In an age where the line between reality and fabrication blurs, the power to discern truth from misinformation isn't just valuable—it's essential.
At Rootcunning, we're on a mission to equip you with the tools and insights needed to navigate vast landscapes of information with confidence.
The name Rootcunning comes from the original and somewhat outdated meaning of cunning: "Possessing practical knowledge or skill; able, skilful, expert, dexterous, clever." (Oxford English Dictionary). By becoming cunning with roots of meaning and media, we can perceive and act in the world in more practical and empowered ways. We can even learn to pull up the roots and move them around in ways more beneficial to ourselves and others.
Through a series of articles and supporting content, I'll give you training in these media literacy skills, all for free, no registration required. The first round of content will use Frank Herbert's Dune series as a theme, guide, and target for analysis. But don't worry, all the introductory articles, labeled as subsections of part 0, don't contain any spoilers. Part 1 and onwards will have some spoilers, but the Dune books are so layered and captivating that I believe you'll still enjoy them even if you read some spoilers first.
Start your journey with this introductory article: Personal Power in Dune: Part 0.00: Into the Desert
I am making this content primarily because I believe in these ideas and feel that everyone should have access to them. They'll never be paywalled.
You don't even have to register. If you'd like to be notified when I post new content, sign up for my email list. I'll never spam you or sell your data to third parties.
This attitude extends to the rest of the website. You'll notice there aren't any cookies. I care about internet privacy, so I only do analytics here with data collected server-side, AKA the data your device already has to share to access websites on the internet. Currently I use Cloudflare's privacy-first analytics tools.
Our mission to enhance media literacy and empower personal growth is fueled by passion, not paywalls. We sustain and expand our work through indirect means, ensuring our content remains accessible to everyone. Here's how you can support us, if you choose:
Every form of support goes a long way in keeping our site thriving and ensures we continue making a difference together. Thank you for being part of our community.
I know this website is small now, but I have big plans for the content I'll post here. I am making this as much for myself as I am making it for you. From applying the ideas I'll be sharing with you, I've gradually gained many perspectives and insights. I'm making these ideas, perspectives, and insights more structured, more memorable, and more useful so I apply these ideas more completely and effectively in my own life. I believe my efforts can benefit you in similar ways.
But this is a very personal journey, and we might need to make adjustments for this material to suit you better. Please share your feedback and experiences and I will use that to continually grow and refine this material.
I won't lie though, I'm only one person, I'm currently working a full-time job, and I'm new to many of the facets of good content creation. So I might be rather slow-going with content output while I am still learning and refining my skills. Quality over quantity is my priority, and quality costs time, effort, and attention.