Hosted by Whitney Wei and Yun Shu
Since the Enlightenment, Western thought has been dictated by Cartesian dualism—good and bad, dark and light, body and mind. But there are profound questions about our existence that move far beyond simple dichotomy. How can we learn to hold life's complexity? In part one of LIVING PHILOSOPHY, a two part MODERN RITUALS course, instructors Yun Shu and Whitney Wei lead students into contemplative inquiry to better understand the invisible lenses with which they see the world.
Under the theme of THINKING FOR ONESELF, the class encompasses guided meditations, short lectures around recommended reading, and writing exercises. The curriculum, a mix of Taoist philosophy and universal history, leads with personal reflection and opens up to seminar-like discussion, guiding students to their own answers. Bring a writing utensil and notebook. Come as you are—no prior knowledge is needed.
About Whitney Wei
Whitney Wei is a writer, editor, and curator based in Berlin. Over the past decade, she has shaped global discourse on dance music and club culture, including tenures as Editor-in-Chief of Resident Advisor and Electronic Beats. Her work has appeared in The Guardian, BBC Radio 1, Vogue, Highsnobiety, Numéro, and Pitchfork, among others. Her current project, MODERN RITUALS, reinterprets contemporary culture through ancient philosophy—informed by immersive study at temples and monasteries across Germany and Taiwan. She is currently working on a novel about meaning-making in nightlife.
About Yun Shu
Yun is an author and screenwriter, born in Shanghai and educated in Sydney. Her first book ‘The Future is Fungi’ was published in 2022 and translated into four languages. It explores the interconnectedness of humans and nature, using fungi as the vehicle to understand food systems, medicine, psychedelics, and environmental remediation. Now, she writes screenplays that explore spiritual and political awakenings – and the will to act. Her storytelling centres on the human spirit, grappling with our role in modernity and the search for what is true. Deeply inspired by Eastern philosophy, somatic practices and kindness in community, she spends most of her time making sense of existence through writing— you can find her voice at https://substack.com/@yunshu.
Course fee: 25€ or 20€ + USC check-in