BASIC Studios
Taking Inspiration from Nature
Happy March, fabulous friends!
Can you believe we’re already three months into 2026? Time flies when you’re changing lives, and BASIC Studios has been doing big things. Since March is Women’s History Month, we wanted to take some time to reflect on female power. We’re focusing on how important women are in the world, looking at the dynamics of female influence within human society and the animal kingdom alike.
Before we jump into that, a review of last month; February was massive for us. We made a huge leap by purchasing our business license, officially registering BASIC Studios as a Social Purpose Corporation with the Washington Secretary of State. We’re super excited to start moving forward now that the legal paperwork is settled!
February was also a fantastic month of creative output. We published some very intriguing posts by our volunteers. Matt, the lovable Lord of Lore, shared a comical explanation of Monty Python’s Holy Grail, claiming it to be the most historically accurate depiction of King Arthur. Leslii told us The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, the story of Princess Kaguya-hime who must detach from earthly desires despite her beauty and wealth, and shared why this story has endured in Japanese culture for generations. Kaie told us about The Perfect Valentine, who just so happens to be Dracula himself. Our resident opera master, Tess, gave us an exciting breakdown of Die Zauberflöte, where she explored its themes of gender, enlightenment, and power. Aspen brought us Part 2 of her deep dive exploration into the symbolism behind the Smiling Critters from Poppy Playtime. Finally, Jeri, our Co-Founder and Manager of all things Mischief, shared their beautiful journey of reclaiming their own story through writing personal mythology. On YouTube, Kaie and Lore both shared a movie review, but through different lenses. While Lore’s review of Avatar: Fire & Ash was mostly an opinion piece, Kaie gave us a deep perspective on why and how the pier scene in Jaws is so frightening.
Make sure to keep an eye on what we’re planning for this year! We’ve just started negotiations with the owners of Chaos Cat Collective to create an independent publishing community, with details to be announced by the end of the year. It’s also time to save the date for this year’s third annual Survivor Summit. The lovely Lady Kaie has agreed to be the host this year, where she and others will speak about “Replacing Violence with Compassion.” Considering the absolute garbage year that 2025 was, and 2026 is aiming to be, we want to focus on how we can turn that pain into power.
In publishing news, two of our very own are releasing books this month! Lore will be releasing their very first fiction novel entitled Thread of Fate, the first of four in their long-awaited Age of Clay series. You can pre-order your copy on Amazon and follow them on Substack so you can stay updated. Additionally, Luna will be releasing a poetry book entitled In the Weeds, a collection of emotionally powerful moments. Her book is also available for pre-order on Amazon.
As a final notice, BASIC Studios is always looking for creative volunteers who want to help us change the world. We need people to support the creation of thoughtful and engaging posts, help grow our community, and connect with readers across various platforms. You can assist with mission-aligned campaigns that balance strategy, creativity, and values. We’re especially excited to work with folks who care about mental health, survivor stories, and inclusive digital spaces. If you want to grow alongside a mission-led team and help elevate voices that deserve to be heard, we’d love to connect with you.
Society Updates
by Sana
Jane Goodall (1934-2025)
In October of last year, we lost yet another icon of our era. Primatologist and anthropologist, or Jane “the Monkey Queen” Goodall, was a force to be reckoned with in the world of animal science. She spent decades working amongst wild chimpanzees in Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania, detailing their complex social structures and behaviours. She discovered that they use tools and have complex social hierarchies, which went against the widely held idea that humans are unique among animals. Our ability to communicate, build things, and organise ourselves has now been observed across the animal kingdom. As a passionate animal activist, she founded the “Jane Goodall Institute” and the “Roots & Shoots Youth Program” to promote environmental and humanitarian efforts globally. From their website:
“Roots & Shoots provides the resources to encourage and motivate young people to take action on issues that matter to them. Today, [the program empowers] youth in all 50 states and over 60 countries to use their voices and ideas to address the issues that matter most to them in their communities.”
