u/Chambeli

Manuscripts contain a writers neural fingerprints.

This one by Borges titled ‘The Hydra of Dictators’ was crafted around 1946 and shows his penmanship and artistry.

The many heads of the Hydra emanating from a single lower body sprout into distinct consciousnesses. We see Hitler, Marx, Mussolini.

The varying consciousnesses or ideologies fail to nullify their unfortunate monstrousness.

He shows how political ideologies can vary, but government control retains control over the people no matter the color.

What do you guys think?

Symbols:

• The Rainbow: God’s promise to never flood the earth again. Witnessed by Noah.

• Cherubim holding a flaming sword to vanquish Satan.

• The ancient serpent Nāḥāš

• Baphomet (looks like the Pagan god ‘Pan’)

• Black bird: presumably Noah's raven.

• A golden Phoenix

Includes verses from Revelations and Genesis:

"And he seized the dragon. The ancient serpent"

— Revelation 20:2

"I will set my bow in the clouds and it shall be a sign of a covenant"

— Genesis 9:13

"If I cover the sky with clouds my bow will appear in the clouds"

— Genesis 9:14

Humans have a natural affinity with music and countless research papers have shown this. I have never understood why its learning potential is so underutilized.

Researchers at the University of South Florida were able to improve reading scores of failing students by up to 3 grades. Pitch and rhythm tracking software was used to teach them lyrics that matched their level. Growth was seen in each major domain of reading skills: fluency, comprehension and word recognition.

It may seem absurd but it makes sense. Humans, before the written text, encoded very complex and detailed layers of meaning and knowledge with song. Homer's Odyssey is one example, our long tradition of South Asian poetry is another.

There is also research that shows that people retain text much better if it's encoded through music (which explains the catchiness of tunes).

What do you guys think?

I post on my Substack on the science of reading and other silly things: https://substack.com/@mehrankml