S1E48 - Tiffany Shlain - Lead Not by Fear
In troubling times, the voice of articulate optimists can lift the spirit and light a way forward. To this end, we met with feminist, movie maker, artist, thinker and founder of the Webby Awards, Tiffany Shlain. As one who made her own documentary film, “The Tribe,” on Barbie and Jewish Identity 18 years ago, we began with her reflections on the recently released Barbie movie. We transitioned into several of her creative projects, including Dendrofemonology, a Feminist History Tree Ring that recounts the “herstory” of women who initially enjoyed 10,000 years of power and goddess culture. The intersectionality of her activism seeks rights for all humans because, in the end, Shlain believes in humans and in our ability to find the good in an ever-changing world. Shlain recommends navigating this unfamiliar territory with science, collaboration and grace. Technology is an extension of us, and while it can be used for ill, its powers for good emerge from pushing past our fear and engaging with it. The Webby Awards highlight this positive dimension. Her inspiration comes from ideas that stand the test of time — like a day of rest. Already we find that kids are smarter, and discovering new ways to become themselves. Her next project on neurology will debunk many common metaphors about teenagers, who she sees as “emotionally brilliant.” We reassert that children are our legacy. In closing, we remember her father, Leonard Shlain, who encouraged us to think big and be present. Join us.
Biography
Honored by Newsweek as one of the "Women Shaping the 21st Century," Tiffany Shlain is an artist, activist, Emmy-nominated filmmaker, national bestselling author, and the founder of the Webby Awards. Working across film, art, and performance, Shlain's work explores the intersection of feminism, philosophy, technology, neuroscience, and nature. The Museum of Modern Art in New York premiered her one-woman spoken cinema show, Dear Human. Her recent art exhibition, Human Nature, was presented by the National Women’s History Museum and one of the sculptures from that show DENDROFEMONOLOGY, a feminist history tree ring, is set to be displayed on the National Mall in DC this fall. Her awards and distinctions include selection by the Albert Einstein Foundation for their Genius100 list, the Neil Postman Award for Career Achievement in Intellectual Activity, and inclusion in NPR’s list of best commencement speeches. Shlain is known for her dynamic cinematic talk experiences and performs internationally. Her films have had multiple premieres at the Sundance Film Festival, received over 60 awards.and have been shown at US Embassies around the world to represent America. Her book, 24/6: Giving up Screens One Day a Week to Get More Time, Creativity, and Connection, received the Marshall McLuhan Outstanding Book Award. Shlain next exhibition is part of the Getty Museum's Pacific Standard Time: Art & Science Collide art event with Ken Goldberg at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles set for Oct 2024.
@tiffanyshlain
Conversation recorded on August 25, 2023.