Cornwall College in the Spring of 1999 after finishing GCSE "A" levels, then I did a certificate course in Journalism which prompted me to apply to Carimac at the UWI Mona in 2000. I got accept the August of 2000 and made my way to Kingston after a lifetime in Montego Bay. I entered my Freshman year with the intention to major in media and a minor in cultural studies, but after taking an Introduction to Philosophy lecture in my first semester, I was so excited by Philosophy that I decided to change majors. Studying Philosophy taught me new ways of thinking, reading, and writing that were challenging and stimulating. I genuinely enjoyed all of my classes which was a first in a long time.

Studying philosophy is not a requirement for writing jokes but it allowed me to realize how to quickly get to the point or what is commonly called the butt of a joke. This can be a handy skill when doing public speaking and being an entertaining raconteur. I also came to realized paradoxes are funny ways to make jokes, also reductio ad absurdum, which mean reduce to absurdity, essential this cued me to try and decipher the logic to jokes. Granted I am not a comic or comedian I am of the belief that stand-up comics are the modern day philosophers, characters like Jimmy Dore, Russel Brand, Bill Maher, Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Richard Pryor, Bill Cosby and so many more. Telling jokes is actually very hard and sometimes comes with a depression caused by the existential rigors that come with pulling the strings of our social fabric, upsetting status quo and poking fun at power. At worst dark humor can sometimes be like looking into a mirror darkly I suppose.

Undoubtedly philosophy informs and influences the way I go about doing things,  it's given me a sense of the complications that we face as human beings. While at the same time it also gives me a sense of the beauty and wonder of life. It helps me understand people in dire circumstances. However of all the gifts that this philosophy degree has given me is- creativity! It is probably the most important. I have always been an artist and drawing all my life, but philosophy infused my art and design with meaning and new concepts. It brought me to the Fibonacci sequence and golden ratio and applying them to design, and so much more.

When I told my parents that I was going to major in philosophy, they were concerned about what I would do after graduation. The most common question I got when I told people of my philosophy major was “What are you going to do with that degree?”, as if the only reason to go to college is to get a job. I certainly understand that sentiment, but philosophy prepared me for a job the way a major should while also providing the benefits of studying arts and humanities that make you a well-rounded and adjusted person outside of your job—in what is also known as your life.  Majoring in Philosophy was, without a doubt, the right choice for me. Philosophy has been so helpful to me in figuring out what news sources are best to digest, assigning meaning to relationships and life's path, navigating faith from Christian to Atheist to Rastafari, evolving from Pan-African to Afrofuturist, it has made me master of trivia like my father, playing video games and solving villains riddles to get to the next level, and my personal favorites: defending Spider-man as the greatest superhero, Christian Renaldo as the greatest footballer of this generational crop, defending Marvel Comics vs DC fanatics, defending Linux in a debate of Windows vs Mac, defending Ujamaa, Ubuntu and the leftist ideologies. Those things  make up my world of urban street philosophy.

My philosophy classes with Earl McKenzie, Dr. Bewaji and Bamikole, Ms. Roxanne Burton,  engaged, challenged, and even impassioned me in ways other classes did not. Years later it would be that academic motivation that would drive me to do well and helped me get into law school, granted I have had to defer due to the rigors of a freelance life, economic pursuits and child-rearing. What I learned was invaluable both during law school and my career path as entrepreneur, journalist, writer, graphic designer and artist. Philosophy differs from other degrees because it changes how you think, as opposed to requiring you to regurgitate information onto a test. My philosophical studies and relationship with media directly impacted my choice to pursue career in Law where I still hope to specialize in Intellectual property. If real property is finite and so lucrative, as someone who generates content it seems to me intellectual property, ideas, intangible things are infinite and hence so much more lucrative than the finite real property.

Philosophy has also informed my other spheres of endeavor; as an independent author, blogger and newspaper columnist, I strive to inject provocative thought into everything I write. Good stories entertain, while great stories both entertain and make their readers consider and think about profound questions.

