Classical Heritage Foundation
OPERATION
* On an organizational level, the Classical Heritage Foundation (CHF) is a business and project management, and product promotion organization that manages various activities through its divisions:
Classics Research Institute -
Research projects, project management, technology spin-offs, research promotion.
Eagle Creations -
Music, video, media and fine arts projects, publication, marketing, and promotion.
Liberty Operations -
Affiliate (business) development, community interaction, operations management.
Scroll and Quill Publications -
Book and research paper publication, editorial columns.
Operational details are provided via the link for each division.
* On a tactical level, the Classical Heritage Foundation is a collections of individuals, organizations, and companies that pool their ideas, creativity, work, and resources within the Foundation.
Such individuals or organizations may work independently or in concert. Often, specific projects unite various entities which in turn expands networks and stimulates business.
* The Classical Heritage Foundation serves as a project manager providing strategic guidance to various individuals and/or organizations who are pursuing similar objectives but whose efforts are not distinctly coordinated. This might include providing business advice to an aspiring artist, technical consulting for a business, or studio recording services to a musician.
* The Classical Heritage Foundation provides for a promotional forum where various products may be exhibited. This in turn provides for enhanced synergy among the participants, expands promotion of individual projects, and unifies common goals.
Furthermore, by promoting the exchange of ideas and resources, projects often branch out into other sub-projects and thus, the Classical Heritage Foundation is often an incubator of new ideas.
ORIGINS
The Classical Heritage Foundation was founded by E. Sebastian Talon in 2004. The event that started things moving was the fortieth anniversary of the Beatles’ first visit to America. Having been intimately involved in the music scene of the 1960’s “era”, Sebastian had been informally researching the root causes of cultural change in American society for some years. But, being exposed to an entire weekend of Beatles celebration, Sebastian became acutely aware of the extraordinary Beatles optimism and “anything was possible” attitude that permeated that “era of innocence”. Thus, it was distressing to consider that the youth of today was growing up in a world view filled with cynicism, dominated by pessimism, and engulfed in a cultural war that had turned many parts of American society into a ethics slum. Inspired by this Beatles “revelation”, Sebastian began to formalize his efforts during the spring of 2004 with increased research and writing in contemporary history.
The question became, what had caused this change in the American cultural landscape, how can it be understood and in so doing, can its positive attributes be harnessed and its detrimental attributes mitigated? To answer these questions, Sebastian visited various research institutes around the country to discuss his theories. Such research indicated that a large segment of American society, encompassing a wide range of sectors, lifestyles, politics, and ethnic groups, was yearning to embrace a more “optimistic” perspective of American life that was based on tradition and yet was forward-looking. Hard-core rock musicians wanted to be rid of the decadent music-scene culture and concentrate on playing good music. Teachers were tired of students viewing school as a soap box for promoting their self absorbed juvenile delinquency – at the expense of learning. Businesswomen were fed up with dealing with associates who may have been at work but “never showed up”. Artists yearned to do art for art’s sake and not be smothered by mega corporations and technology. Indeed, the more research Sebastian did, the more he found the common thread to be one of culture.
To this end, Sebastian theorized that there was an underlying “hidden culture” within America. Researching Euro-American history, Sebastian found that the concept of “humanism” lay at the heart of this sought-after culture. Furthermore, Sebastian found that once humanism is embraced, then the value of “classical” art, science, and philosophy emerged. If this process is viewed in reverse, then promoting classical culture empowers humanism – which in turn revives this sought-after culture of optimism. Thus, the philosophical foundation of the Classical Heritage Foundation was laid. From such efforts, interaction between organizations grew and the Classical Heritage Foundation was established to formalize such activity and promote classical culture.
At the same time, Sebastian and a group of associates were looking to establish a music, media arts, and literary publishing and production company. Work on this project brought about expansion into the scientific research and business development sectors. Thus, a very diverse organization began to take shape that would be difficult to integrate. Then, recalling his research of America’s cultural evolution, Sebastian realized that operating through (as well as promoting of) a classical culture would integrate the Foundation and align its activities with the nation’s enthusiasm for a humanistic society.
Therefore, Sebastian used a culture-centered approach to not only define, but to operate the Classical Heritage Foundation. This seemed counter-intuitive at first but subsequent analysis proved its validity. This is because it is culture that drives the various sectors of society and business; not the other way around. Consequently, by centering an organization around a cultural ideal, its tactical operations may be quite expansive in their scope, yet will remain focused and synergized. A classic symbiotic relationship. Once the implications of this relationship were fully realized, the operational pieces for the Classical Heritage Foundation fell into place, and growth ensued. Work along these lines brought Sebastian back to his music roots, and music activities expanded (and remain a dominant part of the Classical Heritage Foundation). Subsequently, the various divisions of the Classical Heritage Foundation were established to accommodate a wide range of disciplines and activities – but all tied to the promotion of classical culture.
The passing of Ronald Reagan in the summer of 2004 provided an additional insight into this cultural dynamic. Watching the funeral proceedings, Sebastian observed how deeply the entire nation was impacted by Reagan’s “idealistic perception” of what America, its people, and its culture, could be and could achieve. Sebastian concluded that current social and political ideology based on what is termed “political correctness” had sapped the optimism from America and was oppressive in its effect upon the nation’s culture. Moreover, this condition was made worse by an avalanche of media hype from the so-called “mainstream” media. Between these two “parasites”, America’s cultural dignity was being drained away. Indeed, this is why it had been so difficult to uncover America’s “hidden” culture. Thus, Sebastian realized that once the oppression of political correctness and media hype are removed, people will be able to revive a longed-for civility and optimism that has been lacking for so many decades, and rejuvenate the nation’s humanity.
Sebastian also found that such labels as “conservative” and “liberal” applied by the “mainstream” (hype) media were qualitatively incorrect in describing American culture. Thus, Sebastian concluded that a wide rang of Americans, with broad political viewpoints, were eager to embrace and revitalize American’s hidden, humanistic culture that was exuberantly portrayed in Beatle “can do” optimism and Reagan “pride in excellence” philosophy. Sebastian calls this cultural perspective and the activities of those who embrace it - the “Traditionalist Movement”. And, although based on “tradition”, this movement is utterly forward looking and optimistic.
Consequently, in the midst of such dynamic societal turmoil, the Classical Heritage Foundation seeks to bring to light the value of “classical” culture, in America and around the world, and use this insight to move our global society forward and preserve our humanity. All that is needed to do this is an open and rational mind, along with a sincere effort to dig such “traditional” and “optimistic” attributes out of the massive array of media hype and PC distortion that characterizes our world today. If an individual can do this, they will be rewarded with a society warmed by its humanity and encouraged by its noble aspirations.