I'm going to be completely honest: I clicked on this newsletter because I haven't engaged on Substack for ages and I was concerned I'd be forgotten about amongst the masses.
But I am so glad I read this piece fully and absorbed the true meaning of it, not for the sake of engaging, but to actually understand the concept of what is real and that sometimes going back to the basics is what is required in order to make art.
This was such an important newsletter to read. Thank you 💚
Searching for something real also and have begun a series of drawing people reading actual books and writing with pen and paper spotted around the city.
Thanks for the shout out here, Dan, too. Makes me so happy to see my studio highlighted in this way. Craft and analog is what the space is all about!
Dan, you struck upon a topic that keeps coming up this week, about the importance of solitude and removing oneself from the constant barrage of information on our technology. I've had several conversations about this, most recently yesterday with Sarah's oral surgeon before she was swept away to the operating room. He and the two anesthesiologists and I were reminiscing about VHS tapes and cassettes and then compact discs. Her surgeon lamented, "I remember 8 tracks!" And we all sort of took a few seconds of silence after admitting that having a hand-held computer that instantly delivers whatever we want isn't so great, after all.
What I'm saying is that I do believe more people are realizing this, it's just that we've become so attached and accustomed to our smartphones and digital devices.
I start every morning with at least an hour of quiet. I journal, read my devotional, and take my dog Daisy for a walk through our local park. I cannot overemphasize how grounding this is. It's my anchoring practice in an otherwise hectic and frenzied schedule and society.
By the way, our family read The Wizard of Oz and then watched the movie together a few months ago! My 8yo daughter Veronica loved it, too, and Sarah is dressing up as Dorothy for Halloween!
This is a lovely piece, thank you, Dan. You articulated things I’ve been feeling for some time. I’ve always been a community-oriented writer, drawn to conversation and communal wisdom. But these days I’m more interested in creating space for readers to find their own words and make their own discoveries rather than filling it with mine. This sometimes feels like writer’s block! But your piece goes a long way toward reframing that.
Yes! @Asha . . . " creating space for readers to find their own words and make their own discoveries." A perfect description for workshops I facilitate. I hadn't thought of the process in this way. Gives me something to think about!
Too many choices and not enough quiet indeed. one of my favorite things about shabbat is the 25 hours of offline quiet I get every week… it’s barely enough but it’s something.
I was talking last night with a screenwriting friend of mine who is working on writing, producing, and directing some of her own shorts and then placing them on YouTube. I asked her if she worries about trying to be consistent, which is the biggest thing you hear about when trying to build a platform online with all these digital tools. She said, "YouTube will be my portfolio. I'm trying to be a director, not a YouTuber." And I think I'm gonna be thinking about that for a while.
Good post, Dan. We loved Perfect Days, too. I just posted about the Superman movie, and our dog, Petey, who looks (and acts) like Krypto. Your kids might like to see him in action. I'm attaching the link, but with some trepidation.
A friend of mine hadn't been home in 40 years. He noticed how dramatically the housing developments had increased, and then he noticed that although there were a lot more houses, there were no people. No kids playing, no people on porches. Everyone (including me) is on their devices. But we seek the authentic, and the real. For me, cooking, writing, and my real-life Krypto help. Here he is:https://bethpeyton.substack.com/p/truth-justice-and-the-american-way
You said so well what so many feel! The more, more, more drumbeat of online creator life is simply unsustainable. And if we only listen to the drum, we miss out on the tactile, real things that inspire. Now I'm off to hang some 👖 on my office wall. 😁
Love this piece! As a child psychiatrist there is often magic revealed when I leave more silence after I ask a question. Our world is tooo noisy and we need more quiet for reflection and also to bring out deeply held or shameful secrets. Sometimes a well-meaning therapist feels discomfort and tries to rescue the child too soon. Thanks for this insight, Dan.
