Brainstorm #6 - Noah Krohngold

The technologies that Patrisia Gonzales describes are the objects of which people used to express themselves and their culture. With colonizers invading the land, the native people were subjected to rules from a foreign land that didn't care for their own traditions. The "ceremony of memory" Gonzales describes is the act of partaking in the celebration and commemoration of those who came before us as authentically as possible, instead of washing away our history in the name of fitting in. Whereas the technologies were corrupted by the colonizers, reclaiming these items for personal empowerment is key for culture to thrive instead of letting the reigning powers seize whatever hope the people have left. The "Clumsy Sky" music video by Girl in a Coma depicts this reclamation of power where those observing the band are subconsciously partaking in the empowerment of the band as they break the mold and establish a front for female rock bands in a male-dominated space. While it may come off as an over-the-top ceremony, these acts of remembrance are vital for empowering the powerless and disenfranchised so that we can pursue true equality that accepts a variety of cultures instead of operating as a hive mind without any individual facets. After all, isn't that what makes humanity exciting?