The whole point of taking pictures is so that you don’t have to explain things with words.
~ Elliot Erwitt
slip:4a1366.
Pictures →
Passion →
With the power of hindsight I can see there was an age of fire. There was a long period—too long, probably—of trying to carve a path through the world. A period of trying to make a dent in the universe. Making my mark. I think it’s telling that all those metaphors involve destruction and defacement. Eventually I see a transition to the age of water. The metaphors are nicer there; flowing, accommodating, and shaping to fit the container.
What do I mean by explorers? I am talking about people who have found and are pursuing a very specific form of passion – I call it the “passion of the explorer.” These people are excited about opportunities to have more and more impact in domains that matter to them. They are constantly seeking new challenges that can help them to learn faster by creating new knowledge that never existed before. They also are actively seeking help from others in addressing these new challenges – they freely acknowledge that they don’t know the answers and that they need help in finding the answers.
~ John Hagel from, From Expert to Explorer
slip:4ujofo1.
Transitions are the difficult times. The wind blows from wildly varying directions. The currents shift. The lighting changes. Grand vistas come into view. More, and different, metaphors.
I can feel my raw power subsiding. Literally. Some days, a 20-minute nap, an hour or so after a nice lunch, is just the most sublime thing. (Not the nap of exhaustion. Not the nap of collapse.) After running the engine with the tachometer near the red-area, it feels nice to settle into the solid, long-haul part of the power curve. More metaphors: A journey. A quest. A culmination. A destination. An end.
ɕ
Tension with Kira Higgs →
What drives individuals to create and engage with projects like podcasting, and how do they navigate the challenges and tensions inherent in the creative process to successfully execute their vision?
Kira Higgs joins Craig to discuss her podcast, “The Void Project,” where her exploration of creativity, learning, and growth unfolds through her self-imposed challenge of producing a limited, 10-episode series.
[…] that’s how the name for me personally, came to be, “The Void Project.” Oh, I’m avoiding this dark void. I’m avoiding this place, I’m afraid of being in. But then I find out, oh my God there’s nothing to be afraid of here. It’s fine. […] It looks like a void but it isn’t.
~ Kira Higgs, 13:54
Kira Higgs and Craig Constantine explore facets of podcasting and personal growth. Kira, discussing “The Void Project,” her 10-episode podcast series, reveals her journey into the world of podcasting. She emphasizes how this venture is a means for her to explore and express her creativity. The project is not just about producing content but is deeply intertwined with her learning process in handling technical aspects like recording and editing. This learning curve is a significant theme, as Kira candidly shares her experiences and challenges in acquiring these new skills.
A central topic that Kira touches upon is the concept of innate desire and creativity. She articulates her belief that human beings are naturally inclined to create and that this impulse should be embraced and nurtured. Her perspective is that true creative endeavors stem from a genuine, innate desire rather than external motivations like societal pressures or competition. This insight forms the basis of her approach to podcasting and creative work in general.
The conversation also touches on the metaphorical significance of the name ‘The Void Project.’ Kira explains that the name symbolizes her confrontation with and exploration of her fears and uncertainties. She describes the project as a journey of facing the ‘void’ – the unknown or feared aspects of her creative and personal life. This exploration leads to surprising revelations and personal growth, as she finds that what initially appeared daunting is, in fact, manageable and not as intimidating as perceived. The podcast becomes a platform for Kira to express these realizations and share her thought process during the pandemic, offering a unique blend of personal narrative and creative expression.
Takeaways
Significance of learning and growth — highlights the process of acquiring new skills in podcasting, such as recording and editing, and the challenges faced along the way.
Facing fears and uncertainties — discusses the metaphorical meaning behind ‘The Void Project,’ representing the confrontation with and exploration of personal fears and uncertainties.
Discovery and personal insights — the project serves as a medium for self-discovery, revealing unexpected insights and leading to personal growth.
Impact of external motivations — touches on the influence of societal pressures and competition, and how these factors differ from true, innate creative desires.
The process of creative expression — underscores the importance of expressing one’s unique voice and experiences through creative projects like podcasting.
Resources
Robert Fritz — mentioned as a friend and mentor to Kira, author of the book, The Path of Least Resistance for Artists (The Structure and Spirit of the Creative Process), focusing on the dynamics of creativity and creation.
https://kirahiggs.com — Kira Higgs’ web site.
(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)
ɕ
January 28, 2024 — #69 →
Reading time: About 5 minutes, 1000 words
Get 7 for Sunday in your inbox. → Subscribe here.