We remember Goodall not only for her scientific and philanthropic work, but also for repositioning humanity’s place on our beloved Earth.
Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics 2026
As the curtain fell on the Winter Olympics on February 22, 2026, memories of thrilling competitions and breathtaking performances lingered. The location of the games this year was a nod to history; they returned to Cortina, Italy, where, in 1956, the Winter Olympics were first televised to a global audience.
From the 1950s through ’90s, during the so-called “Cold War,” tensions at every public event were high due to the international political climate. The 1956 Olympics, for instance, caused a great stir because the Soviet Union (a.k.a. the USSR) was permitted to send athletes to compete for the first time since the Second World War. Hence, the games in Cortina were not only revolutionary in the world of broadcasting, but also placed political tensions center stage.
Let’s start with the great technological advances that, quite literally, coloured the games that year. According to this article from “History.com:
“New cable lines had to be laid through the Dolomites to accommodate radio and television transmissions. These signals were then broadcast through Padua, the closest major city. (…) the tapes of raw footage were flown overnight to New York, where the three national broadcast networks—ABC, CBS and NBC—were headquartered. Highlights from the Olympics would then air as part of daily news broadcasts.”
As many people today will notice, this setup was not exactly eco-friendly or low carbonfootprint. Politically, though, the broadcast was neither live, as it was touted to be, nor was it raw. There were multiple occasions where it could have been edited along its journey. Clearly, political and environmental issues slightly overshadowed the competition the first time around in Cortina.
Now, let’s turn to the ever-present environmental and social impacts of hosting the Olympic Games. One would hope that each host country would learn from the last and implement eco-friendly and humane strategies. However, this is not always the case, as we saw in the Paris 2024 Summer Games.
Nonetheless, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) claims it has,
“…has reinvented the Olympic Games (...) to adapt to the times we live in. We are working to ensure a sustainable future for the Games so that they create lasting benefits for their hosts, reduce their environmental footprint and evolve in response to a warming planet. ”
Despite the committee’s efforts to minimise environmental impacts, many have argued that officials in Cortina conducted “unnecessary” clearing of trees to construct facilities. This was done against the wishes, and sometimes without the knowledge, of researchers, advocates or locals. Protests have been constant in Milan before and during the 2026 Winter Games. Concerns range from environmental harm to the sources of funding and the long-term use of the Olympic facilities.
Note that the video linked above is a local woman speaking in Italian, but English (and other languages) subtitles are available on YouTube.
To close, this is nothing new: almost every city where the Olympic Games are hosted, there are protests and controversy arises. Only time will tell whether investments in the games overall are well-spent and worthwhile… Every host city has a different history and a different set of socio-economic issues.
Badass Females in Nature
by Lady Kaie
The patriarchy is a common source of frustration in our society. Those who are oppressed fight for freedoms that should not be denied to them, yet often are for various reasons. In today’s world, people are beginning to push back against hierarchical systems that keep them chained to an outdated way of life. Some may argue that it is ‘survival of the fittest’ that places ‘men’ in power, to guide people forward and provide them with protection only said ‘men’ can offer. But is that true?
Perhaps, somewhere along the line, the men have conveniently forgotten that not all nations have been led by them. In fact, throughout human history, some of the most flourishing societies were led by the matriarchs. In other communities, whether patriarchal or not, both sexes were viewed as equal and essential to the functioning of society. Where have those beliefs gone?
Do they still exist?
The answer is: of course they do.
Across the animal kingdom, where survival of the fittest is not only a motto to live by, but a daily reality , females rule the roost. Nature has decided that males are not always at the top of the food chain;they can even involuntarily become part of that food chain…
In today’s article, we will discuss eight formidable female animals who are not only strong and defiant but also deadly. Their strength, adaptability, and intelligence, shaped across countless years of natural selection, ensures that these females are the rightful rulers of their species.
