November 22, 2009
UTNE READER

Rethinking Our Basic Assumptions

June 27, 2003
Kate Zurlo-Cuva Utne.com 
Article Tools
Print
Comments
RSS
Bookmark and Share

Spring has just turned into summer, which means ?the ?Points of Assumption? scouting season has begun!? according to the folks at smartMeme.com. A smartMeme is a vehicle injecting new ideas into popular culture, contesting established meaning and facilitating popular rethinking of assumptions. The site opening coincided not only with the first day of spring, but also with their campaign for followers to readjust the inherent contradictions in their daily activities with the basic values of life and justice. The writers, thinkers, artists, organizers, and activists who contribute to the site stress the importance of holistic values based in critique of culture, and encourage followers to design their own brigades. In their words, ?many of us are familiar with direct action at the points of destruction, consumption, or decision. The question now is how can we get beyond individual campaigns and single-issue frameworks to aim our ?direct action at the point of assumption?? The web site provides a reading list, an open ?Meme Lab? discussion forum, news, email action alerts, and a helpful glossary of terms, which indeed includes the word smartMeme.
?Kate Zurlo-Cuva

RELATED CONTENT

Go there>>SmartMeme.com

Related Links from the Utne Archive:

Bookmark and Share
RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print

Comments

Add Your Comment

We’d like to know what you think. To comment, please use this form. E-mail addresses are never displayed on comments, but they are required to confirm your comments. First time registrants: You will receive an email confirming your email address. Once you confirm, your comment will be posted. Questions about our comments policy? Click here.

Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br> tags.

New to Utne Reader?
Sign up to share comments.
Asterisks(*) indicate required fields.
Name*
Your name appears next to your comment.

E-mail Address*
This will be your login ID.

City State Zip Code

Password*


Confirm Password*

Comments
1500 character limit (Offensive materials and/or spam will be removed, no HTML allowed)
Please Note: Your sign-up must be verified via e-mail before your comment is published.
FEATURED ARTICLES
MOST POPULAR


Pay Now & Save $6!
First Name: *
 Last Name: *
Address: *
 City: *
State/Province: *
 Zip/Postal Code:*
Country:
 Email:*
(* indicates a required item)
Canadian subs: 1 year, (includes postage & GST). Foreign subs: 1 year, . U.S. funds.
Canadian Subscribers - Click Here
Non US and Canadian Subscribers - Click Here
Want to gain a fresh perspective? Read stories that matter? Feel optimistic about the future? It's all here! Utne Reader offers provocative writing from diverse perspectives, insightful analysis of art and media, down-to-earth news and in-depth coverage of eye-opening issues that affect your life.

Save Even More Money By Paying NOW!

Pay now with a credit card and take advantage of our Earth-Friendly automatic renewal savings plan. You save an additional $6 and get 6 issues of Utne Reader for only $29.95 (USA only).

Or Bill Me Later and pay just $36 for 6 issues of Utne Reader!