SMRN First Public Lecture Series

October 28, 2024

SMRN’s inaugural public lecture series launched with a presentation by Dr. Laura U. Marks on her latest book, The Fold: From Your Body to the Cosmos.

In her talk, Dr. Marks introduced The Fold as a philosophical exploration with elements of self-care, focusing on practices to expand sensory and other capabilities in order to better connect with the cosmos and other entities. She explained that the book examines the concept of a folded cosmos, in which every entity, from humans to subatomic particles, exists as a fold within a single, interconnected fabric. Dr. Marks elaborated on three central methods from her book: unfolding aesthetics, effective analysis, and fabulation.

Unfolding aesthetics encourages readers to engage new facets of reality by triangulating between their perceptions, the filters that limit access to the infinite, and the infinite itself.
Effective analysis is a multi-stage process that begins with experiencing affect and perception before forming conceptual insights.
Fabulation is the collective act of bringing deeply virtual knowledge and ways of being into actuality—transforming potential into reality through shared effort.

Following the presentation, Dr. Farshid Kazemi led a discussion with Dr. Marks to further explore the themes of The Fold, including a Q&A session with the audience.

During the session, Dr. Marks read excerpts from her book, including a passage on "bus stop philosophy" that demonstrated unfolding aesthetics, and discussed the film La Maison du Bonheur as an example of gentle fabulation. She also addressed audience questions on topics like the connection between fabulation and futurity, the influence of ancient worldviews on her theories, and the idea of harmony in "soul assemblages." Dr. Marks emphasized the importance of practicing radical empathy and discovering new ways to unfold reality, aspiring to foster a more harmonious future.