Revolution

Revolution is a cyclical, collective shift in conceptual schemes that is substantial enough to impact norms or attitudes and to create new reality and identity.

There must be room for disagreement because, by nature, revolution must happen again and again, as with a wheel rolling down a hill. There no definite end or beginning to a revolution, so therefore, it cannot be absolute. A revolution CANNOT be perfect or complete. A revolution CANNOT prevent diversity of thought. When a revolution enforces a binary, it is no longer a revolution, but rather an old paradigm that must be overturned again. Part of the cyclical nature of revolution is the animosity between new and old paradigms following the initial shift, followed by accommodation of the newer paradigm. This cycle keeps moving in accordance . with the natural laws of humanity.

In a revolution, some kind of violence must occur, but this violence is not necessarily physical. Part of this violence is self-inflicted. In the process of revolution, one must often temporarily sacrifice one’s own humanity and individuality for the sake of collective benefit. In order to experience a new form of individual freedom, one must reduce oneself to a number.

I have documented my process of developing this definition, as well as the texts and conversations which contributed to it, in my notes shown below: