[Music] once upon a time in a town called oak
once upon a time in a town called oak
once upon a time in a town called oak there lived a little girl Elizabeth an
there lived a little girl Elizabeth an
there lived a little girl Elizabeth an orchard keeper who discovered that
orchard keeper who discovered that
orchard keeper who discovered that oranges are dreams with colors and
oranges are dreams with colors and
oranges are dreams with colors and characters and stories wrapped tight by
characters and stories wrapped tight by
characters and stories wrapped tight by thick wrinkled shells during the day she
thick wrinkled shells during the day she
thick wrinkled shells during the day she would watch as these oranges transformed
would watch as these oranges transformed
would watch as these oranges transformed into birds or butterflies and flew away
into birds or butterflies and flew away
into birds or butterflies and flew away across the mountains while at night she
across the mountains while at night she
across the mountains while at night she would sit in silence the orange is still
would sit in silence the orange is still
would sit in silence the orange is still against the stars their wings folded
against the stars their wings folded
against the stars their wings folded their visions kept safe
what if oranges or dreams these are the
what if oranges or dreams these are the kinds of questions I asked myself
kinds of questions I asked myself
kinds of questions I asked myself growing up in a small California town
growing up in a small California town
growing up in a small California town called Ojai famous for its oranges with
called Ojai famous for its oranges with
called Ojai famous for its oranges with three brothers Ben Ethan and Skylar one
three brothers Ben Ethan and Skylar one
three brothers Ben Ethan and Skylar one sister Tara and parents Susan and Wesley
sister Tara and parents Susan and Wesley
sister Tara and parents Susan and Wesley who were mostly tired of being parents
who were mostly tired of being parents
who were mostly tired of being parents by the time I came around as a child I
by the time I came around as a child I
by the time I came around as a child I read books fantasy books fairy tales and
read books fantasy books fairy tales and
read books fantasy books fairy tales and these books made me ask questions I
these books made me ask questions I
these books made me ask questions I would write stories like the one I just
would write stories like the one I just
would write stories like the one I just told you about what the answers to these
told you about what the answers to these
told you about what the answers to these questions could be and these stories
questions could be and these stories
questions could be and these stories made me realize that with the right
made me realize that with the right
made me realize that with the right question you could imagine create
question you could imagine create
question you could imagine create understand almost anything this is what
understand almost anything this is what
understand almost anything this is what fantasy does fantasy helps us grow
fantasy does fantasy helps us grow
fantasy does fantasy helps us grow it helps us move forward our societies
it helps us move forward our societies
it helps us move forward our societies cannot evolve without fantasy
when I say fantasy some of you may be
when I say fantasy some of you may be thinking of a British wizard with a
thinking of a British wizard with a
thinking of a British wizard with a lightning bolt scar some of you may
lightning bolt scar some of you may
lightning bolt scar some of you may think of fantasies simply as something
think of fantasies simply as something
think of fantasies simply as something that isn’t real or that can’t come true
that isn’t real or that can’t come true
that isn’t real or that can’t come true fantasy today has a large place in our
fantasy today has a large place in our
fantasy today has a large place in our comic book shops in the fantasy and
comic book shops in the fantasy and
comic book shops in the fantasy and science fiction section of the bookstore
science fiction section of the bookstore
science fiction section of the bookstore in HBO TV shows in these spaces where we
in HBO TV shows in these spaces where we
in HBO TV shows in these spaces where we pay to be entertained and we don’t often
pay to be entertained and we don’t often
pay to be entertained and we don’t often think of fantasy outside of these
think of fantasy outside of these
think of fantasy outside of these clearly marked boundaries say in
clearly marked boundaries say in
clearly marked boundaries say in business meetings or job interviews
business meetings or job interviews
business meetings or job interviews fantasy seems relevant to some
fantasy seems relevant to some
fantasy seems relevant to some entertaining to many but not important
entertaining to many but not important
entertaining to many but not important by any means to everyone we need to
by any means to everyone we need to
by any means to everyone we need to think bigger than this fantasy was at
think bigger than this fantasy was at
think bigger than this fantasy was at one point no different than a story if
one point no different than a story if
one point no different than a story if we look back and indeed the farther we
we look back and indeed the farther we
we look back and indeed the farther we look back the truer this becomes we
look back the truer this becomes we
look back the truer this becomes we realized that fantasy has always been
realized that fantasy has always been
realized that fantasy has always been deeply ingrained in the human experience
deeply ingrained in the human experience
deeply ingrained in the human experience whenever our earliest civilizations
whenever our earliest civilizations
whenever our earliest civilizations wanted to teach to understand to explore
wanted to teach to understand to explore
wanted to teach to understand to explore they didn’t use what was really there
they didn’t use what was really there
they didn’t use what was really there they embellished they imagined they used
they embellished they imagined they used
they embellished they imagined they used the unseen and the invisible to fill the
the unseen and the invisible to fill the
the unseen and the invisible to fill the mysterious shadows of their lives they
mysterious shadows of their lives they
mysterious shadows of their lives they did not begin their stories with today
did not begin their stories with today
did not begin their stories with today in our time but with once upon a time
in our time but with once upon a time
in our time but with once upon a time creating a space of possibility it was
creating a space of possibility it was
creating a space of possibility it was Joseph Campbell who wrote that all
Joseph Campbell who wrote that all
Joseph Campbell who wrote that all cultures have grown out of myths what
cultures have grown out of myths what
cultures have grown out of myths what these myths have given us has been
these myths have given us has been
these myths have given us has been inspiration for aspiration inspiration
inspiration for aspiration inspiration
inspiration for aspiration inspiration for aspiration myths fantasies these
for aspiration myths fantasies these
for aspiration myths fantasies these were the first stories that we told
were the first stories that we told
were the first stories that we told ourselves the ones that inspired us to
ourselves the ones that inspired us to
ourselves the ones that inspired us to aspire to something bigger to create
aspire to something bigger to create
aspire to something bigger to create to grow we need to come back to this
to grow we need to come back to this
to grow we need to come back to this broadest definition of fantasy to this
broadest definition of fantasy to this
broadest definition of fantasy to this idea of fantasy as a driving force
idea of fantasy as a driving force
idea of fantasy as a driving force behind our society’s evolutions why
behind our society’s evolutions why
behind our society’s evolutions why because fantasy is in its broadest sense
because fantasy is in its broadest sense
because fantasy is in its broadest sense anything that asks the most important
anything that asks the most important
anything that asks the most important question that human beings can ask what
question that human beings can ask what
question that human beings can ask what if what if is not just a question we
if what if is not just a question we
if what if is not just a question we asked ourselves before we understood our
asked ourselves before we understood our
asked ourselves before we understood our world before the unmapped areas of our
world before the unmapped areas of our
world before the unmapped areas of our lives and our globe were filled in a
lives and our globe were filled in a
lives and our globe were filled in a question like what if God’s existed or
question like what if God’s existed or
question like what if God’s existed or what if fairies lived in the garden what
what if fairies lived in the garden what
what if fairies lived in the garden what if is a question that is relevant to us
if is a question that is relevant to us
if is a question that is relevant to us right now a question like what if our
right now a question like what if our
right now a question like what if our students could visit the Palace of
students could visit the Palace of
students could visit the Palace of Versailles right from their classroom
Versailles right from their classroom
Versailles right from their classroom what if we could draw in three
what if we could draw in three
what if we could draw in three dimensions it can be a wild what-if or a
dimensions it can be a wild what-if or a
dimensions it can be a wild what-if or a simple what if it is only the question
simple what if it is only the question
simple what if it is only the question itself that matters because by asking
itself that matters because by asking
itself that matters because by asking what if fantasy also asks us to question
what if fantasy also asks us to question
what if fantasy also asks us to question what is in Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s
what is in Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s
what is in Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland for example we
Adventures in Wonderland for example we
Adventures in Wonderland for example we begin our tale in a setting in which it
begin our tale in a setting in which it
begin our tale in a setting in which it would be very remarkable for a rabbit to
would be very remarkable for a rabbit to
would be very remarkable for a rabbit to pull a watch out of its waistcoat pocket
pull a watch out of its waistcoat pocket
pull a watch out of its waistcoat pocket but we are soon thrust into a setting in
but we are soon thrust into a setting in
but we are soon thrust into a setting in which it would be very remarkable for a
which it would be very remarkable for a
which it would be very remarkable for a rabbit not to take a watch out of its
rabbit not to take a watch out of its
rabbit not to take a watch out of its waistcoat a change that finds us asking
waistcoat a change that finds us asking
waistcoat a change that finds us asking just what kind of world is Wonderland
just what kind of world is Wonderland
just what kind of world is Wonderland that such things would be normal but
that such things would be normal but
that such things would be normal but also and more importantly just what kind
also and more importantly just what kind
also and more importantly just what kind of world is ours that such things would
of world is ours that such things would
of world is ours that such things would be strange our world tells us this is
be strange our world tells us this is
be strange our world tells us this is how a rabbit must behave but Wonderland
how a rabbit must behave but Wonderland
how a rabbit must behave but Wonderland challenges us what if rabbits carried
challenges us what if rabbits carried
challenges us what if rabbits carried watches in their waistcoat pockets what
watches in their waistcoat pockets what
watches in their waistcoat pockets what if constantly confronts this is and by
if constantly confronts this is and by
if constantly confronts this is and by doing so fantasy teaches us that things
doing so fantasy teaches us that things
doing so fantasy teaches us that things can always be
can always be
can always be different which is the first step
different which is the first step
different which is the first step towards realizing that we have a
towards realizing that we have a
towards realizing that we have a responsibility to imagine them as
responsibility to imagine them as
responsibility to imagine them as different to never accept as fact the
different to never accept as fact the
different to never accept as fact the world the is that we have been given but
world the is that we have been given but
world the is that we have been given but to always seek out new questions and new
to always seek out new questions and new
to always seek out new questions and new alternatives the Irish poet WB Yeats has
alternatives the Irish poet WB Yeats has
alternatives the Irish poet WB Yeats has a quote in one of his later poems that
a quote in one of his later poems that
a quote in one of his later poems that states in Dreams begins responsibilities
states in Dreams begins responsibilities
states in Dreams begins responsibilities in other words our imagination our
in other words our imagination our
in other words our imagination our capacity to ask questions is what gives
capacity to ask questions is what gives
capacity to ask questions is what gives us the ability to act of our own will
us the ability to act of our own will
us the ability to act of our own will and not to give up our power to some
and not to give up our power to some
and not to give up our power to some other Authority our actions begin with
other Authority our actions begin with
other Authority our actions begin with our dreams our fantasies our questions
our dreams our fantasies our questions
our dreams our fantasies our questions and these very things also teach us that
and these very things also teach us that
and these very things also teach us that we can act they are the inspirations for
we can act they are the inspirations for
we can act they are the inspirations for our aspirations things can change and we
our aspirations things can change and we
our aspirations things can change and we must be the ones to enact that change so
must be the ones to enact that change so
must be the ones to enact that change so I’m asking you to look at fantasy in a
I’m asking you to look at fantasy in a
I’m asking you to look at fantasy in a different light to see it as something
different light to see it as something
different light to see it as something important and relevant to you I’m not
important and relevant to you I’m not
important and relevant to you I’m not asking you to power through the Lord of
asking you to power through the Lord of
asking you to power through the Lord of the Rings trilogy
the Rings trilogy
the Rings trilogy this weekend but I am asking you to
this weekend but I am asking you to
this weekend but I am asking you to every once in a while
every once in a while
every once in a while ask yourself what if a gremlin powered
ask yourself what if a gremlin powered
ask yourself what if a gremlin powered my car what if a person lived as long as
my car what if a person lived as long as
my car what if a person lived as long as a giant Sequoia what if a tyrant could
a giant Sequoia what if a tyrant could
a giant Sequoia what if a tyrant could be defeated what if things were
be defeated what if things were
be defeated what if things were different from these questions questions
different from these questions questions
different from these questions questions that allow us to see our world as full
that allow us to see our world as full
that allow us to see our world as full of possibilities rather than certainties
of possibilities rather than certainties
of possibilities rather than certainties come stories and from these stories
come stories and from these stories
come stories and from these stories action American inventor Simon Lake read
action American inventor Simon Lake read
action American inventor Simon Lake read a book that took place 20,000 Leagues
a book that took place 20,000 Leagues
a book that took place 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and he asked the question