The Major Lessons I've Learned from Philosophy

1. Certainty and Ambiguity: There is very little I am absolutely certain of in life. I hold all beliefs with a certain degree of doubt and some skepticism. However I am not without conviction and whenever there is a need to act, I do in spite of and despite my skepticism. I am no longer off put by uncertainty and doubt is my constant companion.
   
   
2. Opinion: I hold strong opinions but they are subject to constant rigor tests always being measured and weighed against new information. I have always found it necessary to validate my ideas constantly. I believe that I should have the ability to “see” and “hear” evidence that may be contrary to the opinions that I have held.
   
   
3. The Balancing Act: As far as I have seen, the balanced life has proven to a myth; a concoction. I try to live a life of counterbalance as I constantly adjust priorities to achieve what might appear as a balance. I just focus on what’s most important at the moment and remain undistributed as much as possible.
   
   
4. Mindfulness: I have perpetual To-do lists, a scheduler but I am not beholden to them. For me to know and believe that tasks that I do are aligned with my purpose is paramount. Purpose is my foundation and priority decides the action. Productivity only helps me to be efficient. Those 3 P's are my mental keys to mindfulness... Purpose, priority and productivity!

That's it for now, Selah!

Being a Graphic Designer in Western Jamaica

When I was in grade 6 at Mt. Alvernia Prep., the class was paired with foreign students for pen-pals, to practice letter writing and foster cross cultural experience. I went home got my mother's help and wrote a nice introductory letter. Now, beyond my experience in the 1980's tourist industry and slights at duty free in-bond shops, I didn't have an experience with racism that had left an indelible mark till receiving my response letter from my pen-pal. The letter to my horror was riddled with condescending questions like do you have classes under trees and do you wear grass skirts and such. Coming from a Pan African Christian home this was an affront of the highest order. From then on I have come to realize that when the world thinks about Jamaica the first thing that comes to the collective thoughts of people from the western hemisphere are the pivotal 1960’s rural poverty images, of zinc fences, shanty towns, marijuana smoking men and matted hair. Some may be aware of the allure of sun, sand and sex. Reggae and Bob Marley did little to diminish the sexual mystique. Afterwards it also became known as the country which for one reason or the other was the perennial exporter of various types of drugs. Was this a failure in our messaging our visual communique?

 This clash of cultures and divergent realities reflect the duality of perception. I am not saying we aren’t steeped in a variety of problems, far from it. Hence, working in the developing world can carry unique problems and circumstances not perceived by graphic designers and artists in the developed nations. Hence I hope this article elucidates my progress and journey as a designer growing and working in the wonderful conundrum and cultural melting pot that is Jamaica and the Caribbean

Visual communication is an inextricable part of human history. It has existed as long as there has been the need to make marks or leave traces, to communicate through signs and symbols rather than the spoken word. In the contemporary world the activity of organizing signs and symbols, or words and images, for public exchange is recognized as graphic design - a specialist area of the broader field of design. Just as there have been design movements and aesthetics born all over the world, Jamaica and her people too have formed it's own unique systems of visual hierarchy, layout and style. Our unique history, environment and challenges have given rise to our own aesthetic and cues for communication.

 

 

Today graphic design in Jamaica embraces printed material from the smallest ephemeral item - a stamp, label or ticket - to publication design in the form of the interiors and exteriors of books and magazines. It also includes a robust and very local poster and advertising design culture, as well as trademarks, logos and symbols. Then there are the more convention yet extensive systems of information design - signage in the built environment, exhibitions and corporate identities for companies, all often developed in close association with architectural practices that are informed by our Victorian and Spanish past yet still being influence by Deco and a modern minimalism.

Over the last decade I've watched the practice of graphic design as it has undergone momentous change as pixels have become a handy substitute for print and software has lessened the profession's reliance on its traditional tools of pen and paper. In no other discipline of design has computer technology had Reich a transforming impact. Throughout our daily lives we are surrounded and peppered by graphic messages. Indeed they have become so much a part of the fabric of every-day modern life - from break-fast cereal packaging and advertising 3 billboards to logos on clothes and television company identities - that often we register their codes only on a subconscious level.

