Metalepsis

If it’s used in the right way, I love it, of course! I mean, I used to joke that the goal of a filmmaker is to be Fellini-esque, you know, when your name means something in that way? We often say something was a very Fellini-esque experience. So if you say a film is Cronenbergian… I like that. The thing that does bother me a little bit is “body horror,” because I never use that term! It was a young journalist who invented that term and it stuck, it’s out of my hands. But I would never have thought that what I did was body horror.

~ Patrick Heidmann from, David Cronenberg – The Talks

slip:4uteie54.

I recently managed to get caught up on The Hansel and Gretel Code, a podcast from my friend Curtis Cates. (I started years behind, so that I had 42 hour+ episodes to listen to.) It was so worth it. First off, great podcast on a very interesting to me topic. Also, I learned about the concept of metalepsis.

Reading the Wikipedia page doesn’t really do it justice. But listening to Curtis talk about metalepsis, and in particular unpacking all the context around some innocent seeming word or phrase really made it clear. For example, in certain centuries and in certain circles of well read people, “planing the planks of our coffins” isn’t just an interesting phrase… for those certain people it brought to mind a whole other complex social and political issue complete with its own colorful players.

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Between a rock and a hard place

I really enjoyed Curtis Cates’s episode 14, Transformation can be fun…!.

Lately, I’ve been back to my regular walking, and I’ve started getting serious listening time in. I was delighted to get a chance to hear from Curtis.

(Yes, yes, I’m way waay behind on the Hansel & Gretel Code.)

Like you, my to-listen-to podcast cup runeth over! I’m regularly adding newly-released episodes. But I also have a way of systematically looking through shows’ entire back-catalog. So I’m also, regularly adding very-old episodes.

Yikes!

…and I heard one of Curtis’s sound-bites as I typed that.

Anyway, if you’re already familiar with Curtis’s work, drop back into ep14 of H&G, just for fun. If you’re going “Curtis who?” … start below. And, you’re welcome!

art is personal
and what qualifies or disqualifies something as art is all up to you

~ Curtis Cates, from Kristo.art

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PS: I don’t subscribe to shows; I add episodes one-by-one when I see interesting episodes via my daily RSS-feed reading.

Intuition with Curtis Cates

What are the challenges and opportunities of using different formats, such as podcasting and blogging, to express ideas and connect with an audience?

The conversation explores the connection between intuition and art as a means of personal discovery.

There is an understanding there. But that’s where intuition comes in. Your intuition understands art better than your logical mind does.

~ Curtis Cates (15:00)

The conversation examines the intersection of creativity and personality, with a focus on how personal traits influence the ways we communicate ideas. It touches on the challenges of moving from blogging to podcasting, emphasizing how the written and spoken word require different skills and mindsets. The discussion highlights how preparation, such as scripting, can bridge this gap for certain personality types.

Another key topic is the appreciation of art and the role of intuition in understanding it. The conversation critiques the barriers imposed by overly academic interpretations of art and advocates for a more personal, intuitive connection. This theme extends into the broader idea of connecting to oneself and others through creative expression. Curtis also shares insights into his podcasts and how these projects intertwine with his personal journey.

Takeaways

The role of personality types — The conversation discusses how introversion and extroversion affect creative work and interaction with audiences.

Differences in mediums — Challenges in transitioning from blogging to podcasting reveal key differences between written and spoken formats.

Art appreciation and intuition — The importance of intuition in understanding and enjoying art is emphasized, contrasting with academic approaches.

Connection to self through art — Art is presented as a means to explore and connect with one’s deepest self.

Preparation in podcasting — Scripting and structured preparation are identified as essential tools for certain creators.

Museums as a safe space — A personal connection to museums as comfortable and inspiring places is explored.

Resources

The Hansel and Gretel Code Podcast — A podcast exploring the depth and metaphors in the Hansel and Gretel fairy tale.

Cristo Dot Art Podcast — A podcast featuring conversations with artworks in museums.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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