1. Lionesses
The ‘king of the jungle’ may be a handsome statement piece for the pride he leads. owever, it is the queens who ensure the survival of the group—in more ways than one. Lionesses are responsible for raising the next generation, often working in cooperation with their female pride mates. Together, the female lions rear their young and teach them how to carry out their future duties as hunters and protectors. The bond these females build goes beyond that of motherhood, as they are the main source of food for the entire pride. A male lion contributes to under 10% of the pride’s hunts, which means that the females provide over 90% of the food necessary for survival (1). Just as they maintain a community for their cubs, they continue that camaraderie on the plains where they must work together to bring down prey. Anyone would think that those two things would be enough, but these powerful females also work with the male to ensure that their pride is well protected against other threats (1). Mothers, hunters and protectors. How could these incredible females be anything less than extraordinary?
2. Orcas
Orcas, known also as killer whales, form matriarchal societies where the eldest female leads her matriline. Under her leadership, males and females of her line form a pod and travel together. While males play certain roles, such as companions and occasional babysitters for young calves, the females are responsible for any and all care that newborns require (2). As the leader, the matriarch is responsible for the survival and well-being of her unit. Seeing orcas hunt, one knows they are not to be messed with. Orcas are strong, badass females indeed.
3. Honey Bees
Bees are necessary for our planet and for the survival of our world. The queen is the focal point of her hive, which is filled with female worker bees. Without her, there would be no hive, as she is the sole female who lays eggs. However, there can only be one queen. The strongest queen bee will kill off her sisters who were raised for the same position, and then take over the hive (3). Queen bees are fascinating!
4. Spotted Hyenas
Spotted hyenas are no different than the matriarchs previously discussed. Spotted hyena females are larger, more aggressive, and more socially dominant than their male counterparts (4). In fact, the matriarch of the clan will pass her rank down to her daughter, ensuring that her line remains in charge. Meanwhile, male hyenas must leave to join other clans where they may have a lower ranking due to being new. These intense females dominate those who rank lower than they do to keep their position with little apology (4).
5. Ducks
Ducks, as we all know, are fascinating creatures, but the females stand out for a very powerful reason. Evolution decided that these female creatures should be able to combat unwanted mating by evolving
their vaginal cavities. What exactly did evolution do? First, a male duck’s penis is not all that pleasant for the female. What mother nature has given her is a way to fight back. According to National Geographic (5), “The male penis is counterclockwise coiled, and the female vagina in species with large penises is clockwise coiled.” Researchers found evidence that forced mating occurs in approximately 50% of encounters, however the female duck’s body prevents unwanted fertilization almost 98% of the time (5). While this is a little bleak, and even disturbing for some, it’s incredible all the same.
6. Komodo Dragons (and other reptile species)
Komodo dragons are more solitary creatures, so they do not create matriarchal clans in which to raise their young. However,besides being the largest lizard on Earth and boasting venom glands that aid them in hunting, there is something unique to the females of the species. Mating season happens once a year, which results in females laying around thirty eggs each. Here’s where it gets really interesting:female Komodo Dragons who are unable to find a male use parthenogenesis to fertilize their own eggs. This gives a whole new meaning to not “needing no man,” doesn’t it?
7. Clownfish
Most of us have seen Finding Nemo, but there were some fascinating details left out of the movie that show just how fascinating Clownfish are! They live in a small society of males with a single, dominant female who is in charge of the group. The males guard the thousands of eggs she can potentially lay at any time of the year (7). Sounds pretty neat, right? There’s more! If something happens to the female, the dominant male in the group will change his sex and become the new dominant female . All clown fish are born male. They willingly change sex to continue the growth of their species (7).