 

Working in Western Jamaica is always challenging as it is an environment, where the push for excellence is always marred and pegged down by an ever changing set of economic obstacles, and technical variables though if you ask me I believe that ultimately these challenges will help make you a better designer. Anyhow my journey started way back in 2001 when I took a graphic design course in Kingston, where I was tutored by one Mr. Marcel Robinson, who gave me my introduction to Corel Draw (I still remember that hot air balloon logo with fondness) and the theories of design. That was a time when the concept of computer was still one of a luxury item in Jamaica, but my exposure to them though came earlier in the 80's but was confined to a Commodore 64 that I had to write the Basic code for PacMan to play it. After that my next set of exposure would be to some access in my high school and prep school computer laboratories and the only use that we had for them was to play ancient PC Games, some of them in DOS. I remember being smitten with the early aerial view incarnations of Grand Theft Auto, Minesweeper, Taipei and Solitaire. Midway during high school my siblings and I got a computer at home. In the back of my mind I always had intentions of doing designs especially after seeing kids in my high school library using cut outs and a photocopier to make a flyer or poster, that incident cemented for me the union of art and technology.

 
As my progress in illustrating on a Pentium III Windows® machine went forward smoothly, I got introduced to a variety of software such as Blender, Gimp, Inkscape, and more. My enterprising nature brought me to Macs and Linux desktops. I had fallen in love with the idea of transforming pictures and mashing colors together, and the thrill of creativity. I had some idea of the basic tenets of graphic design and color theory but no formal training in these notions, so eventually I dove into Graphic Design books that I could pick up at our local bookstore franchise Sangster's or at Computer stores. After working on odd gigs at the University of the West Indies, Mona while doing a philosophy degree, I got introduced to Macromedia Freehand and Flash for vector drawing and animation. This realm of digital creation was my major foray into the vast world of design which wouldn’t have been possible without the ‘pirated’ copies of these high end software (I have shifted my software use to free and opensource) Although I will be forever grateful for the creators of these software, there really wasn’t any way that I could honor their work by buying their product. They were too expensive for a starving artist in Jamaica's second city.

Another pivotal moment in my life as a graphic designer came in the period of 2004 to 2006. In these three years I did two things that shaped my design inclinations, the first I got to work in a lot of jobs as a freelance designer. The second, after hanging with Computer Science crowd I made the hard leap into open source. The impact of these actions resulted in my gaining direct touch with the business side of being a designer and the second introduced me to the interesting world of coding, which would lend itself to me learning HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.



Being a freelance designer at the time circa 2004 was a tough time because in those days Jamaican businesses didn’t really rate the importance of branding themselves through graphic design, thus they attached no importance to that side of their advertising strategy. Don't get me wrong everyone wants a logo or a business card but they don't want to pay for it. I can tell you horror stories of hunting down clients who received work and tried to get away without paying. In Jamaica, photographers and videographers tend to be able to command financial respect more and people are more willing to pay. This environmental pressure has led to designers at the time becoming a jack of all trade. We dabbled in everything from flash animation to video and sound editing. Specializing in one discipline was seen as a death warrant because the desires of our employers, clients and the market were fleeting and one had to be able to pivot with the ever changing needs of the moment. Consequently instead of specializing and learning more about the various disciplines found in graphic design, this trend made the majority of the designers, somewhat lesser artists and some lost focus on the importance of the art itself, and by necessity it made designers in western Jamaica a kind of digital Anansi and hustler, where as the developed world romanticized this as the life a digital nomad.

Becoming a digital Anansi in this worldwide web prompted me to dig deeper into codes and coding, hard ware and A+ type repairs. It was an interesting experience as it overlapped with my desire to create stuff from the base up, using computers, to understand how things worked under the hood, the magic of ones and zeroes. Concurrently I was pulled deeper into web design since it encompassed the two things that I love most, the internet and design. In these formative years, I also learned the benefits of research as a method to help yield the best possible tools and techniques to produce interesting things. These years refined me from a hustler into a consummate artist, who was more concerned about creating a graphic aesthetic that communicated a new Caribbean message and Afrofuturism. Making money was important but I was yearning for something more as I lived that ‘starving artist’ cliche. This period was where I became somewhat disillusioned with graphic design.

