Changing Worlds

I guess in a lot of ways a blog is much like an evolving self-portrait.  In my Concepts of the Self class, which features a student self-portrait project as the biggest assignment, I always stress to my students that artists usually do many self-portraits in the course of their lifetime. My theory is that like most of art, it's an entirely self-absorbed goal.  If you take enough shots eventually you'll get one that truly reflects who you are, rather the pictures are produced with digital cameras or paint.  Not surprisingly I've been thinking a lot about life lately and whether I should follow my current path or head off in different directions, which I guess would be a good time for a new self-portrait.  And so, here's a picture that my excellent friend Cyndi Brandenburg took of me the other day at the Vermont Pub & Brew as she was playing with her new iPhone (and her first smart phone).  Beyond the fact that I'm horrified at how wretchedly old I look, I suppose it's not too bad of a picture.  My brother Eric says he's afraid to look at it because my eyes look evil, and Laura thinks I look angry (although I think I look pretty serene).  Interestingly, my sister Beth's daughter Lolo responded to her mother's suggestion that I looked like a president by pointing out that I didn't because presidents are African-American.  Now there is your teachable moment. It wasn't that long ago that her answer would not even be logical, let alone a default answer. I guess it does show that we are making progress.  If nothing else in my negligible life at least I'm part of an insightful anecdote.

And my favorite shirt - from Leopold Cafe in Mumbai, India.