613.
Principles
Living
Elevator TV
It is very hard to begin writing sometimes. It is like trying to sprint from a standing position. It's easier just to not to and get distracted. My latest technique is to begin with the distractions and then veer into writing. Plus background noise becomes the extended famlly. A good black and white 50's movie will do. However, sometimes they are not on. The Bourne Identity seems to do the trick. So do some grade C SciFi flicks.. Sometimes I can glide into writing if I'm set up, and sometimes I can diss what I'm watching as inferior and redirect onto the page.
Lately, do to a dearth of movies that are not too 'loud,' I'll turn on one of the cop shows. Let's see, there's NCIS, Bones, Law and Order (a couple of versions) and maybe a couple of others. One went off the air. If I'm stuck on the writing, I can turn around and look at the drama. They are like elevator music. Tight, well shot, no motions wasted, one can tell good money was spent on them. They are packaged well. Plus, I can look at them from time and it as if I've missed nothing. It's all one story.
The other day I asked myself which is the best one? After pondering such a world shattering question, an answer came to me. They are all the same. The particulars differ. One uses forensics, one is a special unit of the FBI, one deals with sex crimes in New York, but all are similar in technique. They are tight and carefully constructed. If you wonder why we aren't painting 'Mona Lisa's' it's because all the life energy has gone into these programs. Each is an institution too, supporting many families. They are formula and keep the status quo going. As with elevator music, they don't threaten but stay in the background while titillating the senses just enough to keep you watching.
No real questions are asked, no real answers are given. When some issue is approached seriously, it becomes homogenized and pasteurized. We know what that does to real food don't we. So in essence it doesn't matter which I watch. They all connect me with the culture today as it is, which means I'm touching something with my feet while my mind reaches for what is above and takes some risks.
Principles
Living
Elevator TV
It is very hard to begin writing sometimes. It is like trying to sprint from a standing position. It's easier just to not to and get distracted. My latest technique is to begin with the distractions and then veer into writing. Plus background noise becomes the extended famlly. A good black and white 50's movie will do. However, sometimes they are not on. The Bourne Identity seems to do the trick. So do some grade C SciFi flicks.. Sometimes I can glide into writing if I'm set up, and sometimes I can diss what I'm watching as inferior and redirect onto the page.
Lately, do to a dearth of movies that are not too 'loud,' I'll turn on one of the cop shows. Let's see, there's NCIS, Bones, Law and Order (a couple of versions) and maybe a couple of others. One went off the air. If I'm stuck on the writing, I can turn around and look at the drama. They are like elevator music. Tight, well shot, no motions wasted, one can tell good money was spent on them. They are packaged well. Plus, I can look at them from time and it as if I've missed nothing. It's all one story.
The other day I asked myself which is the best one? After pondering such a world shattering question, an answer came to me. They are all the same. The particulars differ. One uses forensics, one is a special unit of the FBI, one deals with sex crimes in New York, but all are similar in technique. They are tight and carefully constructed. If you wonder why we aren't painting 'Mona Lisa's' it's because all the life energy has gone into these programs. Each is an institution too, supporting many families. They are formula and keep the status quo going. As with elevator music, they don't threaten but stay in the background while titillating the senses just enough to keep you watching.
No real questions are asked, no real answers are given. When some issue is approached seriously, it becomes homogenized and pasteurized. We know what that does to real food don't we. So in essence it doesn't matter which I watch. They all connect me with the culture today as it is, which means I'm touching something with my feet while my mind reaches for what is above and takes some risks.
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