The majority of my clients were not looking for the ‘aesthetic’ strength of their products, a lot of them were posters and party flyers for people who didn't pay well and objected if I put black girls on their party flyers. A lot of the rest just wanted something made quickly (in retrospect, I realize it was my inexperience as a designer which through lack of a deep formal education in the field and the lack of proper exposure led me to compromise my creative integrity). Even though I did land some big work, doing T-shirts for Reggae Sumfest, Trelawny Swamp Safari among others, my desire to do graphic designed still waned, and I turned my face towards web design and coding, by that time had already been through Yahoo's geocities and was blogging on this platform. So web design was a natural progression.

To my software knowledge I added the use of Adobe's Photoshop, Indesign and Illustrator, Corel PhotoPaint, and Scribus. I also graduated from Frontpage to Dreamweaver. Try as I may that market was the domain of Kingston techies who won the lucrative business contracts and clients like NGOs. Around 2008 after layout work for Newspapers, writing columns for the Western Mirror, dabbling in editorial cartoons, I somehow wound up at VistaPrint doing copywriting. Then around 2010 — 2012 and the next creative wave to hit Jamaica was multimedia and motion graphics. I had dabbled in Macromedia Director and Flash which gave me some experience, my adventures brought me to working with Montegonian artists to storyboard music videos and do some photography which I loved. 

This is an energetic time for Jamaican graphic design, in terms of the web, illustration and  graphic videos like text videos. Motion is where graphics are going and garner premium pay. The field is becoming more mainstream, and the talents out there were getting out and presenting their portfolios for the world to see. Though at the same time we are in an age where apps and templates are a dime a dozen offering consumers prettier graphic options and standards, at the same time creating a generic aesthetic in design which still leaves room for the human element in finding meaningful new expressions in design.

Speak Truth to Power!

Created with Kwote!

Writing on...

Well this silly season will soon be upon us and "here we are princes of the universe, here we are fighting for survival(9to5:pon the slave) in a war with the darkest powers(Babylon & Rome: The system)"... So all you happy troopers who will be looking forward to X-mas bonus and Pardna draws, all who ketch the red ball inna Cashpot... don't forget the friendly neighborhood Rasta Man...

Haven't you noticed as of late... the ants are still out... when it should be cold season, butterflies are less, flies are in while the fruit seasons are out, hmmmm nature may have gone haywire, maybe this the global disaster our last warnings. Global warming is upon us!!! Yup, the meek shall inherit the Earth... gee I feel so heartened to know its this big toxic dump that we are inheriting meekly from our predecessors. Oil junkies... Aye check it seen. My granny was born in 1921 seen and she had only seen two hurricanes from then till 2000, those were Charley and Gilbert... after that Emily, Dennis, Ivan, Dean and a string of close encounters. Hmmmm something seems odd wouldn't you say. Ding ding ding... you guessed it right Global Warming... and you can see it live here in the Caribbean twenty four seven... just watch the world.

Aye shudder to think... does the government have plans to address the drastic changes to life that Global warming will bring. We see the sudden rapid and expansive road deterioration... extended rain seasons and hurricane seasons, can our economy manage this... dom dom duuuuuuum (u know that mystery show scary puzzling question sound)... Anyway enough of my anecdotes lez just see wah mi write seh this month... aye a buildback mi gwaan build back the blog vibes and energy suh whapp'm unnu support mi nuh... leff a comment or post nuh... Chu!

“What!” he said. “Do you not realize that there are souls
in endless torment? They are craving for dreams and
action, the purest passions, the wildest pleasures, and
thus they cast into all kinds of fantasies, and foolishness.”
Then she looked at him just as you gaze upon a
traveler come from a far-away land…
“Look at us, for instance,” he said, “why did we
meet? By what decree of Fate? It must be because,
across the void, like two rivers irresistibly converging, our unique inclinations are pushing us towards one another.” And now he took her hand; she didn’t take it back again. --Gustave Flaubert, Madame Bovary

I shut my eyes so I can see. --artist Paul Gauguin

Happiness is not a destination. It is a method of life. --Burton Hills



GRAND POETRY FIESTA

First I'd like to kick off this poetry cue that I have here with a poem a young Miss Shannon Smith did in response to a poem of mine published in the Bookends Segment of the Sunday Observer... called The Whore... its posted in the post before this one I think so check it out an get up to speed after you read hers below eh... the others are all mine so feast and dine...




