5/14/2022

The 33 Project

Whoops - missed the deadline and truly didn’t even realize it. I was working on a new series for Lambda Legal on Students’ Rights in public schools and finishing up a SUP project for the wonderful non-profit, The Opportunity Network.

I was also fortunate enough to attend a special event for my dad on Friday, where he was honored with the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing’s (SABWE) Distinguished Achievement Award. It’s always so wonderful to see Pops shining in his element. His skills as a storyteller are truly impressive. I’m bursting with pride.

I know you were sad to miss this extremely important newsletter so here’s a special Weekend Edition!

Brian Sozzi chatting with Pops for fireside chat.

On to the recommendations for this week:

1/ This was a pretty interesting personal essay on art and protagonists. Three main pull quotes that I’m still sitting with.

I am troubled by how often people talk about likability when they talk about art...I am troubled by the word “problematic,” mostly because of how fundamentally undescriptive it is. Tell me that something is xenophobic, condescending, clichéd, unspeakably stupid, or some other constellation of descriptors. Then I will decide whether I agree, based on the intersection of that thing with my particular set of values and aesthetics. But by saying it is problematic  you are saying that it constitutes or presents a problem, to which my first instinct is to reply: I hope so.

and

But if we expect every novel, play, film, etc. to be a PSA for Good Behavior, we lose access to the part of art that is most connected to our humanity.

and

More and more, I’m depressed. I have to take myself out into the air and make myself look around: You are here and there is life. Catastrophe, but also life.  I tell myself again and again: Don’t simplify.

2/ Check out these lovely food illustrations by Dingding Hu. Love the color palette.

Dingding’s seek-and-find Chinatown illustration

3/ Lastly, I read this excellent piece on managing anger in the workplace.

“Anger is pain’s bodyguard,” writes author David Kessler.

I liked the bit about indirectly addressing your needs. There’s a lot we can’t control, and this shift toward what we can really does sound like a smart plan.

Thanks for reading along and please, feel free to share this newsletter with anyone you think may be interested. Enjoy your weekend and I’ll back on Thursday next week.