The Albatross Hung
Greetings and salutations.
I have recently been thinking. And as we all know, that is not necessarily news, let alone good news, but I believe, opiniona and all, I can stay out of trouble... for a short while.
I have been thinking about the state of things. Yes, again, this is probably not news to anyone. It seems like I am constantly criticizing the world around me, sometimes harshly, mostly bluntly. But, I feel a certain need to rant.
You see, connections are beginning to come my way. Humble ones, albeit, but I feel like at least some of my hard work has removed the albatross from my neck, so to speak. I feel like Lermontov on the verge of proving his love... without the pistols, shoot-out, blood, pain or death. Nevertheless, I feel care-free-- although perhaps I should be more cautious. I have, at least close to me, an exemplar who might take it upon himself to be a key into a door into a hallway into a... well, you get the picture. That is, I might have a way into an industry I was beginning to think impenetrable.
That said, I would like to question something... and I figure, what better place to publish this question than here, where I can return with foresight and see if the question is silly, downright naive, or well placed.
This question is simple: why is it that people in the entertainment industry fear the association with the novice? Amateurs flock together... professionals flock together... but why is it that professionals do not risk time with amateurs? I realize how annoying a complete allowance to neophytes would prove... their petulant pleas for reading my "newest poem about my cat, Fluffy, who I feel deep within my heart is my long-lost brother reincarnated!" There is a certain sense that people try to be uncomfortably "unique", and that can sometimes be a good thing... but seriously, Coleridge and Wordsworth got together at a time when Wordsworth's career was less than stellar. Coleridge had faith in the younger Wordsworth, even though (in my opinion) the younger's poetry had much to learn from the flamboyant and extravagant "rock star" poet. Nevertheless, the two harvested a rich relationship, full of turmoil, and yes, the two eventually ceased the fervid and animated friendship they once had, but 'tis better to love then lost than to never have loved at all, and I would believe the same is of friendship.
That said, I understand the mathematics involved are not quite the same as they were in the period of Coleridge and Wordsworth. For instance, screenplay writers opening up their hearts to the new guy would probably have an overwhelming flood of manilla envelopes stuffed with query letters (at best) and stacks of full scripts (at worst) to wade through. And, unlike the days of Coleridge, it would not be highly educated people, fluent in ancient Greek, Latin, German, and possibly French. The group would not be the effervescent and sophisticated gentility (already, the word "gentleman" has descended into the depths of filthy magazines catered to the degredation of women... oops, sorry, we live in a new age... let me rephrase that... filthy magazines catered to the degredation of "sexually liberated" women who flock to please men...). No longer are the days when one would simply walk over to one's friends house, stay for a bit of playground chemistry, have a cucumber sandwidge, and discuss the latest critique of Humes and the newest understanding of Immanuel Kant.
The round-table today is mostly concerning war, poverty, Paris Hilton's newest engagement (or possibly porn), and whether or not Tom Cruise is a nutjob (for the record, if you want my opinion, capital Nutjob). Not to say that the first few (before and not including Paris Hilton) are not relevant and in need of discussion... but we have bypassed sophistication for a coffee-quick fix. We do not want to read philosophy because it slows us down. For what? Hell if we know! Why are you in such a rush? "Because my time is worth money." Do you need more money? "Hell yeah!" Are you really getting it by rushing out the door without a book to read while waiting for the bus? "Not really..." Could you use a few extra minutes to sacrifice intelligent rapore? "Hell yeah!" Do you value communication? "I think it terribly important." Do you attempt to further your opinion? Are you willing to debate issues that are not "life and death", in order to get further into the depths of humanity, and to understand how we reach "life and death" situations? "Hell no, I got a life and death situation! TAX SEASON IS COMING!"
*sigh*
What people do not realize is that they are hurrying past, without looking back, but they do not really know where they are hurrying to... the important thing is just that they hurry on. The most visceral metaphor I've heard is the description of America as passengers on a rowboat, desperately trying to leave their home behind, yet the more they paddle, the more fervid their desire to move move MOVE, the more they move backward... and as they refuse to look backward, they do not really, truly understand where they are going.
Take a moment. Breathe. And know this: if you rush, you will bypass everything... but if you stop, ask yourself "what do I want to know? What do I want to do?" and then find that knowledge, or at least begin by questioning yourself and saying "I wonder..." or if you simply do what you want to do, what is in your heart rather than on your mind's worry, perhaps you will be surprised where you go... and you won't even loose that much time for the deep breath and the contemplation.
Read the dictionary for cool words. Not only do they impress, but they also increase your perspicacity and verbal dexterity. "But my time is worth money, I can't waste it on trivial games." Have you ever lost a business deal because of a miscommunication? Have you ever felt at a loss to describe a certain quality you were trying to sell? Perhaps had you just relaxed, taken a deep breath, you would have thought of it.
Life is like trying to open a door. You've all experienced it. You can do it one of two ways: 1) you can calmly walk up to the door, casually insert your key, turn the knob and stroll right in. Or you can choose #2-- rush to jam the key in the slot, miss the slot, drop your keys, pick them up, get the rings tangled in your fingers, turn them the wrong way and end up wasting more time in the long run.
Those who walk casually do not fumble. Do not procrastinate. Put the keys in the lock, but do not rush.
In the immortal words of a slack-jawed yokel on a plaque I read at my volunteer job, "the hurrier I go, the behinder I get."