Under the Sea and he asked the question
Under the Sea and he asked the question what if human beings could
what if human beings could
what if human beings could travel underwater he’s known as the
travel underwater he’s known as the
travel underwater he’s known as the father of the modern submarine
father of the modern submarine
father of the modern submarine researcher jane goodall read a book
researcher jane goodall read a book
researcher jane goodall read a book about a doctor named Doolittle who could
about a doctor named Doolittle who could
about a doctor named Doolittle who could communicate with his pets and she asked
communicate with his pets and she asked
communicate with his pets and she asked the question what if we could understand
the question what if we could understand
the question what if we could understand animal behavior we know more about
animal behavior we know more about
animal behavior we know more about primates today than we ever thought
primates today than we ever thought
primates today than we ever thought possible thanks to her work many of the
possible thanks to her work many of the
possible thanks to her work many of the things that we take for granted as
things that we take for granted as
things that we take for granted as normal are due to these wild what-ifs of
normal are due to these wild what-ifs of
normal are due to these wild what-ifs of past generations and many of the things
past generations and many of the things
past generations and many of the things that we see today as unreal or
that we see today as unreal or
that we see today as unreal or impossible are the normal realities of
impossible are the normal realities of
impossible are the normal realities of tomorrow
tomorrow
tomorrow because right now someone’s what-if is
because right now someone’s what-if is
because right now someone’s what-if is turning into 3d printed organs or
turning into 3d printed organs or
turning into 3d printed organs or affordable healthcare and maybe on their
affordable healthcare and maybe on their
affordable healthcare and maybe on their shelves at home lies a beat-up copy of
shelves at home lies a beat-up copy of
shelves at home lies a beat-up copy of Grimm’s fairy tales or the little prince
Grimm’s fairy tales or the little prince
Grimm’s fairy tales or the little prince maybe one of you spent long nights in
maybe one of you spent long nights in
maybe one of you spent long nights in the halls of Hogwarts and maybe in 10 20
the halls of Hogwarts and maybe in 10 20
the halls of Hogwarts and maybe in 10 20 years you’ll ask what if we could travel
years you’ll ask what if we could travel
years you’ll ask what if we could travel between places in an instant your
between places in an instant your
between places in an instant your what-if doesn’t have to change the world
what-if doesn’t have to change the world
what-if doesn’t have to change the world it can be as simple as what if oranges
it can be as simple as what if oranges
it can be as simple as what if oranges were dreams what matters is that the
were dreams what matters is that the
were dreams what matters is that the question has been asked and that your
question has been asked and that your
question has been asked and that your world is not quite as settled or as sure
world is not quite as settled or as sure
world is not quite as settled or as sure as it was before my simple what-ifs led
as it was before my simple what-ifs led
as it was before my simple what-ifs led me on a path of discovery and education
me on a path of discovery and education
me on a path of discovery and education and now I get to teach the next
and now I get to teach the next
and now I get to teach the next generation about protecting and
generation about protecting and
generation about protecting and preserving our public lands simple is
preserving our public lands simple is
preserving our public lands simple is where it starts
where it starts
where it starts one of my favorite authors Neil Gaiman
one of my favorite authors Neil Gaiman
one of my favorite authors Neil Gaiman has a quote he says we owe it to each
has a quote he says we owe it to each
has a quote he says we owe it to each other to tell stories we owe it to each
other to tell stories we owe it to each
other to tell stories we owe it to each other I think because the only way that
other I think because the only way that
other I think because the only way that we can change the world change ourselves
we can change the world change ourselves
we can change the world change ourselves is by imagining that it can change by
is by imagining that it can change by
is by imagining that it can change by imagining that the way things are is not
imagining that the way things are is not
imagining that the way things are is not the way that things have to be
the way that things have to be
the way that things have to be our societies cannot evolve without
our societies cannot evolve without
our societies cannot evolve without fantasy and that evolution begins with
fantasy and that evolution begins with
fantasy and that evolution begins with our imagination with our ability to ask
our imagination with our ability to ask
our imagination with our ability to ask the question what if and maybe your
the question what if and maybe your
the question what if and maybe your answer your story begins with once upon
answer your story begins with once upon
answer your story begins with once upon a time thank you
a time thank you
a time thank you [Applause]
”
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