This issue is https://7forsunday.com/69
Dignity →
Today, 7 rhetorical questions for Sunday…
What is necessary for something to continue existing?
Is autonomy necessary?
Is physical integrity (as opposed to “physical dispersion”) necessary?
Does dignity require privacy, which requires autonomy and physical integrity?
Privacy is the key that unlocks the aspects of yourself that are most intimate and personal, that make you most you, and most vulnerable. Your naked body. Your sexual history and fantasies. Your past, present and possible future diseases. Your fears, your losses, your failures. The worst thing you have ever done, said, and thought. Your inadequacies, your mistakes, your traumas. The moment in which you have felt most ashamed. That family relation you wish you didn’t have. Your most drunken night.
~ Carissa Véliz, from Privacy is power
slip:4uaeea4.
When one violates another’s privacy, is that only attacking their dignity?
Is that also diminishing their autonomy?
Is that also attacking their physical integrity?
“But,” some say, “it’s just data.”
ɕ
Work →
No matter how isolated you are and how lonely you feel, if you do your work truly and conscientiously, unknown friends will come and seek you.
~ Carl Jung
slip:4a1365.
Collaboration with John Baker →
What themes or insights emerge from the discussion about the intersection of movement, art, and personal exploration?
John Baker discusses his approach to blending traditional and digital media in art, emphasizing exploration and his love for movement, while exploring the possibility of combining these passions into a sustainable career.
[3 words to describe your practice?] The first one that comes to mind, which is pretty cliche, is: playful. It’s important to be playful and exploring, and not be so serious. Next one is softness. I guess it comes out of being injured in the past— but trying to be softer with movements and softer, gets more gentle in general. Then the third is— I haven’t decided— but collaborative or curious. Usually, with movements, or movement spheres, I like to inquire what other people are exploring.
~ John Baker 30:10
John Baker digs into the intersection of art and movement, exploring how his passion for both disciplines enriches his creative expression. He speaks about his journey in blending traditional and digital media, emphasizing the unique qualities and opportunities each medium offers. John’s approach to art is deeply rooted in exploration and creativity, reflecting his belief in storytelling through both visual and physical mediums. He shares insights on how he navigates the challenges of societal expectations and self-imposed limits while contemplating the integration of his artistic and movement practices into a sustainable career.
John also touches upon his training habits and the significant influence of music on his movement. He describes how different musical genres and rhythms inspire and shape his physical expressions, revealing a deep connection between auditory stimuli and bodily movement. This interplay highlights his holistic approach to creativity, where various elements of life seamlessly blend to inform and inspire his art and movement.
Takeaways
Exploration and creativity — The importance of these elements in both art and movement practices.
Blending media — The use of both traditional and digital media in art.
Career integration — Exploring the idea of combining a love for art and movement into a sustainable career, navigating societal expectations and personal limitations.
Influence of music — How different music genres can inspire movement, showing a connection between auditory stimuli and physical expression.
Resources
@chunbaker on Instagram.
(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)
ɕ
The pendulum →
Late in 2023 I started working on paper to create simple mind–maps around the individual ideas that go into my writing here. Call it nostalgia if you wish, but there’s something delightful about a nice pen and nice paper. I find I have a flurry of bat-like ideas around the central idea. Not all of them make it to the paper; Some are left to flutter right back out of the belfry.
After a while, the remaining bats settle down to roost as my scribbling sputters to a halt. Then there’s a bit of time where I pause (exactly how much varies greatly, sometimes I even surrender, get up and move away from the tablet) before I feel I can shift to the digital realm to begin the writing. That period of pause though is a straight-up struggle. Every time.
“Divergence” refers to opening up your senses and taking in new sources of information from the outside world, such as at the start of a new project. “Convergence” refers to shutting off sources of distraction and narrowing your focus to arrive at an end result.
Together, these two stages form the backbone of creative work going back millennia. In any field, we move like a pendulum back and forth between these two states of mind. Once you learn to see the pattern in your own work, you’ll understand how to flow with the tide of information rather than swim against it.
~ Tiago Forte, from Divergence and Convergence
slip:4ufobo1.
It’s not clear to me that— Actually, no, I’m sure that I cannot intentionally switch from the divergent part of the work to the convergent. I just try to stay in the pause. Eventually, assuming I don’t give up and walk away, the writing feels easier than continuing to think about it. I often wonder why I keep writing on a schedule. It’s torturous. But now I’m thinking that I may have stumbled backwards into a way to push myself more quickly through to the convergent part of writing: If it has a due-date, then there’s a built-in increasing urgency to shut up, sit down… and wait, until the writing is the easiest path.
