The Ideation Project

In an accelerated world consumed in crisis and knee-jerk outrage, it is possible to press pause and refrain before judgment? Jian ponders the chances of gaining perspective when moderation has become an antique, and urging cooler heads is interpreted as inaction.

For more ideations check out TheIdeationProject.com.

Words, original music, recording and production by Jian Ghomeshi (@JianGhomeshi).

WH Press Secretary Sean Spicer has been heard to say "Eye-ran" and "Eye-ranians" when speaking of Iran. Is this is just an innocent alternative pronunciation or are there social and political implications to the way names are said? Jian explores how alt-pronunciations like "Eye-talian", "Ay-rab" and "Eye-ran" can been used as pejoratives, and as a way to telegraph alliance with others who want to hear words said a certain way.

For more ideations check out TheIdeationProject.com.

Words, original music, recording and production by Jian Ghomeshi (@JianGhomeshi).

How do our dwindling attention spans affect the way we experience music? On its 50th anniversary, the Beatles' Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is widely considered to be a classic. But would we hear it the same way if it debuted today? Jian explores the impact of attention spans on how we experience art.

For more ideations check out TheIdeationProject.com.

Words, original music, recording and production by Jian Ghomeshi (@JianGhomeshi).

A metonymy is a word that stands in for another word that it is associated with. But what happens in our current era of shorthand, when a metonymy is used to stand in for the caricatured traits and actions of entire groups of people? Jian explores the way in which words like "Muslims" and "Mexicans" have been used to advance social stereotypes in the Trumpian era. And that, in the end, the word "Trump" may be the metonymy that is undergoing the most severe devolution.

For more ideations check out TheIdeationProject.com.

Words, original music, recording and production by Jian Ghomeshi (@JianGhomeshi).

Can we break our smartphone addiction? And what happens if we don't? On the tenth anniversary of the iPhone, we are a society addicted to social media and our smartphones - and it's messing with our heads. Fear of missing out ("FOMO") has already been a popular discussion point in the last couple of years, but new studies underscore how FOMO is having negative effects on our mental health.

For more ideations check out TheIdeationProject.com.

Words, original music, recording and production by Jian Ghomeshi (@JianGhomeshi).

We all know Yoda as a little green fountain of genius and accumulated knowledge. And we accept that his wisdom comes with his advanced age. And yet, we don't always treat elders in the real world with the same respect. Jian explores the current pattern of dismissing seniors in contemporary western society with Yoda as metaphor for why we should show deference to the value of a life lived.

For more ideations check out http://TheIdeationProject.com.

Words, original music, recording and production by Jian Ghomeshi (@JianGhomeshi).

In the movies, predictable is boring. In real life, a lack of consistency at the highest levels of a super power is daunting. Jian explores the chaotic and fast-paced nature of the new Trump world and yearns for a global reality with less political earthquakes and daily bombshells.

For more ideations check out http://TheIdeationProject.com.

Words, original music, recording and production by Jian Ghomeshi (@JianGhomeshi).

How scared should we be? We live in a new age of anxiety where multifaceted global industries benefit from fearmongering. But there are also dangers too significant to assume exaggeration. Jian explores the nature of alarmism, a dearth of trusted sources, and the implications of a world increasingly governed by fear.

For more ideations check out http://TheIdeationProject.com.

Words, original music, recording and production by Jian Ghomeshi (@JianGhomeshi).

What does it mean when we mourn for the loss of someone who never existed? Drawing from the recent death of popular figures in this season's TV series finales, Jian explores how our growing attachment to fictional characters is connected to the increasing loneliness and social emptiness we experience in a screen-dominated world.

For more ideations check out http://TheIdeationProject.com.

Words, original music, recording and production by Jian Ghomeshi (@JianGhomeshi).

It's a time of momentous events in the world, worthy of deep concern. But the combination of accelerated news, the internet, media competition, and Trump pronouncements has led a ubiquity of dire proclamations. Is CNN "Breaking News" broken? Jian explores the ideation that if all stories are delivered with the same hysterical fervour, it is harder to determine what is imperative and truly groundbreaking information we need.

For more ideations check out http://TheIdeationProject.com.