Love this post, Dan. The journey of embodiment (or re-embodiment) is one I've been on for a few years, and, at times, feels so antithetical to today's digital world. Thinking about how to bring 'analog' content to a digital platform is a really nice creative content mindset shift.
I appreciate this message so much. As others have said, it's important to have "the quiet" amongst the "noise." I especially like "focus on your unique voice." And I adore hearing and seeing what your son is doing. I enjoy his creativity.
I’ve recently been thinking a lot about how restriction or discoveries made certain eras of art feel distinctive. The development of perspective in renaissance art, the cheap printing during the last century that often only allowed for two colors: black and something else. Now we have infinite possibilities, but somehow it makes the work harder to connect with. We are missing the shared pain of restriction.
Dan, I loved Perfect Days too for its subtle but strong message of a guy who made an engaged and fulfilled life. Cleaning toilets poetic? How can that be? But the film showed how that job, and his other pursuits, made for a rich experience. Love the Bondi Blue iMac—I had one of the first MacPlus models at work in 1986, and even with its cramped screen, it seemed like a miracle machine.
1. That was MY blue Mac, and I'm ALMOST as sentimental about it as I am about my Royal high school typewriter.
2) When I was 15 or so, I played the Wicked Witch at a Y and had to intro myself to the children beforehand, or else some of them would wet themselves. A powerful character for the very young.
3) When I was 40 and back in school, I read Salman Rushdie's BFI (British Film Inst.) monograph on the film and its effect on him in India. It's worth seeking out. A large part of it is also in the NYer online. In it, he challenges the message at the end of the story. At first, I was shocked.
I'm going to be completely honest: I clicked on this newsletter because I haven't engaged on Substack for ages and I was concerned I'd be forgotten about amongst the masses.
But I am so glad I read this piece fully and absorbed the true meaning of it, not for the sake of engaging, but to actually understand the concept of what is real and that sometimes going back to the basics is what is required in order to make art.
This was such an important newsletter to read. Thank you 💚
Aw, thank you so much Zoe!!!!
ironic that your original motivation led you to something that speaks to the beauty of escaping that.
Agree
Searching for something real also and have begun a series of drawing people reading actual books and writing with pen and paper spotted around the city.
Thanks for the shout out here, Dan, too. Makes me so happy to see my studio highlighted in this way. Craft and analog is what the space is all about!
Thanks Sam!
Dan, you struck upon a topic that keeps coming up this week, about the importance of solitude and removing oneself from the constant barrage of information on our technology. I've had several conversations about this, most recently yesterday with Sarah's oral surgeon before she was swept away to the operating room. He and the two anesthesiologists and I were reminiscing about VHS tapes and cassettes and then compact discs. Her surgeon lamented, "I remember 8 tracks!" And we all sort of took a few seconds of silence after admitting that having a hand-held computer that instantly delivers whatever we want isn't so great, after all.
What I'm saying is that I do believe more people are realizing this, it's just that we've become so attached and accustomed to our smartphones and digital devices.
I start every morning with at least an hour of quiet. I journal, read my devotional, and take my dog Daisy for a walk through our local park. I cannot overemphasize how grounding this is. It's my anchoring practice in an otherwise hectic and frenzied schedule and society.
By the way, our family read The Wizard of Oz and then watched the movie together a few months ago! My 8yo daughter Veronica loved it, too, and Sarah is dressing up as Dorothy for Halloween!
Aw, thank you for sharing all of this. I really appreciate your reflections. I hope the surgery went well and recovery is fast!
Thanks, Dan! Sarah is home resting and eating well, which is a good sign. :)
Yay!!!!
This is a lovely piece, thank you, Dan. You articulated things I’ve been feeling for some time. I’ve always been a community-oriented writer, drawn to conversation and communal wisdom. But these days I’m more interested in creating space for readers to find their own words and make their own discoveries rather than filling it with mine. This sometimes feels like writer’s block! But your piece goes a long way toward reframing that.