8. Bald Eagles
Bald eagles are the heartbeat of America. Every single American knows how important the symbol of the Bald eagle is for the country: a symbol of freedom, strength, and pride. Yet, I wonder if the patriarchy knows that female bald eagles are the dominant sex in the species. With all birds of prey, the female is larger than the male—and it’s for a reason. Not only is she the dominant partner, but she is the first line of defense for the nest (8). In monogamous couples, the female stands guard over her eggs while the male hunts and provides what she and the chicks need (8). The current administration and alpha males could take a few notes from our national symbol.
In the animal kingdom, males and females occupy set roles, and those roles decide the future of the species. Currently, we are seeing a decrease in birth rates in countries around the world, and specifically in the U.S. The conservative base is panicking. Women are choosing to not have children or get into relationships with partners that might dictate how they can live, instead of treating them as equals.
Maybe it’s time for humans to take cues from the animal world and to give up on a system that doesn’t further our species, and instead limits our evolution. If we stripped down the barriers of fear that keep so many of us in check, what could our society look like? Would it look like the fierce world of Orca matriarchs? The camaraderie between lionnesses? Or a beautiful partnership like our Bald Eagles?
Wouldn’t it be fun to find out?
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All information and facts were taken from the following websites:
- https://wildnet.org/news/lionesses-the-key-to-the-prides-survival/
- https://ocean.org/blog/a-mothers-love-killer-whale-culture/
- https://www.geesbees.ca/post/the-queen-bee?srsltid=AfmBOoo6yLpCRzHxNOKm-_gvrof32zyaVphjGwbYNM0xBgTJp87tQIF9
- https://tsavotrust.org/why-are-spotted-hyenas-female-dominated/
- https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/evolution-beauty-sexual-selection-prum
- https://www.oneearth.org/species-of-the-week-komodo-dragon/
- https://www.barrierreef.org/the-reef/animals/clownfish
- https://www.potawatomi.org/blog/2014/03/24/male-and-female-american-bald-eagles-similar-but-not-the-same/
Humans Are Not Superior
by Lore
For hundreds of years, humans have tried to convince themselves that animals are “less than” because they aren’t civilized. However, if we take a deeper look at relevant biological factors we might uncover a very different story. The center of the brain that makes us so “civilized,” the prefrontal cortex, is also what allows us to choose violence and, therefore, renders us less civilized than we think (Rosell and Siever, 2015). We see “wild animals” as unpredictable, but they actually live under a strict system of biological rules and rituals that prevent the kind of violence that is notoriously attributed to humans (Lischinsky and Lin, 2020). Humans use their innate capability for higher-level thinking to intentionally override their natural inhibitions, something very few other mammals can accomplish.
Animal communication is a mixture of dances, sounds, smells, and signals that animals use to tell each other, “I am not an enemy.” Since many species are territorial, these communication tools are vital for preventing unnecessary violence. When it comes to courtship, these communication signals are the difference between mating and murder. For example, the stickleback fish performs an intricate “zigzag dance” to entice a partner (Tinbergen, 2003). If the dance isn’t performed correctly, the interaction stops. Otherwise, there could be a rather violent misunderstanding. When violence does occur, animals use what are called “submission signals” to end it safely (Issa and Edwards, 2006). This survival strategy ensures that both animals can leave the situation safely. Within the animal kingdom, aggression is considered a primary survival tool that helps animals secure food, defend their families, and protect their territory (Lischinsky and Lin, 2020). However, because it is so “conserved,” it is also highly regulated. Natural selection has ensured that animals only use aggression when it is absolutely necessary for survival.
Humans have the same biological foundation for restraint, but we (along with a few others) possess a highly developed prefrontal cortex (Glatz, 2025). This “control center” is responsible for visualizing the future, formulating plans, setting goals, and making complex decisions. It’s social programming throughout thousands of years that has taught us to enact violence for a specific goal, rather than as an instinctual reaction to a threat (Rosell and Siever, 2015). Because we have the ability to plan for the long term, we can also rationalize our behaviors based on our cultural foundations. In layman’s terms, while an animal’s aggression is limited by the immediate drive for survival, human aggression can be rationalized by the stories we tell ourselves.
