A primer on value in culture

The idea of ‘On Value in Culture’ converges with my mission to reframe value in business and society. I’m a writer, narrative coach, and author. But I am also a person who makes it work in the world, just like you.

I’m always on the look-out for new inspiration in art and books. I seek clarity and insight in the body of work of artists and thinkers to expand horizons—that kernel of value that transfers from one thing to another to produce socially useful change.

Thus, my essays focus on the value we generate in culture for people who want more from life—truth in narrative, history, language, and art.

It’s always been hard to wade through the noise and get the proper guidance.

But recently, it’s become almost impossible. Culture is getting a lot of attention for many of the wrong reasons.

Much of modern communications has become cacophony of shouted slogans from dubious sources with a curve that tends towards vested interests to trigger strong reactions. It’s become a chore to find sources whose incentives are clear and output is not superficial and contextually suspect.

We’re in a crisis of value—where guidance doesn’t come from deeper inquiry.

Further, in a haste to prioritize immediacy, we don’t think things through. I’ve become less trusting in mainstream media. Because it’s addressing a partial view of value—that of exchange.

I’ve began to avoid social media. Because it overlooks or ignores value in use altogether. We destroy culture, ignore counter-culture without understanding that therein is a valuable engine for transformation, existence, and flourishing.

I never let school (or any institution and mainstream narrative) get in the way of my education. And I promise to keep myself honest through constant exploration and discussion of what I know, enjoy, and learn. If you stay on this journey with me, I will share many things you won’t find easily or at all elsewhere.

My commitment is to the promise of value that is all around us, yet invisible because not directly measured in money. However, which has the potential to generate wealth in well-being and peace of mind, among the many benefits.

As you read the articles and listen to the podcasts, you may miss that I can take you places you could otherwise imagine. I’m not the invisible utility vehicle, the person who just carries the information. I’m active part in the journey to discovery and understanding.

I’ve been blessed with good taste as I observe the cultural landscape. Which means I often discover ascending stars and brilliant thinkers, authors, and practitioners much before the rest of the world. Often decades before anyone else notices.

Humanity’s solution seems to be time—but it’s also our biggest challenge. Do we, do you, have the luxury of waiting for when the time comes to discover a truth?

Why culture?

Culture is a synthesis of things, and the undercurrent of how people connect with the world in a specific place. It’s part of the infrastructure of civilization and we’ll see in this publication how it changes.

Now a question on how culture spreads. How do we learn about what’s considered good, something to aspire to in our world? Culture is transmitted by values. Cultural assumptions come from the values we absorb in our environment.

We absorb ways to behave from the social signals of the things that are important. Learning about values can help us create context around behaviors, to see why people do what they do.

It’s useful to learn how the current environment and circumstances shape assumptions, and how people use assumptions to shape future events.

But, and it is a critical ‘but,’ perception is a very large part of culture. Values have a dark side and are subject to interpretation. You could take them to excess, or overlook them caught up in incentive schemes.

Which is where value comes in.

What I write about

On Value in Culture will cover aspects and forms of value you may not have considered or seen, even when they do their work to enrich us and generate positive change. Because often you cannot ask the most important questions directly, I will come at it through different paths.

In-depth coverage will include books, art, research, and culture in a mix of reviews, conversations, commentary, links, essays, and observations. My perspective will be both historical and contemporary.

Many are familiar with my writing on Conversation Agent, and my book reviews. The articles and newer podcasts from the series ‘Conversation on Value’ will be part of On Value in Culture. I’ve learned and continue learning from those pursuits.

Here I will share original writings for the first time. Readers will have regular access to valuable insights and knowledge from the cultural sphere, and not mere rehash of what you could find elsewhere.

Supporters will receive full access to all essays, including the archives and The Vault.

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