Yes! @Asha . . . " creating space for readers to find their own words and make their own discoveries." A perfect description for workshops I facilitate. I hadn't thought of the process in this way. Gives me something to think about!
Aw, thank you Asha!
Too many choices and not enough quiet indeed. one of my favorite things about shabbat is the 25 hours of offline quiet I get every week… it’s barely enough but it’s something.
Thank you Gila!
I was talking last night with a screenwriting friend of mine who is working on writing, producing, and directing some of her own shorts and then placing them on YouTube. I asked her if she worries about trying to be consistent, which is the biggest thing you hear about when trying to build a platform online with all these digital tools. She said, "YouTube will be my portfolio. I'm trying to be a director, not a YouTuber." And I think I'm gonna be thinking about that for a while.
Interesting! Thanks Sarah.
Good post, Dan. We loved Perfect Days, too. I just posted about the Superman movie, and our dog, Petey, who looks (and acts) like Krypto. Your kids might like to see him in action. I'm attaching the link, but with some trepidation.
A friend of mine hadn't been home in 40 years. He noticed how dramatically the housing developments had increased, and then he noticed that although there were a lot more houses, there were no people. No kids playing, no people on porches. Everyone (including me) is on their devices. But we seek the authentic, and the real. For me, cooking, writing, and my real-life Krypto help. Here he is:https://bethpeyton.substack.com/p/truth-justice-and-the-american-way
Thank you for sharing Petey! And for these reflections Beth. Hope you have a great day.
You said so well what so many feel! The more, more, more drumbeat of online creator life is simply unsustainable. And if we only listen to the drum, we miss out on the tactile, real things that inspire. Now I'm off to hang some 👖 on my office wall. 😁
Ha! Thanks Carmen!
Love this piece! As a child psychiatrist there is often magic revealed when I leave more silence after I ask a question. Our world is tooo noisy and we need more quiet for reflection and also to bring out deeply held or shameful secrets. Sometimes a well-meaning therapist feels discomfort and tries to rescue the child too soon. Thanks for this insight, Dan.
Thank you Lally!
I loved the movie Perfect Days. Thank you for the inspiration to focus on my true voice.
Thank you Elizabeth!
Love this post, Dan. The journey of embodiment (or re-embodiment) is one I've been on for a few years, and, at times, feels so antithetical to today's digital world. Thinking about how to bring 'analog' content to a digital platform is a really nice creative content mindset shift.
Thank you Kristine!
I appreciate this message so much. As others have said, it's important to have "the quiet" amongst the "noise." I especially like "focus on your unique voice." And I adore hearing and seeing what your son is doing. I enjoy his creativity.
Thanks Marlene!
Thanks for sharing such poignant thoughts.
I’ve recently been thinking a lot about how restriction or discoveries made certain eras of art feel distinctive. The development of perspective in renaissance art, the cheap printing during the last century that often only allowed for two colors: black and something else. Now we have infinite possibilities, but somehow it makes the work harder to connect with. We are missing the shared pain of restriction.
Thank you Audry.
Love this. Well put ♥️
Thank you Sue!
Dan, I loved Perfect Days too for its subtle but strong message of a guy who made an engaged and fulfilled life. Cleaning toilets poetic? How can that be? But the film showed how that job, and his other pursuits, made for a rich experience. Love the Bondi Blue iMac—I had one of the first MacPlus models at work in 1986, and even with its cramped screen, it seemed like a miracle machine.
Thanks Tom!
1. That was MY blue Mac, and I'm ALMOST as sentimental about it as I am about my Royal high school typewriter.
2) When I was 15 or so, I played the Wicked Witch at a Y and had to intro myself to the children beforehand, or else some of them would wet themselves. A powerful character for the very young.
3) When I was 40 and back in school, I read Salman Rushdie's BFI (British Film Inst.) monograph on the film and its effect on him in India. It's worth seeking out. A large part of it is also in the NYer online. In it, he challenges the message at the end of the story. At first, I was shocked.
Thank you Elena!