For centuries, institutionalized systems like “cultures of honor” have taught that a man’s reputation must be defended with violence (Nisbett and Cohen, 1996). In these societies, men learned that failing to retaliate against an insult would lead to a loss of status, essentially programming them to choose vengeance over peace. History is full of “civilized” behaviors, like the public spectacle of the Roman Colosseum or the institutionalized torture of the Inquisition, in which societies rationalized the use of pain as a tool. As long as violence followed a social script, it could be pursued without personal or moral consequences. The result was a history painted red by the blood of millions of victims. High intelligence does not always lead to better behavior; the way a brain is wired matters.
Dolphins are among the most intelligent creatures on Earth. Their brains are massive and incredibly complex. However, their prefrontal cortex is much smaller and very distinctly different from ours (Glatz, 2025). Dolphins live within complex “alliances,” where they use their intelligence to strategize some very poor choices. When a male dolphin wants to mate, he recruits several other males to help him isolate a female from another pod. They attack her and force her into a situation in which she is alone with them. The male dolphins will then take turns mating with the female dolphin and only let her leave after they’ve all finished. An evolved brain without the control of the prefrontal cortex makes impulsive decisions seem like brilliance (Glatz, 2025).
In contrast, let’s look at elephants. They each possess a neocortex and specialized brain cells, called “spindle neurons,” which are linked to empathy and social awareness (Bates et al., 2008). Elephants are known to choose protection over harm, even when it costs them. In one famous case, an elephant who was helping to lift logs refused to lower a heavy log into a hole because a dog was sleeping inside, waiting until the dog moved to complete the task (Bates et al., 2008). Their brains are tuned for social memory and emotional connection, leading them to act as natural protectors.
The human prefrontal cortex may allow for the construction of civilizations, but it also allows us to rationalize and reward cruelty. Ultimately, humans are not the superior species when it comes to behavioral control. We are simply the species most capable of ignoring our own instincts.
References:
Bates, L. A., Lee, P. C., Njiraini, N., Poole, J. H., Sayialel, K., Sayialel, S., Moss, C. J., and Byrne, R. W. (2008). Do Elephants Show Empathy? Journal of Consciousness Studies.
Issa, F. A., and Edwards, D. H. (2006). Ritualized Submission and the Reduction of Aggression in an Invertebrate. Current Biology, 16(22), 2217–2221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2006.08.065
Kyle Glatz. (2025, November 4). Dolphin Brain vs. Human Brain: What Are the Differences? A-Z Animals. https://a-z-animals.com/animals/comparison/dolphin-brain-vs-human-brain-what-are-the-differences/
Lischinsky, J. E., and Lin, D. (2020). Neural mechanisms of aggression across species. Nature Neuroscience, 23(11), 1317–1328. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-020-00715-2
Nisbett, R. E., and Cohen, D. (1996). Culture Of Honor: The Psychology Of Violence In The South (14. print). Westview Press.
Rosell, D. R., and Siever, L. J. (2015). The Neurobiology of Aggression and Violence. CNS Spectrums, 20(3), 254–279. https://doi.org/10.1017/S109285291500019X
Tinbergen, N. (2003). Mating Behavior of Sticklebacks. In The Study of Instinct (Reprinted, pp. 153–162). Clarendon Press.
Beauty is a Beast
a poem by Luna
Tame the shrew then blame the bear.
She’ll choose monsters over most men
who steal kisses and stare.
Beasts of blood, of body, of burden.
Trade one violent end
for a far kinder fall
than the hands of a friend
with needs both wild and small.
Abuse the beauty then lose his mind.
She’ll choose death over a devil
who decries lust as painted blind.
Beasts who riot, who rend, who revel.
Sacrifice one life
for a night of follied fun
and forget she’s his daughter, his equal, his wife.
They’ll spare his soul and then claim she has none.
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