S. Minsos is a Canadian Author and Philosophical Theorist...

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5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating, beautifully written, articulate and provocative.

Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2024

Susan Minsos Culture Clubs: The Real Fate of Societies is written in clear, intelligent prose with (OMG!) a sense of humor. It offers a (to me) fresh look at a complicated topic — human culture and the games behind it. It’s dense, complex, theoretical, and provocative.

Her new game theory — a triangular game theory that goes beyond “yes and no,” tit for tat, 1 and 0, acceptance and refusal, adds a third factor — dominating. That addition puts actual human motivations into the mix. Domination leads to conformity and hierarchies, all too obvious in our world.

She explains that the tri-partite game theory, which she has named, “Weird Game Theory” or, more often, “Weird Tit-for-Tat,” cannot be predicted with complete success by mathematics, computers, or AI. “Machines cannot play the animal game. Not entirely. Not well, anyway. Three-optioned Weird Tit-for-Tat is the matrix social game for sentient players.”

In her epilogue — which Minsos has titled “Confessions” — she focuses on pandemics and human behavior in pandemics. The Covid-19 pandemic is the introductory focal point for a wider-ranging, discussion. Referring to herself as a “mannerist,” Minsos evaluates how human culture groups (culture clubs) define themselves through their manners. This is an intriguing idea for me. I have taught people from all over the world and have lived outside my own country in a culture very different from my own. By learning the manners of my “new” country, I was able to make friends. Minsos makes the point that we — humans — adapt as part of our human/animal nature. Our feelings help us do this, help us sense cultural norms and adjust our behavior accordingly.

“Billions upon billions upon billions upon billions, billions to the nth of creatures have or have had feelings. Awareness of feelings helps individuals build culture clubs. Feelings help individuals fit into culture clubs, or make individuals want to leave them. To make a change in national and local domination, a player’s feelings must be banked with those of other players. It’s called critical mass, and critical mass refers to the minimum number of sentient beings required to effect change in a culture club, or create a new culture club…No matter what you don’t like about this book, or my centrist politics, or old ladies in pink shawls who should be knitting, not writing, the law of nature is paramount.”

I loved this book; I wanted to meet the author.

Author's note. And I would love to meet Martha Ann Kennedy.

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The relentless chronicler welcomes uncomfortable facts.

Almost everyone defines a metaphorical elephant-in-the-room as a major problem or sensitive (sometimes controversial) issue, something which is obviously present but avoided as a subject for public debate because, in certain circles, the subject itself – let alone a debate over the fact – is truly uncomfortable.

You can think of many situations in your own life where you tried not to mention the obvious. Which leads me to repeat an old joke about the manners of the courteous-home culture club. (Mother: dominator.) I remember the anecdote of the Mother who warned her young children not to comment on their guest's very considerable nose. The children were dutiful and obedient. Mother flubbed the mission. She, serving tea and overly preoccupied with her outspoken children, blurted out, "How many lumps do you take in your nose?" Oops. That elephant ran from the building.

As members of many culture clubs (power structures, large and small), we encounter elephants all the time. A few elephants we avoid because we don't want to hurt someone's feelings. Others we avoid because they shatter myths. Dominators are always telling us what we can say and what we can't say. Sometimes, to broaden the boundaries of our culture clubs, we must challenge our dominators. Elephants-in-the-room are dotted throughout Canadian remembrance - in art, history, philosophy, and fiction. To the chronicler of an era, those uncomfortable elephants are a welcome discovery. The time is ripe to discuss uncomfortable subjects, even and especially when they expose secrets and lies.

We Remain Certain shows the enduring relationship between Haudenosaunee and their home in Grand River Territory. A group exhibition curated by a collective of Haudenosaunee artists, these contemporary works explore Haudenosaunee land tenure and the complex history, treaty agreements, and displacements along the Grand. This exhibition strives to generate thought and conversation as a means to guide relationships by employing Haudenosaunee “Original Instructions” as a foundation of understanding and collaborating on our shared future.

Arenhátyen tsi ní:tsi teyottenyonhátye’ kwató:ken tsi nī:tsi yonkwa’nikonhrayén:ta’s
Awęhęgyeh shęh hodęˀ dewahde:nihs, haˀgadagyeˀshǫˀ shęh nˀagwanigǫ̲ha:do:gę:

It does not matter what continually changes, our understanding remains certain.

Artists: Dakota Brant, Denny Doolittle, Elizabeth Doxtater, Kaya Hill, Rick Hill, Arnold Jacobs, Ken Maracle, Shelley Niro, Protect The Tract Artist Collective, Steve Smith, Greg Staats, Kristen E. Summers, Jeff Thomas

Beaders: Talena Atfield, Tesha Emarthle, Jija Jacobs, Kahionwinehshon Phillips

Curated by: Protect the Tract

January 09, 2024 – March 22, 2024

Sakayengwaraton, Shakoyen·kwaráhton. John Smoke Johnson

Barton Farr

SM

S. Minsos is a Canadian Author and Philosophical Theorist...

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Sakayengwaraton, Shakoyen·kwaráhton. John Smoke Johnson