Tonight I Whore
by Shannon Smith

Tonight i strip of
ribbons and lace
of lipgloss and makeup
my second face

for tonight
for him once more
tonight i am his dream
his whore

Tonight i lose all gentile demeanor no remnants of the Lady the daywalker For tonight i am for him not his lady but creature of the night tonight the apple is in reach for him, my Tantalus which was once only in sight Tonight he finds a warm embrace not in my arms but where my labia part ways So tonight no giggles no girlish guise just the raunch of a woman with fire between her thighs For his feindish desires I am the cure and so tonight once more for him tonight I whore.



Christmas

I had dream where Jesus turned in his grave,
Christmas consumes the souls he came to save,
Money and mammon are masters and many are slave,
Picking up their crosses and forgetting his cross and all he gave,
Neon signs on the road to future we pave,
Commerce and WWJD is all the rave.

The cock crows thrice on Christ's mas Eve,
Many celebrate not knowing what they believe,
Content with meager salaries and bonus the receive,
Merchants peddle and use fat red saints to deceive,
Tell strange and compelling stories about how a virgin did conceive,
Always forgetting the truth of how the King does grieve.

One Night In December

The sky is in her deepest blue,
While stars glow bold in the cool of night,
Ackee trees rock as the breeze comes through,
All is peace even the mongrels cease to fight.

Children frolic through the street with sparkles in hand,
And old reggae rhythms softly and wistfully scampers across the air,
The spirit... no ghost of nativity captures the land,
The weary soul can rest without fear.

Yannick Nesta Pessoa

She's Gone

She left me,
For the beast, for mammon and his money,
I laugh myself to sleep at night,
But really... it isn't funny.

She left me,
Headed to Virginia and Cleveland,
While I'll try to nobly toil,
In my hectic homeland.

She left me,
Not to follow a dream,
But for the coveted green dollar,
And a white collar H2Worker scheme.



MY LOLITA

So, so, so...
I've be lulled by the way you loll,
By big bottoms and dimpled thighs,
Imperfect skin like mine and coy smile,
Unrevealing eyes.

Here I am in my secret place,
Cursed in the strangest of ways,
By you my Delores Haze,
Captivated, I simply look and gaze,
...And view,
You.

Sixteen,
Young fresh and not so green,
Black velveteen,
And me the Natty libertine.

Bubbler bubbling in...
Her Rapunzel room,
Her Board House Bordeaux,
Secret smiles,
With secrets in eyes,
Do you realize,
You are my Lolita.


Left Over Wine

I must have been forgot,
In his Majesty's schemes and plot,
For I am king too...
Am I not?

It seems in the grand design,
I was left behind,
For after lesser mortals do dine,
It is I who must suffer sipping the left over wine.



She Greaves

Some how...
I failed to expect such vulgar and hostile silence,
An uncommonly profound and intangible sort of violence.

She left and still leaves,
She grieves,
Because I deceive,
She couldn't believe,
In the web of lives and lies this dreamer weaves.

Was my presence so bitter and so vile...
Such a nuisance all the while,
That now...
Not even a smile.

And has my doubtful path,
My unwavering course of majestic disasters,
My penchant for being the dirtiest of pretty things...
Caused this harsh and parched and caustic... exile,
To the periphery of your embattled existence,
Have I compounded the blighted years,
Add green bottles of tears.

I don't know...
But I do understand...
That though she ...
I'll never See Moan or mourn,
I now know she Greaves.



