A Symphony on a Banjo
Message from Milenko
Early on in my work, I read and was greatly influenced by the little-known work of Fred Polak, a Dutch sociologist. My library included a well-read copy of The Image of the Future (which is now out of print and difficult to find). Polak does an impressive job of looking at the relationship between images of the future and cycles of culture:
“The rise and fall of images of the future precedes or accompanies the rise and fall of cultures. As long as the society’s image is positive and flourishing, the flower of culture is in full bloom. Once the image begins to decay and lose its vitality, however, the culture does not long survive.”
Pomegranate Center’s work in facilitation, public process and community-based design is built on a basic philosophy that imagining, clarifying and owning a shared picture of what our communities can be is a powerful, and vital, step in moving us toward that desirable end. Creativity flourishes within the tension between what is and what could be, between realities and ideals. The two poles of this magnetic stretch form imaginary paths along which we create.
In our work with communities, I have noticed an ever-present desire to resolve this tension. I see splintering into the realist and idealists camps, one pushed from behind by a hardened reality check, the other pulled from the front by compelling ideas and possibilities. Before we know it, we start seeing the other as either unimaginative or wishy-washy.
I believe we need to hold both in our awareness and enjoy the creative possibility, and even the humor, this tension offers. Dreaming big is important as long as we tolerate humble beginnings. Depending on your attitude, wanting to play Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony when all you have is a banjo is either discouraging or truly funny and delightful. Because the process and the end results are inseparable, it is better to be able to take a few small steps in the right direction than to take the entire journey in the wrong one.
Share your thoughts with me about this philosophy at milenko@pomegranate.org. I would love to hear from you!