Upon hearing the title “Cartesian Eco-FemDarkanism,” I had no idea what it meant. It is an interesting alien title—one that people struggle to understand on first contact. After experiencing this interactive lecture, this “lectumentary” as I’ll call it, I must say that the title means exactly what it says.

I will attempt to answer the question, “What does Cartesian Eco-FemDarkanism mean?”

Cartesian: as relates to Rene Descartes, in this case, philosophy.
Eco: ecology: the relationship of living things to each other and their surroundings.
FemDarkanism: a progression towards the human primordial, instinctive, spiritual understanding of mother nature.

The title superbly describes the heart of this interactive lectumentary: Troy, Jeff, and Matt, the dynamic hearts behind Black Lantern Synergy, are presenting a philosophy that reexamines the human relationship with nature, suggesting a progression that synergizes scientific, philosophical, and technical advances with our very oldest, most ingrained, and quietest instincts. More eloquently, it is as they say, not just (re)thinking the environmental conundrum, but (re)feeling it.

Over the past several years of reading about the current environmental situation, I have been constructing different ideas about the environment and our human roles within it. Ideas about practical applications of conservation and restoration in a resource-based economy, increased efficiency and closed loops, nature as commodity and human rights and ego, etc…all are related, but for some reason have never joined forces in my mind. They have been vaguely related, but never foundationally related. Cartesian Eco-FemDarkanism has taken those floating ideas in my head and tied them together surprisingly well, illustrating connections that I had not seen prior to the lectumentary. Because of this, I am writing a personal manifesto to help me spell out the connections that Troy, Jeff, and Matt so coolly rooted in my psyche. It will guide the search for my professional niche.

I appreciate the thorough argument they made regarding our current cultural disconnect to our ancient roots, and it is there, in the darkness of rooted soil, in the darkness of a lecture hall, that those connections were made. As Troy said during the lecture, “Men die, grass dies; therefore, men are grass.” I have had the thought and I have felt the thought before, but they succeeded in putting into words a feeling that stands up well to philosophical debate. I believe that the unique synergy of philosophic argument and aesthetic excellence can make anyone ponder their relationship to nature. In the search for truth, what is a more compelling argument than beauty? For me, the result is a foundationally solid perspective about the way I choose to operate in this world.

At its most powerful, Cartesian Eco-FemDarkanism fosters a connection to something much wiser, much older, and much quieter than me. It is a connection that has grown out of years of exploring my relationship with nature. The title was foreign to me when first experienced, but the experience of the event will stay very close to me as I launch forward, pressing to help answer some of the questions the guys have humbly raised for their audiences.

Thank you Black Lantern Synergy! Now let’s get to those questions…

Mark Ruzicka
ecological designer
K-State BLArch

[For our take on the title, click here.]