In our ZG19 Curated Podcast S02: No Man Is an Island we look to the future through the paradoxes of the present. Living through constantly shifting perspectives of trauma, endurance and hope, in the midst of menacing challenges that have taken away our awareness, the climate crisis often gets swapped away from our attention. Revealing shocking damages faster than ever, Nature summons us to act now. Suspended in a web of multifaceted doom experiences, we come back to the idea of John Donne - thriving is possible only as a united community, by cracking down the shell of isolation.

 

In the wake of the myriad crises of the past two decades - of climate change, financial meltdown, and the escalation of global conflicts - we have witnessed the emergence of a palpable collective desire for change. ‘Collective’ is fundamental here, it is only through togetherness we can achieve sustainable long-run results. In order to re-emerge and re-evaluate, as the current time dictates, we decided to dive into our past and start from the beginning. This is why we address Donne’s 17th century timeless poem, and insist “Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind. And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”

 

S02: No Man Is An Island is a cross-disciplinary encounter that explores the foundations of modern thought and creative practice while addressing the most urgent questions of the day. This season provides an alternative space to advanced study that traverse the arts, humanities, and sciences. We have selected researchers from various fields, the “new think tank of our age”, pushing the boundaries of critical thinking towards social and sustainable development.