a lot of this resonates for me. have you come across Matt Cardin's work yet? his whole model of daemonic creativity seems like another form of useful magical thinking.
I believe I've seen his name pop up several times in the Substack notes, but I can't say that I've taken the time to look through his stuff yet. I'll have to make some time for that since it sounds like he's someone you'd recommend.
I'll capitulate a little bit to that magical thinking and mention this. There was a time when reading was a science, and the reading life as much talked about as the rule of prayer is talked of by monastics. To some degree, what comes in, comes out. There's a great article in @CormacJones' archives called Art as Food: which suggests we should cultivate a diet amenable to our aim, whatever that may be.
Bottom line, I definitely am captive to that same strain of thought. Thanks for bringing it up, Daniel. Very interesting reflections.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying artists shouldn't try to enrich their perspectives by reading broadly (or specifically for the matter). Only, I've been guilty of pretending that the act of reading is enough and not putting in the requisite effort of truly grappling with the things I've read, therefore missing out on the formation that should have been effected by my encounter with whatever ideas/imagery/symbolism the piece presented.
What I've gathered from reading your work is that you are the type of person who reads effectively—what you've read has formed you and you retain and employ the beautiful language and images you've uncovered. I often feel like my mind is sieve; I keep lists of books I read year by year, yet looking back, I'd struggle to give an in-depth analysis of most any of them.
I feel the same way. I have massive lists (probably of 2000 books) which I may or may not ever read, but constantly remain at the back of my consciousness while I am actually engaged with a piece of material, and distract me from allowing total engagement. It’s a modern problem, really. If the library in your town 200 years ago had 1000 books, that’s what you had access to, and you could really pull a lot out. My guess is that I retain about 3% of what I read. I deeply sympathize
a lot of this resonates for me. have you come across Matt Cardin's work yet? his whole model of daemonic creativity seems like another form of useful magical thinking.
I believe I've seen his name pop up several times in the Substack notes, but I can't say that I've taken the time to look through his stuff yet. I'll have to make some time for that since it sounds like he's someone you'd recommend.
This one’s so good. 🙌
I'll capitulate a little bit to that magical thinking and mention this. There was a time when reading was a science, and the reading life as much talked about as the rule of prayer is talked of by monastics. To some degree, what comes in, comes out. There's a great article in @CormacJones' archives called Art as Food: which suggests we should cultivate a diet amenable to our aim, whatever that may be.
Bottom line, I definitely am captive to that same strain of thought. Thanks for bringing it up, Daniel. Very interesting reflections.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying artists shouldn't try to enrich their perspectives by reading broadly (or specifically for the matter). Only, I've been guilty of pretending that the act of reading is enough and not putting in the requisite effort of truly grappling with the things I've read, therefore missing out on the formation that should have been effected by my encounter with whatever ideas/imagery/symbolism the piece presented.
What I've gathered from reading your work is that you are the type of person who reads effectively—what you've read has formed you and you retain and employ the beautiful language and images you've uncovered. I often feel like my mind is sieve; I keep lists of books I read year by year, yet looking back, I'd struggle to give an in-depth analysis of most any of them.
I feel the same way. I have massive lists (probably of 2000 books) which I may or may not ever read, but constantly remain at the back of my consciousness while I am actually engaged with a piece of material, and distract me from allowing total engagement. It’s a modern problem, really. If the library in your town 200 years ago had 1000 books, that’s what you had access to, and you could really pull a lot out. My guess is that I retain about 3% of what I read. I deeply sympathize
Thanks for these thoughts. I'm thinking on them.....And happy Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving :)