Yep. I said it. Keep your late night study sessions, and your lengthy lectures. I'm going to boost my brain power by dancing. Dancing is most frequently heralded as a fun and healthy way to exercise and stay fit, but recent studies have proven that dancing promotes long term mental health and acuity.
Calligraphy has been used in various forms for thousands of years and there are four primary forms of this style of writing, all of which are distinct and unique. The four forms are Western, Eastern Asian, South Asian, and Islamic Calligraphy. This article will focus briefly on the origins and evolution of Western Calligraphy.
Jean Piaget, a well-known developmental psychologist is credited with saying that, "Intelligence is what you use when you don't know what to do." Our brains work by creating neural paths to stored information. Each piece of stored information may be accessed through a single neural path or by many paths depending on how many different ways we have attempted to access that information.
Western Calligraphy finds its roots in the Latin alphabet as it emerged from the Etruscan alphabet. Romans began using the script as they replaced papyrus scrolls and reed pens with the first books, fashioned from animal skin parchment, and quill pens. Illuminated texts using various calligraphic fonts can be found throughout the historical documents of Europe ranging from the Celtic Book of Kells to the Carolingan miniscule script developed by a scribe under the direction of Charlemagne. This script provided the foundation on which modern booktype is based.
Learn well enough so you can teach
Roughly a decade ago the New England Journal of Medicine posted a study they completed entitled, "Leisure Activities and the Risk of Dementia in the Elderly". The study examined a population of elderly participants as they engaged in various physical and cognitive leisure activities. Over the course of 21 years, the study collected data on activities from reading and doing crosswords to swimming, golfing, and dancing.
Of all the activities under scrutiny, most of the physical activities produced no recognizable risk reduction. Many of the cognitive activities produced a slight risk reduction with very few topping 50%. The one activity that produced the highest risk reduction of all the activities studied was frequent social dancing, showing an astonishing 76% reduction in the risk of dementia and other mental diseases.
Johnston is considered, with Koch, to be the father of modern calligraphy. Both men published a variety of books on the topic and each developed calligraphic typefaces that are still in standard use today. In fact, the Johnston typeface was the foundation of the font in the signage of the London Underground and continues to live on since it was re-designed in 1988 and developed into the New Johnston typeface.
The key to maintaining the strength of your mind is to participate in activities that force you to make split second decisions, or which force you to quickly and uniquely access previously learned information, thus creating a new neural pathway to that information. When it comes to dancing the best forms are those which allow for free-form lead and follow communication.
Modern calligraphy still exists in the handwritten form and documents can be commissioned from professional calligraphers. Whole websites are dedicated to the art and tools of hand written calligraphy and training is available for those who truly wish to master this skill.
Remember that it isn't just about the grade or the degree. Don't be fooled in thinking just because you received your Graphic Arts Degree that you are good to go. It takes an actual knowledge and skill set to make it out in most jobs. If you want to be the best at what you do then it is all about shaping your studies to fit the needs of your future self, meaning your future career as well.
Mental acuity is just one of the benefits of social dancing. Whether you're a student working toward a graphic arts degree or you've already graduated and are part of the workforce, everyone can participate and take advantage of the many perks of social dancing. Get smart! Start dancing!
Calligraphy has been used in various forms for thousands of years and there are four primary forms of this style of writing, all of which are distinct and unique. The four forms are Western, Eastern Asian, South Asian, and Islamic Calligraphy. This article will focus briefly on the origins and evolution of Western Calligraphy.
Jean Piaget, a well-known developmental psychologist is credited with saying that, "Intelligence is what you use when you don't know what to do." Our brains work by creating neural paths to stored information. Each piece of stored information may be accessed through a single neural path or by many paths depending on how many different ways we have attempted to access that information.
Western Calligraphy finds its roots in the Latin alphabet as it emerged from the Etruscan alphabet. Romans began using the script as they replaced papyrus scrolls and reed pens with the first books, fashioned from animal skin parchment, and quill pens. Illuminated texts using various calligraphic fonts can be found throughout the historical documents of Europe ranging from the Celtic Book of Kells to the Carolingan miniscule script developed by a scribe under the direction of Charlemagne. This script provided the foundation on which modern booktype is based.
Learn well enough so you can teach
Roughly a decade ago the New England Journal of Medicine posted a study they completed entitled, "Leisure Activities and the Risk of Dementia in the Elderly". The study examined a population of elderly participants as they engaged in various physical and cognitive leisure activities. Over the course of 21 years, the study collected data on activities from reading and doing crosswords to swimming, golfing, and dancing.
Of all the activities under scrutiny, most of the physical activities produced no recognizable risk reduction. Many of the cognitive activities produced a slight risk reduction with very few topping 50%. The one activity that produced the highest risk reduction of all the activities studied was frequent social dancing, showing an astonishing 76% reduction in the risk of dementia and other mental diseases.
Johnston is considered, with Koch, to be the father of modern calligraphy. Both men published a variety of books on the topic and each developed calligraphic typefaces that are still in standard use today. In fact, the Johnston typeface was the foundation of the font in the signage of the London Underground and continues to live on since it was re-designed in 1988 and developed into the New Johnston typeface.
The key to maintaining the strength of your mind is to participate in activities that force you to make split second decisions, or which force you to quickly and uniquely access previously learned information, thus creating a new neural pathway to that information. When it comes to dancing the best forms are those which allow for free-form lead and follow communication.
Modern calligraphy still exists in the handwritten form and documents can be commissioned from professional calligraphers. Whole websites are dedicated to the art and tools of hand written calligraphy and training is available for those who truly wish to master this skill.
Remember that it isn't just about the grade or the degree. Don't be fooled in thinking just because you received your Graphic Arts Degree that you are good to go. It takes an actual knowledge and skill set to make it out in most jobs. If you want to be the best at what you do then it is all about shaping your studies to fit the needs of your future self, meaning your future career as well.
Mental acuity is just one of the benefits of social dancing. Whether you're a student working toward a graphic arts degree or you've already graduated and are part of the workforce, everyone can participate and take advantage of the many perks of social dancing. Get smart! Start dancing!
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