Status:
Friend Roo came over today for a chat and a catch-up. Talked about making creative work in a manageable way and how I might learn to do things differently. Came away with some good ideas which I’m going to try and try out.
Somewhat related to this, I found myself thinking about hypertext novels which were a thing about 25 years ago – I remember Geoff Ryman’s 253 being pretty interesting (you can read the original website here) – but nothing really came of them. The closest legacy I can think of is going on a Wikipedia binge where you follow links and wind up reading about things you’d never have deliberately looked up. There’s an effectively infinite number of ways to connect all the pages on Wikipedia yet all of those connections can create a logical narrative.
There’s also the concept of the Memex, which came up in that HyperCard video. And the more contemporary idea of the Digital Garden. Apps like Obsidian work in this way and while they’re marketed as knowledge banks I’m kinda interested in how they could be used for something more… interesting.
Overnight listening:
Reading:
Looking:
- Laboratory of Lust: the disturbing genius of erotica pioneer Félicien Rops - his painting, The Temptation of Saint Anthony, is quite astonishing and I’m mildly obsessed with the woman walking her pig. Plenty more of his work on Wikipedia.
- Horizons and highways: Franco Fontana’s stunning photographic experiments - reminded me of a few things I’ve tried in the past (none of which look this good, of course, but we can dream).
Watching:
- David Wengrow: The History of Human Civilization (2:00:32) - a long two hour interview with the co-author of The Dawn of Everything which I thoroughly enjoyed and got a lot out of. If you’re pushed for time the section from 15 to 37 minutes on the Indigenous enlightenment is the meat of the thing and why I think these ideas are vital to how we see ourselves as humans. But the whole thing is great. See also Paul Raven’s extensive notes. I like his appraisal of Wengrow: “Measured and thoughtful he may be, but he’s also quietly confident—the air of someone who has done the reading, had the arguments, and refined his position carefully. An academic of the old school, one is tempted to say.”
- Ants Pants: Building a 20ton log splitter (2:08:23)