THRIVING TOGETHER

Like the community of octopuses at Octopolis brought together solely by their common needs of ample space to den and abundant food, discussed in the book Other Minds: The Octopus, the Sea, and the Deep Origins of Consciousness by Peter Godfrey-Smith, the community of first year students at Brandeis University is established for no other reason than their choice of higher education. Upon arrival to Octopolis and Brandeis University respectively, these octopuses and first year students enter into a community with the power to effect change: Godfrey-Smith argues that Octopolis is a multi-generational space that, if greatly expanded, could facilitate the concentrated evolution of the octopus brain through increased mental stimulation from living in close quarters with other octopuses. Similarly, by working, living, and interacting with each other at Brandeis, Brandeisians shine in academics, display unrivaled creativity in the arts, and enact change in the world that will ultimately lead to a more just society. Out of a community brought together by common needs comes greatness.

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Thriving Together is a mural commissioned by Academic Services at Brandeis University in the summer 2021 to depict themes of community using octopus imagery for the First Year Book Forum.