I have been reading Walden lately, and there's one quote that sticks out in my mind, more than any other:
"Most of the luxuries, and many of the so-called comforts of life, are not only indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind [...] When a man is warmed by the several modes which I have described, what does he want next? Surely not more warmth of the same kind, as more and richer food, larger and more splendid houses, finer and more abundant clothing, more numerous incessant, and hotter fires, and the like [...] there are some that complain most energetically and inconsolably of any, because they are, as they say, doing their duty. I also have in my mind that seemingly wealthy, but most terribly impoverished class of all, who have accumulated dross, but know not how to use it, or get rid of it, and thus have forged their own golden and silver fetters."
Thus, the story of Walden begins, as an adventure into the desire to shed oneself of the fetters of society and mankind that displace us from regular, human activity.
While I won't go into detail into Walden, (for I honestly think Thoreau is a bit of a stuck up hippie) the premise of Walden is something that I think is universal in desire among most serviceable human beings: the desire to communicate with nature in such a way as to better our humanity.
I spent a really nice time up near Mount Forest in Ontario, and had a chance to fish on some very clear waters, muck about in a cave and sit under a waterfall (which has been one of my favourite experiences this year). Alas, I had to return to the big city, to find it unchanged. The people are still unfortunate, the activities here are still fairly benign, and for the most part, I would rather be in a more natural setting.
While I love my friends here, and I love the work opportunities that I have in a city like this, I definitely feel like there is something missing in my life, and I think it is the closeness of nature in my life. As someone who has spent long summers out in the so-called wild, whether in Cold Lake, Alberta, or in Saskatchewan, it makes me realize how much I miss having those natural comforts close to me in my life. Thoreau was right about one thing in regards to being part of the middle class...the heat that you experience from the societal pleasures in life often are the kind of heat that makes life unbearable, not the kind of heat that warms our hearts.
Most of my happiest memories have been in a natural setting, amongst trees, and wildlife, etc. There are still some things in modern society that I enjoy (like the ability to e-mail, or use a map connected to GPS) but more than anything I wonder if my life would be better if I lived somewhere that I didn't have most of these things.
For now, there's not much that I can do except live here. I have a job, I have a life that I've made here, and that's that, as they say. But someday, maybe I'll live somewhere a little more...natural.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Monday, July 16, 2012
TOW: Creativity
You know, my new job requires me to be creative at work. And by creative, I mean really creative. I come up with themes to marketing campaigns, I do graphic design, recently I've become somewhat of a no-name Youtube star for the videos I'm creating , and I edit everything, do all the technical side of things, and tell a story with pictures, videos and words. And I do it all several times a week.
What I realize from doing this is that creativity is very much like a muscle. If you over-exert it, you'll strain or even injure you're ability to be creative. This is essentially every hipster-esque art piece that was trying so hard to be something, it went full circle and went back to sucking. Maybe it could have been really 'real' or 'moving' had it not included every artist reference to everything and its non-committal boyfriend. But, like most works of art, it's trying to say too much, trying to be too much, trying to be 'the artist' before the art. Works of art like this are strained. It's not a healthy piece of art. It's just as unpleasant as watching a bodybuilder lift his max weight. It's all grunt-face and quivering muscles that can barely hold up 350 pounds.
But if you don't exercise you're creativity, you'll lose it. You will be sluggish, unaware, unfeeling to the world around you. You become a consumer, instead of a maker. It's good to consume art and culture, but it's important to make things, to be, to live in the moment that is the 'artist's moment.' It's good to exercise your creativity. It keeps you mentally strong, awake, and feeling good about yourself.
I have been working on a couple projects that are taking a lot of my time, and some days I don't have the creativity, the will power, nor the sleep allowance that allows me to create anything of value. Because creativity requires that I have some kind of energy to give, to infuse into my activities, and when I come home tired or drained, there's not a lot to give. The creative spirit requires nearly boundless energy, drawing from that inner well that always replenishes itself as long as you save time for introspection, reflection, and productive creative activity.
Create, do, be. Unless you are satisfied with a creative piece, it doesn't matter what other people think. You have an obligation to yourself to put that energy in you, in things in the world until they make you smile, until they make you happy, and that you can see in the world, things in yourself that you've always wanted to share. Because the world we live in, the world of constant, nearly suffocating connection, demands of us that we share only the best of ourselves. The masters of our world are always the ones that are creating the content in it, the sights, the sounds the smells, the feelings. It's up to us to curate that content, and to reflect something of ourselves onto the world that can make others know us for who we really are. That's creativity.
