On colours and grading
These two things, colours and grading, perhaps seem unrelated. Yet, I was thinking about them at the same time. I was thinking about gentleness, which is something my co-author and I believe should be central to a genuinely sustainable society. Gentleness towards the self, fellow humans and non-humans, nature, and the cosmos/existence/being at large.
In the picture above are some of my favourite colours. I live with these colours every day. Beige, off-white (e.g., ivory, ecru). If one looked closer, they would see that some of those textures are rough and imperfect. The cotton tote bag is made from undyed organic cotton. At some point, I used to live with more pure white and black. I think many fellow humans associate pure white and black with minimalism and minimalist aesthetic. Over time, to me black and white began to feel too polished and refined. They were also more difficult to care for. Black clothing would fade quickly and attract lint. White clothing would discolour and I had to be extra careful to avoid washing it with other colours. Even though I embrace imperfections, I noticed that it was so much easier to live with objects that are beige and off-white. None of it is to say that I don't find pure white and black beautiful. My partner wears pure white and black every day, and those colours suit him well. From an ecological perspective, I worry about the dyes from black (etc.) clothing, but this is not my area of expertise. As a consumer, I rely on certifications for fabrics, such as GOTS.
Somehow, beige and off-white feel relaxing and lagom. I'm very happy with what I have and would not want to invite more colours into my life. Living in a space with these colours feels like living in a cocoon that protects me from the busy city around me. Being in this space allows me to write and think clearly. I can be myself, and there is no pressure to reinvent myself, to follow trends, to consume.
Yesterday I was one of the two external examiners of a fellow human's thesis. It made me think about grading again. I've been in academia my whole professional life and also as a student. I've lived through 10 or so years of full-time education, including my PhD. Over the years, I have become critical of many aspects of academia. Grading is one of them. If I could abolish grading, I would. In my view, grading reduced fellow humans' unique and complex journeys of learning and unlearning to a number. Grades are used to rank students, to place them in different groups, to allow or prevent fellow humans' from engaging in further educational activities. It feels dated, old-fashioned. Students often worry about grades rather than their paths of growth, both personal and professional.