This mornÂing, a New York Times ediÂtoÂrÂiÂal is helpÂing get the word out. Deep thinkÂing is alive and well on the web:
There is a lot of talk about how the InterÂnet is driÂving culÂture ever lowÂer, but it also makes a wealth of seriÂous thinkÂing availÂable. From the comÂfort of home, one can downÂload free audio books by authors like Jane Austen and Joseph ConÂrad and free podÂcasts of uniÂverÂsiÂty lecÂtures (openculture.com has an assortÂment of both).
The rest of the piece rightÂly focusÂes on a BBC podÂcast called In Our Time (iTunes — Feed — Web Site). It’s listÂed in our Ideas & CulÂture PodÂcast ColÂlecÂtion, along with many othÂer thoughtÂful proÂgrams that make meanÂingÂful subÂjects relÂeÂvant to a broadÂer, globÂal audiÂence. (For someÂthing simÂiÂlar in video, see our colÂlecÂtions of IntelÂliÂgent Video Sites and Smart YouTube ChanÂnels.)
Yes, intelÂliÂgent media doesÂn’t domÂiÂnate the web. But, it’s flourÂishÂing in the nichÂes and crevices, and we want to bring it to the surÂface. PerÂhaps you’ll want to join us? If you’re interÂestÂed in conÂtributÂing to Open CulÂture, we’re always lookÂing for your sugÂgesÂtions. I have put togethÂer a page that outÂlines our ediÂtoÂrÂiÂal approach. Take a look, and if you find great pieces of intelÂliÂgent media while surfÂing the web, please send them our way. We thank you in advance.
Thanks to the NYT! This is refreshÂingÂly excitÂing!
The NYT artiÂcle brought my attenÂtion to openÂculÂture and I was very hapÂpy to disÂcovÂer such a rich resource. Thank you Dan.
Thank you for telling us about this great site.
What a great idea! I look forÂward to visÂitÂing your site often. And I promise to send along any mateÂrÂiÂal that may be of interÂest to othÂers who share my ethÂiÂcal and aesÂthetÂic predilecÂtions
I couldÂn’t agree more. In the end, it’s all about the options we have and the choicÂes we make among them.
A few months ago, I wrote an artiÂcle for GOOD MagÂaÂzine, arguÂing preÂciseÂly for those “deepÂer” resources on the web as tools for libÂerÂalÂizÂing “libÂerÂal arts eduÂcaÂtion” and our intelÂlecÂtuÂal develÂopÂment. It’s good to see more mainÂstream recogÂniÂtion of this incredÂiÂble wealth of human knowlÂedge and wisÂdom availÂable to us today.
You rock, OpenÂCulÂture!! ConÂgrats on the great placeÂment and recogÂniÂtion!