What I realize from doing this is that creativity is very much like a muscle. If you over-exert it, you'll strain or even injure you're ability to be creative. This is essentially every hipster-esque art piece that was trying so hard to be something, it went full circle and went back to sucking. Maybe it could have been really 'real' or 'moving' had it not included every artist reference to everything and its non-committal boyfriend. But, like most works of art, it's trying to say too much, trying to be too much, trying to be 'the artist' before the art. Works of art like this are strained. It's not a healthy piece of art. It's just as unpleasant as watching a bodybuilder lift his max weight. It's all grunt-face and quivering muscles that can barely hold up 350 pounds.
But if you don't exercise you're creativity, you'll lose it. You will be sluggish, unaware, unfeeling to the world around you. You become a consumer, instead of a maker. It's good to consume art and culture, but it's important to make things, to be, to live in the moment that is the 'artist's moment.' It's good to exercise your creativity. It keeps you mentally strong, awake, and feeling good about yourself.
I have been working on a couple projects that are taking a lot of my time, and some days I don't have the creativity, the will power, nor the sleep allowance that allows me to create anything of value. Because creativity requires that I have some kind of energy to give, to infuse into my activities, and when I come home tired or drained, there's not a lot to give. The creative spirit requires nearly boundless energy, drawing from that inner well that always replenishes itself as long as you save time for introspection, reflection, and productive creative activity.
Create, do, be. Unless you are satisfied with a creative piece, it doesn't matter what other people think. You have an obligation to yourself to put that energy in you, in things in the world until they make you smile, until they make you happy, and that you can see in the world, things in yourself that you've always wanted to share. Because the world we live in, the world of constant, nearly suffocating connection, demands of us that we share only the best of ourselves. The masters of our world are always the ones that are creating the content in it, the sights, the sounds the smells, the feelings. It's up to us to curate that content, and to reflect something of ourselves onto the world that can make others know us for who we really are. That's creativity.
Monday, July 02, 2012
Sunday, July 01, 2012
TOW: Canada and Racial Diversity
Lately, I've been feeling a bit sluggish mentally. So, I've decided to do myself a favor, and started doing the New York Times crossword puzzle. It's a good exercise, and I'm forcing myself to look up every answer I don't know and research it. One of the answers on the crossword was the poem, "I, Too." by Langston Hughes. Given that it's Canada Day weekend, I thought it would be good to post a political poem.
It's sad to think that less than a hundred years ago, racial segregation existed. In 1910, Woodrow Wilson segregated the Federal Government of the United States. (Say what?) Restaurants could be shut down for serving both black and white people.
Rosa Parks, the woman who wouldn't give up her bus seat for a white person, only happened in 1955. Black people, in my grandparents time, were considered less than people. The Klu Klux clan was practically a political party.
Canada has a rich history of diversity...but this poem makes me think of all the things that still have to happen, and change so that all people can have fair opportunities in our great country. Racism, segregation of populations still exists, especially between white people and immigrants here in Toronto, as well as indigenous and Western Canadians. We have a lot to learn. I hope for change in the future.
It's sad to think that less than a hundred years ago, racial segregation existed. In 1910, Woodrow Wilson segregated the Federal Government of the United States. (Say what?) Restaurants could be shut down for serving both black and white people.
Rosa Parks, the woman who wouldn't give up her bus seat for a white person, only happened in 1955. Black people, in my grandparents time, were considered less than people. The Klu Klux clan was practically a political party.
Canada has a rich history of diversity...but this poem makes me think of all the things that still have to happen, and change so that all people can have fair opportunities in our great country. Racism, segregation of populations still exists, especially between white people and immigrants here in Toronto, as well as indigenous and Western Canadians. We have a lot to learn. I hope for change in the future.
I, Too
I, too, sing America.
I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.
Tomorrow,
I'll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody'll dare
Say to me,
"Eat in the kitchen,"
Then.
Besides,
They'll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed--
I, too, am America.
I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.
Tomorrow,
I'll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody'll dare
Say to me,
"Eat in the kitchen,"
Then.
Besides,
They'll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed--
I, too, am America.
Langston Hughes
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