Just ordered Timequake from my library- reading the synopsis, “everyone, including you must live the decade between February 17, 1991 and February 17, 2001 over again” intrigued me. My son, Nicholas was born February 17, 1991! Oh, to live these years over again…
Aug 18, 2023·edited Aug 18, 2023Liked by Austin Kleon
Oh man, that Rilke quote hits the mark for me this week, thanks.
And other unsolicited pool listening recommendation, if you haven't found this already—Written In Their Soul: The Stax Songwriter Demos. SEVEN AND A HALF HOURS!
I resisted this at first but since they're _songwriter_ demos, they're a little more fleshed out than say, a band demo where they're trying to sort more things out. (I mean, the writer is trying to sell the song after all.) But they're also still pretty loose and since it's Stax—nuff said.
I especially like the be 'good date' idea this week, and writing for one person. I try and take that approach, even for my newsletter - I'm sure my six readers really appreciate it! :-D
And Jung again - why does he have so many truisms?
Jung is so good -- I downloaded an .epub of his collected works and had a heck of a time just plugging in different words in the search bar and seeing what came up
Ooh! Where in Austin did you get a refurbished tape deck? My father just moved into a new house and sent me a box of my old tapes, also including my college radio show!
Look up Space Baby Audio — Henry sometimes has refurbed decks for sale. You could also grab one in a goodwill and he could probably fix it up. Not terribly cheap but he does good work, I think. Of course, if you just want to listen and don’t have a big system you want to hear then through, Sony still sells little boom boxes with CD players and tape decks for $80
I'm going to chime in about the 'be a good date' idea. Loved that and started me wondering if this is a good idea for visual artists? I hear so much and also agree with the idea that making good art has to come from painting what you love, not for other people. But if Kurt is right then maybe I should be painting what I love and thinking about my ideal art patron....who would that be? What do you think?
One thing to be said right away is that painting is nonverbal -- when Vonnegut is talking about being a good date, I think he’s thinking of verbal communication -- telling jokes, entertaining, etc. painting to me seems more about an exploration of subject and material.. but then, I’m not a painter!
Yes, good point! As a painter I think I can apply the idea to my thoughts about my own art. I feel my abstract art tells a story and I create it to a latge degree to be seen. Each individual who views it makes up their own story and meaning about it which I love. Just as we do as readers. So if I think about it, it rings true for me to be a good date as a painter...be engaging, interesting, have a sense of humour (and don't take yourself too seriously, such a turn off!).
I also discovered that the Hurdy Gurdy is a real and very old instrument! I listened to this Donovan song as a child and I thought it was a great nonsense song. Lol https://youtu.be/Ec729nmajwc
I enjoyed chasing the multiple links down the rabbit hole of reading with a pen(cil) in hand. I'm a gel pen lover, but I know I would equally enjoy the buttery blackwing. I'm an ebook reader (borrowing ebooks from the library to fuel my short story reading) and "marginaliate" in notes and then transfer to my commonplace book. I appreciate the invitation to ask a question, because I have one. Like many of you here, I spend hours of my day when I can in some form of self-expression (reading, arting, running, cooking) or daydreaming about doing so when I can't. I've been wondering (and then spending hours chasing my own elusive rabbit down the hole) what role does art, both the creation and consumption of it, play in human psychological self-development? And, particularly, how does art support our transformation during the most challenging moments of life? I've followed this quick-footed, bouncing rabbit through underground passages to what seems to be a clearing... a small but flowering field called the psychology of fiction. In doing so, I continue to stumble over rocks which when overturned lead to yet more resources. I'm also exploring my own roots by journaling to get some first-hand intel on what is happening to me when I art (or read or listen to music or write, etc). So, here is my post with my question(s). While Rilke suggests that maybe I should let my questions simmer until I've lived enough life to be ready for the answers, I'm keen on hearing the experiences of others to get closer to the center of this labyrinth. Thank you! https://open.substack.com/pub/thingsnoonecaresaboutbutme/p/lots-of-questions-but-mostly-why?r=789qr&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Just ordered Timequake from my library- reading the synopsis, “everyone, including you must live the decade between February 17, 1991 and February 17, 2001 over again” intrigued me. My son, Nicholas was born February 17, 1991! Oh, to live these years over again…
Oh, that Jane Kenyon poem—be still my heart. Thanks for the Vonnegut reminder, I downloaded it from Libby. Happy weekend. Great list as always Austin!
Oh man, that Rilke quote hits the mark for me this week, thanks.
And other unsolicited pool listening recommendation, if you haven't found this already—Written In Their Soul: The Stax Songwriter Demos. SEVEN AND A HALF HOURS!
