A crazy wet/warm/windy summer has flown by, now replaced by a strangely hot autumn - at least here in Denmark, where I’m seated. Welcome back to another season of historically rooted real-life stories from around the world and thoughts circling the creative process of writing non-fiction texts. This season, I’ve combined all inputs in one post, naming it ‘On History and Writing’. I hope you'll enjoy it. If you have any questions or comments, please email me.
Until next time - Majken xx
UFOs
If you believe that life exists in other parts of the universe than ours - or in places outside the universe, if you can imagine such a thing - you’ve pretty much always been seen as cuckoo. I believe I belong to those who think it sounds odd if planet Earth should be the only place in the whole space of infinity upon which some sort of life exists. But what do I know? I haven’t been fortunate enough to see a UFO, UAP or other strange objects, for that matter (except for those unidentifiable things that tend to end up in our kitchen sink). Therefore, I get curious when I hear people telling stories about their strange experiences in this department.
The subject was brought up once again this summer when witnesses from the US Navy and secret intelligence explained about flying objects behaving in strange ways and how the US government owns biological material recovered from these flying crafts, material which is non-human(!) The subject of aliens has existed through the ages. Some people believe that some of the (most) impressive constructions we know were built by extraterrestrial intelligence, like the pyramids in Egypt and Stone Henge in England. On a more local level, there are UFO enthusiasts who spend their lives thoroughly studying mysterious phenomena, like the Danish man we meet in the documentary The UFO-Truth.
Beautiful Documentary on Inuit History (and Future)
The (c. 12 minutes long) documentary Three thousand, made by Montreal-based Inuk artist Asinnajaq, is a beautiful film collage on Inuit history. It takes you from the old days when Inuits met the modern world - e.g. Inuit children attending the contemporary school system - to Inuits and their (climate-friendly) traditional housing and clothing as part of a digital, modern, present-day world. The film mixes nearly a century-old footage with the latest visual effects, such as animation and abstract, organic-patterned colour photos. The photos, illustrations and narration - spoken with a soft voice - give the documentary a dream-like feeling. However, stop reading this and watch the fantastic Three thousand yourself.
What's Your Faith?
A Polish music and comedy trio has made the personality test: What’s Your Faith? If you go out for a walk on a cool day, they ask, what would you wear on your head? Deer antlers? A crown of thorns? Foil? Or a crash helmet? Or how about if you were going on holiday, how would you travel? In a tank, you built yourself? With an F-18, a motorcycle, or a fast car? Or would you go on bare, bleeding feet? Take the test and find out whether your faith is Tom Cruise-ism, reptilianism (it’s colourful and original, but it cuts you off a bit from interpersonal relations) or if your faith is suffering and, as they say, you struggle and sweat to deserve happiness.
Being a Creative - Creative Living
Earlier this year the American record executive and record producer Rick Rubin came out with the book “The Creative Act: A Way of Being”. It's a book that he himself describes as “an invitation to further inquiry: looking deeper, zooming out, or in. Opening possibilities for a new way of being.”
It has been such a thrill to me reading Rubin’s scribbles, and I’ve taken dozen of notes. I’ll share some of his words here; perhaps his reflections speak to you too?
Everyone Is a Creator
“Those who do not engage in the traditional arts might be wary of calling themselves artists. They might perceive creativity as something extraordinary or beyond their capabilities. A calling for the special few who are born with these gifts.
Fortunately, this is not the case.
Creativity is not a rare ability. It is not difficult to access.
Creativity is a fundamental aspect of being human. It’s our birthright. And it’s for all of us.
Creativity doesn’t exclusively relate to making art. We all engage in this act on a daily basis.
To create is to bring something into existence that wasn’t there before. It could be a conversation, the solution to a problem, a note to a friend, the rearrangement of furniture in a room, a new route home to avoid a traffic jam.
What you make doesn’t have to be witnessed, recorded, sold, or encased in glass for it to be a work of art. Through the ordinary state of being, we’re already creators in the most profound way, creating our experience of reality and composing the world we perceive.”
Now, reading this, I came to think of Elizabeth Gilbert’s book “Big Magic”, who seems to be on the same page as Rubin when it comes to 'art'. Or 'to bring forth the treasures that are hidden within us'. Or 'creative living', as Gilbert more broadly calls it - which she, in short, describes as a life driven more strongly by curiosity than by fear. In the first pages of her book, she comes up with this announcement:
“…while the paths and outcomes of creative living will vary wildly from person to person, I can guarantee you this: A creative life is an amplified life. It’s a bigger life, a happier life, an expanded life, and a hell of a lot more interesting life. Living in this manner - continually and stubbornly bringing forth the jewels that are hidden within you - is fine art, in and of itself.”
[Rick Rubin, “The Creative Act: A Way of Being”, 2023, p. 1. & Elizabeth Gilbert, “Big Magic - Creative Living Beyond Fear”, 2015, p. 9+12]
** Thanks for reading!
** Please feel free to share.
** First time you read this? You can subscribe here.
** Blog Post Archive - Have a look.
‘On History and Writing’ is a blog post from me to you in which I share historically rooted real-life stories from around the world - told in exciting and creative ways - along with thoughts that circle the creative process of writing non-fiction texts. I post an email once every fortnight. If you're not already a subscriber, you are welcome to join the list. Thanks for reading! Majken xx
댓글