Organized chaos

Unfortunately, I don’t often have the opportunity to listen to Public Radio International’s The World, which airs locally Monday - Thursday on WAMU at 8 pm.  The program features an hour of in depth reporting about global topics – both current events and interest pieces, like NPR’s newsmagazines.  I try to tune in when I’m alone at home, often while making and eating dinner.

Last night’s broadcast featured a brief profile of a new art form springing up in post-revolution Tunisia called collaborative painting.  One artist starts a painting, and up to five others join in.  Anyone can jump in at any time, and all are free to paint over anything that has already been painted.  Described in the piece as organized chaos, the exercise often results in a work of art that could have easily been produced by a sole artist.  This ability of an organically evolving group effort to mimic the talent of an individual is fascinating.

Over the past several days, I’ve been reconsidering my desire to go to Egypt, Jordan, and Israel next spring or fall in favor of a possible trip to Tunisia.  That swing through the Middle East is still exceptionally appealing, but Egypt has some significant issues to work out related to the role of the military in civilian government that seem farther from resolution than I thought and some suggest that Jordan may be teetering on the brink.  Tunisia, on the other hand, held laudably open and non-violent elections last month.

I do not fear traveling to countries working through the aftermath of the Arab Spring and, indeed, am doubly excited by the prospect of observing the birth and growing pains of fresh democracy.  Ongoing violence and civil unrest, however, is likely best avoided.