General Seminar

Project Summary

General Seminar is a platform for sense-making through discussion. One-to-many “expert” platforms like podcasts, TED Talks, and Masterclasses serve a role in the dissemination of ideas and opinions of a small group of experts. By their nature these are largely one-way, where ideas flow to a mostly passive audience who still must make sense of the topic on their own. General Seminar provides an alternative.

Client: Near Future Laboratory

Client URL: https://nearfuturelaboratory.com

Team: Near Future Laboratory

Project Year: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

Published On: Apr 11, 2024, 22:35

Updated On: Aug 2, 2024, 19:02

Written By: Julian Bleecker

Project Semantic Tags FACILITATIONGENERAL SEMINARLEARNING & DEVELOPMENTWORKSHOP

General Seminar is a platform for sense-making through discussion.

I started hosting these during the dark days of the Covid-19 pandemic. I wanted to find ways to develop a sense of community through discussions on topics that were relevant to the creative community that seemed to be drawn to the Near Future Laboratory sensibilities.
I recalled some of the best seminars I had in grad school in which (us) students were able to develop a curriculum around a fresh topic area — and basically teach ourselves the material through readings and 90 minute discussions.

The topics were often in vanguard domains — things for which there was not an established body of knowledge, textbooks, nor conclusions. This wasn't 19th Century European Art History, but rather knowledge that was molten, coming into meaning and focus, often intensely debated in an exciting way.

General Seminar is a build on this way of sense-making — amongst ourselves, where we have to do the fun/hard work of making something meaningful and then bring it back into our own practices, workplace, disciplines and continue to evolve our understanding.

Each session consists of a focused, facilitated 90 minute discussion with a group of thoughtful, engaged and curious individuals. Each session is limited to 16-20 people. Every General Seminar has sold out, often with a waiting list. Several sessions can be the Near Future Laboratory Podcast.

The intent is that General Seminar operate as a place where meaning and insight are obtained through conversation, exchange, reflection, and active contemplation.

General Seminar is built on the principle that group discussion helps to activate the mind and invigorate the imagination in ways that watching, reading and comment threads cannot. In General Seminar, everyone has an opportunity to find their voice, express their insights, ask their questions and build their own understanding of the topic at hand.

Discussion and conversation are like exercise for our minds — General Seminar is the imagination’s gymnasium.