I resisted this at first but since they're _songwriter_ demos, they're a little more fleshed out than say, a band demo where they're trying to sort more things out. (I mean, the writer is trying to sell the song after all.) But they're also still pretty loose and since it's Stax—nuff said.
https://open.spotify.com/album/4sxVckgHUzaQUbRfvVc96a
Holy crap YES PLEASE
When I saw two of my favorite Smiths songs, I thought, well now I *must listen* to the entirety of this goodness! What a beautiful way to time travel.
I especially like the be 'good date' idea this week, and writing for one person. I try and take that approach, even for my newsletter - I'm sure my six readers really appreciate it! :-D
And Jung again - why does he have so many truisms?
Jung is so good -- I downloaded an .epub of his collected works and had a heck of a time just plugging in different words in the search bar and seeing what came up
Ooh! Where in Austin did you get a refurbished tape deck? My father just moved into a new house and sent me a box of my old tapes, also including my college radio show!
Look up Space Baby Audio — Henry sometimes has refurbed decks for sale. You could also grab one in a goodwill and he could probably fix it up. Not terribly cheap but he does good work, I think. Of course, if you just want to listen and don’t have a big system you want to hear then through, Sony still sells little boom boxes with CD players and tape decks for $80
that Pricemaster video is AMAZING!
Check out the novel "The Music Shop," by Rachel Joyce. All about the merits of Vinyl, plus lots of good music notes and references.
Deadloch is fannnntastic
I'm going to chime in about the 'be a good date' idea. Loved that and started me wondering if this is a good idea for visual artists? I hear so much and also agree with the idea that making good art has to come from painting what you love, not for other people. But if Kurt is right then maybe I should be painting what I love and thinking about my ideal art patron....who would that be? What do you think?
One thing to be said right away is that painting is nonverbal -- when Vonnegut is talking about being a good date, I think he’s thinking of verbal communication -- telling jokes, entertaining, etc. painting to me seems more about an exploration of subject and material.. but then, I’m not a painter!
Yes, good point! As a painter I think I can apply the idea to my thoughts about my own art. I feel my abstract art tells a story and I create it to a latge degree to be seen. Each individual who views it makes up their own story and meaning about it which I love. Just as we do as readers. So if I think about it, it rings true for me to be a good date as a painter...be engaging, interesting, have a sense of humour (and don't take yourself too seriously, such a turn off!).
MTYOAP!
Yes to Jane Kenyon and Donald Hall's last two books, "Essays after Eighty" and "A Carnival of Losses" are both brilliant.
Love those books
Deadlock is my fave show so far this year. I love it and have discovered Sir Jude an excellent musician. I’m watching it second go around now .https://open.spotify.com/track/0Vr1Zsl9RGeQJNCfMN0YtF?si=UuvNFwL0Q2CT0cR-O8Yotg&context=spotify%3Aalbum%3A52trvTsISiPgAAo7yEHvga
I also discovered that the Hurdy Gurdy is a real and very old instrument! I listened to this Donovan song as a child and I thought it was a great nonsense song. Lol https://youtu.be/Ec729nmajwc
I enjoyed chasing the multiple links down the rabbit hole of reading with a pen(cil) in hand. I'm a gel pen lover, but I know I would equally enjoy the buttery blackwing. I'm an ebook reader (borrowing ebooks from the library to fuel my short story reading) and "marginaliate" in notes and then transfer to my commonplace book. I appreciate the invitation to ask a question, because I have one. Like many of you here, I spend hours of my day when I can in some form of self-expression (reading, arting, running, cooking) or daydreaming about doing so when I can't. I've been wondering (and then spending hours chasing my own elusive rabbit down the hole) what role does art, both the creation and consumption of it, play in human psychological self-development? And, particularly, how does art support our transformation during the most challenging moments of life? I've followed this quick-footed, bouncing rabbit through underground passages to what seems to be a clearing... a small but flowering field called the psychology of fiction. In doing so, I continue to stumble over rocks which when overturned lead to yet more resources. I'm also exploring my own roots by journaling to get some first-hand intel on what is happening to me when I art (or read or listen to music or write, etc). So, here is my post with my question(s). While Rilke suggests that maybe I should let my questions simmer until I've lived enough life to be ready for the answers, I'm keen on hearing the experiences of others to get closer to the center of this labyrinth. Thank you! https://open.substack.com/pub/thingsnoonecaresaboutbutme/p/lots-of-questions-but-mostly-why?r=789qr&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Winnicott’s pretty good on this, as is Jung. I’ll see if I can whip up some stuff for you.