Villains: A Case Study of Ressentiment

Why Villains are Important 

Note: For the purpose of this blog, a villain is one who opposes the goals of a hero. The person does not have to be evil like they are painted in movies. They have an agenda that conflicts with the hero. A prominent characteristic is their willingness to use graceless methods to achieve their goals. For me, they serve as tests and teachers.  Let's learn together and reveal the possibilities.

Song Critique - New Attitude by Patti LaBelle Using the Hero's Journey

What are the components that produce successful songs?  I used to believe it was only a combination of three elements: lyrics, music, and recording artist. For an example, New Attitude, a popular 80’s song, has redemptive lyrics, a techno danceable beat, and was recorded by Patti LaBelle, a well-liked R&B singer.  At the peak of its popularity, New Attitude was a staple on the air-ways, an anthem for empowerment, and was the introductory music for the Dr. Laura radio program. Recently, after hearing it on the radio, I became aware of another layer that makes it favored by many and still popular today-the songwriters used elements of the hero’s journey to craft a universally relatable story about redemption.

Why Do Groups Fail? Review of the Law of Triviality and Game Theory

The smaller the stakes, the bigger the fight

You organized a group with a clear mission statement with achievable goals. Your participants were congenial professionals with impressive resumes and resources. However, after just a few months,

Sammy Davis, Jr., Loyalty, Hugs, and Betrayal: Reflections on Malcolm Gladwell's Revisionist History Episode - The Hug Heard Round the World

(written in 2018)

Malcolm Gladwell’s writing is a mixture of history, psychology, and mystery. Whenever I read his work, I am impressed by the clever way he strings facts and storylines like beads on a necklace.  In his stories, as the plot progresses, every carefully chosen word peaks your interest until it reaches a plateau, and you are forever smarter for taking the ride in the first place. His stories are duplicitous-both educational and entertaining.

Prayer, Song, and Lamentations

The three most popular monotheistic religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, define the relationship between G'd and humanity differently.  However, all three agree on one major principle-prayer is a foundation of worship.

Compassionate Disagreements

                                     Left, Dr. Folami Prescott-Adams. Right, McKenzie Wren 

July 5, 2018

Compassionate Atlanta, a non-profit organization that seeks to raise awareness about the benefits of compassionate action in the Greater Atlanta area, recently sponsored an engaging workshop on empathetic communication at Kavarna coffee house in Decatur, Georgia. Dialogue Across Differences was described as an "introductory, experiential workshop...that will show you how to tap into expanding compassion as you confront your own biases and others', improve your listening skills, and ask powerful questions to help create courageous conversations." McKenzie Wren of Culture on Purpose and Dr. Folami Prescott-Adams of HTI Catalysts, two well-known and highly respected conflict resolution facilitators, led the participants on a journey to uncover the skills and tools needed to create conversations that lead to improved understanding, empathy, and inclusion.  Let's discuss...