While brainstorming ways to solve inherent emptiness of suburbanization and corporatization of our contemporary culture, we came up with the following list of alternatives to the dominant paradigm:
• Getting involved in actual communities.
• Buying local (farmers market, support small stores, second hand stores).
• Dropping out like Thoreau.
• Living toward your dreams / staying focused on personal happiness… hold on to creativity.
• Getting responsibilities met, but keep identity alive.
• Developing creativity with activities such as arts, music, writing, photography, etc.
• Working for political change.
• Embracing spirituality through organized religion or through contemplative practices such as yoga and meditation.
• Embracing the natural world.
• Using travel as a way of learning about alternative lifeways.
• Doing serious theraputic work that helps you identify and face critical and deep seated issues.
For your contemporary countercultural presentations, I would like you to identify an individual or group of individuals who are currently implementing one of these strategies, research their activities and philosphy.