Rahab: Into An Harlot's House

She has eyes like fire,
That dance and flitter with desire,
She had harlequin lips,
Soft subtle hips,
Coy postures and quirky quips,
She shimmers with the danger and legacy of hollow tips,
Black and comely,
She is a lovely... thing,
And oh how the crescent is alive with whispering,
Rumouring... that you might be inviting,
The neo libertine... The Herlequin King... in,
And oh isn't he tempted to prolong this legacy of sin.

Seekers of Dreams

Across the blank, white landscapes,
We battle the vapid and mundane,
Lexical mancing and lexical graphing,
To paint images to bland minds,
To link soul to art,
We make works of heart,
Searching the caverns of the brain,
Ever yearning for the pinnacle of the mind,
We battle on a deep, silent plain of white,
Spilling ink with ever slash,
We tie yesterday with memories,
Bound to honour beauty,
Love and art are our duty,
We are the seekers of dreams.

Yannick Nesta Pessoa

Untitled

Immersion,
How I would like to be in you.

Emulsion,
How it is that I would like to cover you.

Emission,
The star that radiates from the mind of such a wunderkind.

Emersion,
Your reappearance after many moons.

Eversion,
How I undo your soul.

Aversion,
How you cast your gaze when mine becomes intent.

Revision,
How I try to recast this love.

Yannick Nesta Pessoa


Monochrome/MonaKhroma

She looks out the window,
She is monochrome true.
Her speech is song,
Her soul glows blue.

Her hair frizzles and it frazzles,
She knows and I don't know.
As the sun burns the morning cold,
I must come and I must go.

Zygote of a pregnant miracle
Was, is, she will always be.

Yannick Nesta Pessoa

Turquoise Sea

…And I see it clear,
It’s fluid,
somewhere in here,
whispering of something,
I should know out there.

It’s the world I want,
it’s mellow,
With the girl I want,
supple and spirited,
I need to reach yet I can’t.

My eyes burn with clarity,
As I am immersed in briny waters,
Sky blue and teal,
Colour the world I can feel...

Yannick Nesta Pessoa

Silence On All Frequencies

I won't speak,
For to speak is to lie,
I won't listen,
For to listen is to be deceived,
I won't think,
For to think is to make belief,
I won't be touched,
For to be touched is to hurt,
I won't smell and taste,
For to smell and taste is to remember.

AM, FM, I'm dead on all frequencies,
I'll take it on mono,
I'll take radio silence,
Fly solo,
Its hard to determine,
Did I dream a belief,
Or was it that I believed a dream.

Yannick Nesta Pessoa

Middle of Nowhere Restaurant

…I sit amongst devils and a whore,
Exactly where I’m not sure,
The Middle of Nowhere Restaurant most certainly.
The children of the damned scamper here at dawn,
The wretched of the earth stumble in,
Here is home and haven to sin,
The elderly are imps of darkness,
Bent and crooked and thin.

I’ve heard it said,
That the rapture must come,
The good ones must go,
While the rest will reap,
Hell in the evils we used to sow.

The light shines here,
But it’s still dark,
It mourns of a yesterday with a hope and spark,
But its all gone now,
The Beast has left its mark.

Yannick Nesta Pessoa

The Wandering Jew

I wash the dried saliva from my face,
I hope the scent of sin will wash away too,
I look out the window and see the world by night,
Pastel designed in mellow moods and tragedies,
While stars, watchers, sing melodies of memories and maladies,
I search the sky for David's star on my way to my very own beloved Bethlehem,
And I wonder...
Are the stories true...
Is there really a long lost wandering Jew.

Ode to Idle Thinkers

For all those who stare out the window,
Beyond the mountain and beyond the tree,
This poem connects all those who think like me.

Holding on to all those... though,
Shackled by people's alleged reality,
Still manage to look pass the ocean and deep into the see.

Unleaded

The sunsets and the evening sky is period red,
Simon Garfunkel's Cecelia is playing in my head,
I unhear all the things she said,
I only wish the succubus were dead,
She said she liked me cause I was unleaded.















Mr. Marley wid the toolie...(Above)

Yannick Nesta Pessoa
(Writer / Graphic Designer / Cartoonist / Entrepeneur)

The Resume: http://www.geocities.com/cyber_yan/yannickresumeV2.htm