Author: klgonnerman

My First Epic Adventure

by klgonnerman, posted in Literature

We know that literature sparks latent dreams and shows us windows to worlds we will never know personally. Even the simplest children’s book can do this. So I was sad to hear this week of the passing of Richard Adams, author of Watership Down.

Watership Down was one of my favorite books. I haven’t read it in many years, but it captured me completely. I read and re-read it. At that time, I didn’t connect that it was an allegory for epic tales like The Aeneid or The Odyssey. 

Looking back now, it’s no surprise that I was captivated by the adventure of the rabbits, searching for a new warren that would be safe from humans, complete with their own language and customs. Given the world today, I could benefit from a reread.

Here’s one of my favorite passages, one that captures just how universal the messages of Watership Down were, not just for children but for all of us.

“When Marco Polo came at last to Cathay, seven hundred years ago, did he not feel–and did his heart not falter as he realized–that this great and splendid capital of an empire had had its being all the years of his life and far longer, and that he had been ignorant of it? That it was in need of nothing from him, from Venice, from Europe? That it was full of wonders beyond his understanding? That his arrival was a matter of no importance whatever? We know that he felt these things, and so has many a traveler in foreign parts who did not know what he was going to find. There is nothing that cuts you down to size like coming to some strange and marvelous place where no one even stops to notice that you stare about you.”

Today, even in the most familiar of places, I find myself staring about me, wondering at the strange world we now occupy. I feel like a traveler in foreign parts. Perhaps Watership Down would have some tips for me.

And isn’t that what art is for, after all?

Layers, No Lines

by klgonnerman, posted in TV

Hip Hop Evolution on Netflix is worth a watch, whether you’re a hip hop fan or not. Since many of the greats are still alive, it’s a conversation between mentors and mentees, full of great storytelling, interesting people, and takeaways relevant to any kind of creative effort. The first episode left me with plenty to think about.

First, it’s  a story of innovation and inspiration. Each person gets asked where their inspiration sprouted from, and some of the answers are surprising. For example, have you ever heard of Pigmeat Markham? I hadn’t, but apparently he inspired DJ Hollywood, arguably one of the fathers of hip hop (emphasis on arguably, see point 2 below!). Inspiration is contagious, and it doesn’t matter what the subject. In times like these, we should all surround ourselves with stories of inspiration and innovation.

Second, it reminds me that no progression is linear in the real world. Hip hop history is full of contention, with different players identified as the most influential, different traditions being considered more fundamental to the evolution. Controversy means people care. It also belies the fact that innovation – whether in a musical tradition or in a tech company – never goes in a straight trajectory. Rather, progress happens like a series of small explosions. Most of the time, we don’t recognize them when they happen. When I’m discouraged, it’s important to remember that steps forward, back, and around are all part of progress.

Finally, the episode made me think of 8th grade earth science class and those striated rocks whose stripes each represent a layer of history. The hip hop tradition, as with many artistic traditions, seems like a striated rock, built over time and on the shoulders of those who came before them.

A single episode of TV filled me with inspiration, an appreciation for the unpredictable nature of progress, and a reminder of the importance of history and our mentors. And isn’t that what art is for?

Flex the Imagination

by klgonnerman, posted in Uncategorized

Dixit is a board game, but I treat it like a stroll for the imagination. The image includes three of my favorite cards, hard to pick out of the huge stack of equally fascinating mini artworks. Some are disturbing, others whimsical. Some are entirely up to interpretation. I especially like the details that can add layer on layer of nuance if you take the time to notice.

I use the cards as writing prompts, picking randomly from the deck. It’s like a strange little art gallery right at my fingertips. Turns my imagination into silly putty as I stretch to keep up with each little card. Quite a workout.

Even board games can be a source for creativity, a spark for more art. And isn’t that what makes art so amazing?

 

Wonder Full

by klgonnerman, posted in Uncategorized

‘Tis the season of overwhelm. So I reach for grounding. One place I consistently find it is in the words of Abraham Joshua Heschel.

Heschel was a Jewish theologian and philosopher who escaped the Holocaust, helped in the movement to free Soviet Jews, and played a large role in the Civil Rights movement. He famously marched on Selma alongside Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. As a person, he sounds amazing. As a philosopher, he speaks directly to me.

Here are just a few quotes that simultaneously ground and inspire me.

“Our goal should be to live life in radical amazement. ….get up in the morning and look at the world in a way that takes nothing for granted. Everything is phenomenal; everything is incredible; never treat life casually. To be spiritual is to be amazed.”

“The primary purpose of prayer is not to make requests. The primary purpose is to praise, to sing, to chant. Because the essence of prayer is a song, and man cannot live without a song.

Prayer may not save us. But prayer may make us worthy of being saved.”

“Remember that there is meaning beyond absurdity. Know that every deed counts, that every word is power…Above all, remember that you must build your life as if it were a work of art.”
Every deed counts. The world is full of wonder, if we see it that way. We can build our lives as if they were a work of art — with compassion, amazement, and meaning.
Yes, I can see a path forward if I can stay grounded in this.

What Do We Know?

by klgonnerman, posted in Uncategorized

Alicia Keys’ latest album, Here, came out a couple weeks before the election. Listening then, I loved it. Listening now, I am grateful for it. It’s beautiful, stripped down to its bones, and just what we need.

My favorite song is More than We Know, which I have been known to play on a loop. It’s not an anthem a la Kelly Clarkson or Katy Perry, but it’s my anthem right now.