Riva Tez, a freest writer with a knack for stumbling upon forgotten and under-explored ideas, discusses creating space for answers, the overlooked beauty of subtlety, rereading and memorization, the creativity recession, selective media consumption, the limitations of truth in education, cultivating taste, embracing authenticity and emotion in writing, thinking beyond training inputs in AI systems, and the concept of maximalism.
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Quick takeaways
Authenticity is essential for personal growth and societal progress.
Fostering sensitivity allows for a deeper understanding and connection with the world.
Authentic expression holds the key to social change and personal liberation.
Embracing maximalism in writing adds vibrancy and spirit to one's writing style.
Deep dives
The Decline of the West
The West is dying and we are contributing to its demise. The American Dream has been replaced with mass-packaged mediocrity, encouraging us to revel in our own complacency. We are suffocating under bureaucratic red tape and relinquishing our freedoms in the name of progress. The current state of society is marked by a focus on quantity over quality, where success is measured by numbers rather than substance. This degradation of values and the loss of individuality is a cause for concern.
The Need for Authenticity
In a world that prioritizes surface-level success and mediocrity, there is a growing need for authenticity. We are bombarded with judgment and criticism, pushing us to conform and suppress our true selves. The prevalence of technology and the constant influx of information amplifies this pressure. However, embracing and expressing our genuine emotions and opinions is essential for personal growth and societal progress. By being true to ourselves, we can forge deeper connections and challenge the status quo, ultimately leading to positive change.
The Importance of Sensitivity
In today's fast-paced world, it is easy to become desensitized. We are constantly bombarded with stimuli and distractions that numb our senses. However, fostering sensitivity can open doors to new perspectives and appreciation for beauty. By slowing down and honing our ability to notice and appreciate the smaller details, we can cultivate a deeper understanding and connection with the world around us. Sensitivity allows us to experience life in its raw and unfiltered form, leading to a richer and more fulfilling existence.
The Power of Authentic Expression
Authenticity is a transformative and powerful force. When we allow ourselves to feel deeply and express our true emotions, we tap into a creative wellspring that can move and inspire others. The ability to write from the heart, unburdened by societal expectations or artificial constraints, enables us to tackle important issues and connect with people on a profound level. Authentic expression holds the key to social change and personal liberation, paving the way for a more enlightened and empathetic society.
The importance of individual expression and creativity in writing
Writing should be a personal and expressive act that captures the depth and contours of one's personality. The current obsession with minimalism and uniformity in writing suppresses the spirit and distinctiveness of individuals. Embracing maximalism in writing, adding vibrancy to words and sentences, allows for a more spirited and alive writing style.
The significance of history and classical texts in writing education
To improve writing education, there should be a focus on studying classical texts and understanding the lessons they offer. By reading works like the Federalist Papers and classical Roman texts, writers can gain a sense of humility and respect for the past. These texts showcase the timeless questions and human drives that have persisted throughout history, providing valuable insights for modern writers.
The need to challenge current educational systems and embrace creativity
Current educational systems should encourage creativity rather than conformity. Divorcing writing from vibrant expression and minimizing it to simplistic templates and guidelines hinders the development of unique voices. By reevaluating the emphasis on spelling and grammar, and instead fostering individuality and exploration, writing education can produce more dynamic and expressive writers.
Riva Tez is one of the freest writers I know. It’s as if the boundaries of conventional thinking don’t apply to her. She’s allergic to dogma and passionate about questioning the taboos of our time, and her obsessive research gene has given her a knack for stumbling upon forgotten and under-explored ideas.
She’s a singular human being. Part of her brilliance is the way she combines her love for Rilke’s poetry with an interest in philosophy, theology, and consciousness. In all three areas, she goes right after dogma — and by asking the questions that only she can ask, she finds the answers that only she can find.
In a world of people who are obsessed with optimization, Riva is passionately unoptimized; in a culture of people who are obsessed with the news, Riva has cut out almost all the contemporary noise from Netflix to the New York Times.
If you feel constrained in your writing or thinking, this episode is for you. An hour with Riva will free you from the trappings of your mind, unleash your creative spirit, and lift your head up to a divine calling.