I have recently been thinking. And as we all know, that is not necessarily news, let alone good news, but I believe, opiniona and all, I can stay out of trouble... for a short while.
I have been thinking about the state of things. Yes, again, this is probably not news to anyone. It seems like I am constantly criticizing the world around me, sometimes harshly, mostly bluntly. But, I feel a certain need to rant.
You see, connections are beginning to come my way. Humble ones, albeit, but I feel like at least some of my hard work has removed the albatross from my neck, so to speak. I feel like Lermontov on the verge of proving his love... without the pistols, shoot-out, blood, pain or death. Nevertheless, I feel care-free-- although perhaps I should be more cautious. I have, at least close to me, an exemplar who might take it upon himself to be a key into a door into a hallway into a... well, you get the picture. That is, I might have a way into an industry I was beginning to think impenetrable.
That said, I would like to question something... and I figure, what better place to publish this question than here, where I can return with foresight and see if the question is silly, downright naive, or well placed.
This question is simple: why is it that people in the entertainment industry fear the association with the novice? Amateurs flock together... professionals flock together... but why is it that professionals do not risk time with amateurs? I realize how annoying a complete allowance to neophytes would prove... their petulant pleas for reading my "newest poem about my cat, Fluffy, who I feel deep within my heart is my long-lost brother reincarnated!" There is a certain sense that people try to be uncomfortably "unique", and that can sometimes be a good thing... but seriously, Coleridge and Wordsworth got together at a time when Wordsworth's career was less than stellar. Coleridge had faith in the younger Wordsworth, even though (in my opinion) the younger's poetry had much to learn from the flamboyant and extravagant "rock star" poet. Nevertheless, the two harvested a rich relationship, full of turmoil, and yes, the two eventually ceased the fervid and animated friendship they once had, but 'tis better to love then lost than to never have loved at all, and I would believe the same is of friendship.
That said, I understand the mathematics involved are not quite the same as they were in the period of Coleridge and Wordsworth. For instance, screenplay writers opening up their hearts to the new guy would probably have an overwhelming flood of manilla envelopes stuffed with query letters (at best) and stacks of full scripts (at worst) to wade through. And, unlike the days of Coleridge, it would not be highly educated people, fluent in ancient Greek, Latin, German, and possibly French. The group would not be the effervescent and sophisticated gentility (already, the word "gentleman" has descended into the depths of filthy magazines catered to the degredation of women... oops, sorry, we live in a new age... let me rephrase that... filthy magazines catered to the degredation of "sexually liberated" women who flock to please men...). No longer are the days when one would simply walk over to one's friends house, stay for a bit of playground chemistry, have a cucumber sandwidge, and discuss the latest critique of Humes and the newest understanding of Immanuel Kant.
The round-table today is mostly concerning war, poverty, Paris Hilton's newest engagement (or possibly porn), and whether or not Tom Cruise is a nutjob (for the record, if you want my opinion, capital Nutjob). Not to say that the first few (before and not including Paris Hilton) are not relevant and in need of discussion... but we have bypassed sophistication for a coffee-quick fix. We do not want to read philosophy because it slows us down. For what? Hell if we know! Why are you in such a rush? "Because my time is worth money." Do you need more money? "Hell yeah!" Are you really getting it by rushing out the door without a book to read while waiting for the bus? "Not really..." Could you use a few extra minutes to sacrifice intelligent rapore? "Hell yeah!" Do you value communication? "I think it terribly important." Do you attempt to further your opinion? Are you willing to debate issues that are not "life and death", in order to get further into the depths of humanity, and to understand how we reach "life and death" situations? "Hell no, I got a life and death situation! TAX SEASON IS COMING!"
*sigh*
What people do not realize is that they are hurrying past, without looking back, but they do not really know where they are hurrying to... the important thing is just that they hurry on. The most visceral metaphor I've heard is the description of America as passengers on a rowboat, desperately trying to leave their home behind, yet the more they paddle, the more fervid their desire to move move MOVE, the more they move backward... and as they refuse to look backward, they do not really, truly understand where they are going.
Take a moment. Breathe. And know this: if you rush, you will bypass everything... but if you stop, ask yourself "what do I want to know? What do I want to do?" and then find that knowledge, or at least begin by questioning yourself and saying "I wonder..." or if you simply do what you want to do, what is in your heart rather than on your mind's worry, perhaps you will be surprised where you go... and you won't even loose that much time for the deep breath and the contemplation.
Read the dictionary for cool words. Not only do they impress, but they also increase your perspicacity and verbal dexterity. "But my time is worth money, I can't waste it on trivial games." Have you ever lost a business deal because of a miscommunication? Have you ever felt at a loss to describe a certain quality you were trying to sell? Perhaps had you just relaxed, taken a deep breath, you would have thought of it.
Life is like trying to open a door. You've all experienced it. You can do it one of two ways: 1) you can calmly walk up to the door, casually insert your key, turn the knob and stroll right in. Or you can choose #2-- rush to jam the key in the slot, miss the slot, drop your keys, pick them up, get the rings tangled in your fingers, turn them the wrong way and end up wasting more time in the long run.
Those who walk casually do not fumble. Do not procrastinate. Put the keys in the lock, but do not rush.
In the immortal words of a slack-jawed yokel on a plaque I read at my volunteer job, "the hurrier I go, the behinder I get."
posted by Shannon | 3:44 PM
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