ɕ
Machines →
If you fall in love with a machine there is something wrong with your love-life. If you worship a machine there is something wrong with your religion.
~ Lewis Mumford
slip:4a1364.
Constraints – with Julie Angel →
What perspectives and approaches can podcast creators adopt from fields like anthropology, filmmaking, and sound design to improve their craft?
Julie Angel describes herself as multi-passionate. She’s a filmmaker, author, podcaster, movement coach and breath-work expert. Julie joins Craig to share her insights on creativity and the transformative power of movement and breathing.
[…] you got to get out of your own way. And for me the sign of a really great conversation, or recording, is at the end of it I’m like— I always ask myself: Was that really good, or like, ‘meh’. And if it was really good, then it’s just like, ‘it was really good!’ Then if someone says, ‘what did you talk about?’ I’m not sure. I don’t know. I was just in it. […] My kind of deconstruction is how did I feel at the end of it. And that’s it.
~ Julie Angel (20:40)
Julie Angel, a filmmaker and parkour coach, describes the intricacies of her creative process and the challenges she faces in her work. She emphasizes the importance of feedback in creative pursuits, advocating for seeking critical perspectives from those who know and love her. This approach, she argues, is vital for maintaining objectivity and ensuring continuous growth in her craft.
Through the conversation, Julie reflects on the nature of creativity, highlighting the paradox of freedom in artistic expression. She recounts experiences where limitless options in filmmaking, contrary to expectations, proved to be daunting rather than liberating. This leads to a broader discussion about the necessity of constraints in fostering creativity, where she points out that limitations often spur innovation and novel approaches to storytelling and artistic expression.
Julie also explores the concept of flow state, particularly in the context of engaging dialogues and creative work. She describes this state as a measure of the quality of her interactions and creative output, where being deeply immersed in the process is a key indicator of success. Her insights extend to the realm of parkour coaching, where she draws parallels between physical movement and mental creativity. Julie underscores the transformative power of parkour, not just as a physical discipline, but as a medium for personal growth and self-expression.
She shares anecdotes and lessons from her coaching experiences, illustrating how parkour transcends physical boundaries and becomes a metaphor for overcoming life’s obstacles. This intertwining of physical and creative agility forms a central theme of the conversation, shedding light on Julie’s multifaceted perspective on life and art.
Takeaways
Creative Feedback — The importance of seeking critical feedback from trusted individuals to maintain objectivity and foster growth.
Limitations in Creativity — How constraints can paradoxically enhance creativity, that having too many options can be overwhelming and less productive for a creative mind.
Flow State in Conversations — Flow state as a key indicator of a successful conversation or recording, where being deeply immersed signifies quality and fulfillment.
Parkour as a Metaphor — How the discipline serves not just as a physical activity but as a metaphor for overcoming life’s challenges, emphasizing personal growth and resilience.
Artistic Freedom versus Structure — The challenges of having complete creative freedom, illustrating how structured limitations can actually spur more innovative and meaningful artistic work.
Interplay of Physical and Mental Agility — The connection between physical movement in parkour and mental creativity, underscoring the parallel skills required in both realms.
Transformative Power of Movement — How movement, specifically through parkour, can be transformative, offering insights into its impact on personal development and self-expression.
Resources
JulieAngel.com — Julie’s website with various free resources, including a movement snacks guide and a crawling quadrupedal movement guide, along with her films, podcasts, and coaching information.
The Curious Midlife — Julie Angel’s podcast available as audio wherever you listen, and on YouTube with video.
Movement of 3 — Julie’s film made with three of her friends: “A film I made with my friends Annty Marais- parkour coach, mover, athlete; Fizz Hood – movement artist, stunt woman and parkour coach, & Shirley Darlington parkour coach with Parkour Generations. Women see. Women Do. Women Move.”
Breaking the Jump.” — Julie’s book about Parkour: “But more than a sport that most jaw-dropped onlookers can hardly comprehend, Parkour is an exploration of movement and a return to our body’s natural ability to run, jump, hang and move with fluidity.”
Ciné Parkour — “A cinematic and theoretical contribution to the understanding of the practice of parkour.”
British filmmaker Shane Meadows is mentioned in relation to his work and approach to filmmaking.
The 5 Obstructions is noted as a documentary featuring filmmaker Lars von Trier.
(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)
ɕ