"The ecology of writing might be irreparable, at least in the kind of timescale that I would like. My corrective efforts have made zero impact."
Well, considered I presented your work for at least three people that did like it and are not even prone to read in a foreign language, and I myself was vehemently "influenced" (hate this word oh god) by reading these essays almost every other week, you have already made your impact.
Which off course transcends metrics and whatlike. You have given voice to a silent minority, but a huge minority still. The ones who still appreciate arts, commuting, walking, living life to the fullest. You shaped your readers to create their craft, and in the future the seeds of our practice will show their ripeness to the world :)
Yeah, I've got no pithy encouragement to give. Because you're only saying it like it is. Culture is losing, and art can't keep up. We've lost as surely as screens will subsume the world. I try not to be a Luddite about this, but I am despite myself.
I copied this excerpt to my Notes last week, waiting for the comments of your next newsltter to post it: Entertainment, etymologically speaking, means “to maintain, to keep someone in a certain frame of mind.” Art, however, changes us.
Except he's doing it with the credibility of a neuroscience PhD and a media outlet. Which gives me hope. He talks about people writing to him after reading it because they decided to change their consumption habits thanks to that piece. So maybe there are a few souls escaping. Whether they will find you in particular is a good question.
Meanwhile, we continue pushing our boulders, eh Tom? To work is a privilege, and Sisyphus seems happier than most people I come across today.
A fantastic article which, like all good writing, neatly expresses my own rumination on the topic. Entertainment has exhausted us, we are all lonely and searching and by God, does this newsletter capture it. If we give up, we are just more minds destroyed by the matrix. We have to keep going, keep writing, keep thinking, keep loving. In spite, you inspire.
So few people are capable of looking in the mirror at themselves like this.
“Perhaps on some bone-deep level I know that you are only entitled to your labour and not its fruits. Perhaps the labour alone is enough.” This may just be my favorite all-time quote of yours.
Keep pushing forwards brother. You constantly inspire me with your work. The lack of change may be discouraging now, but you’re just getting the snowball rolling. It’s going to get bigger and bigger. Inevitable, as a certain friend of ours might say.
Secondly, I think many people are aware of what you say, and would even agree.
The problem is that the ecosystem has ensnared us, entrapped us, as you describe.
Beyond basic necessities like food - but perhaps soon that, too - this social media ecosystem is the pipeline for love and belonging.
I think many want to do what you are doing, but can't rationalize the sacrifice. Perhaps it's an austerity that haven't toughened up enough to embrace yet.
To provide a cosmic gloss, the purpose of your archetype often does thankless labor.
But the idea is to live by example, and through that example, set a precedent that will change people's minds - perhaps in unseen ways.
That's about as much I can say on the matter in one go - it is a complex one, and perhaps the preeminent question of our era.
I look forward to reading your newsletters each week but cannot become a paid subscriber because I am struggling myself. Are devoted fans enough? I think so. My newsletter is "me sharing my research about a topic I am interested in" and my handful of subscribers are friends and family who subscribe not because of the content but because they are interested in what interests me. I too "never have achieved anything of real note in my life." This morning I spent an hour watching forty white birds sitting on a black roof--doing absolutely nothing. They weren't building better nests, creating new things, or making anything. I am like a white bird sitting on the roof of your writing about to fly away.
"The ecology of writing might be irreparable, at least in the kind of timescale that I would like. My corrective efforts have made zero impact."
Well, considered I presented your work for at least three people that did like it and are not even prone to read in a foreign language, and I myself was vehemently "influenced" (hate this word oh god) by reading these essays almost every other week, you have already made your impact.
Which off course transcends metrics and whatlike. You have given voice to a silent minority, but a huge minority still. The ones who still appreciate arts, commuting, walking, living life to the fullest. You shaped your readers to create their craft, and in the future the seeds of our practice will show their ripeness to the world :)
I know you like quotes from The Wire, so here goes:
"We’re Building Something, Here, Detective. We’re Building It From Scratch. All The Pieces Matter." — Lester
https://youtu.be/jmhdaDgB-44
Yeah, I've got no pithy encouragement to give. Because you're only saying it like it is. Culture is losing, and art can't keep up. We've lost as surely as screens will subsume the world. I try not to be a Luddite about this, but I am despite myself.
I copied this excerpt to my Notes last week, waiting for the comments of your next newsltter to post it: Entertainment, etymologically speaking, means “to maintain, to keep someone in a certain frame of mind.” Art, however, changes us.
Because it sounded like you. And the author made a case that you've been going on about forever: https://thebaffler.com/salvos/enter-the-supersensorium-hoel
Except he's doing it with the credibility of a neuroscience PhD and a media outlet. Which gives me hope. He talks about people writing to him after reading it because they decided to change their consumption habits thanks to that piece. So maybe there are a few souls escaping. Whether they will find you in particular is a good question.
Meanwhile, we continue pushing our boulders, eh Tom? To work is a privilege, and Sisyphus seems happier than most people I come across today.
A fantastic article which, like all good writing, neatly expresses my own rumination on the topic. Entertainment has exhausted us, we are all lonely and searching and by God, does this newsletter capture it. If we give up, we are just more minds destroyed by the matrix. We have to keep going, keep writing, keep thinking, keep loving. In spite, you inspire.
Just go on...
Amazing piece Tom.
So few people are capable of looking in the mirror at themselves like this.
“Perhaps on some bone-deep level I know that you are only entitled to your labour and not its fruits. Perhaps the labour alone is enough.” This may just be my favorite all-time quote of yours.
Keep pushing forwards brother. You constantly inspire me with your work. The lack of change may be discouraging now, but you’re just getting the snowball rolling. It’s going to get bigger and bigger. Inevitable, as a certain friend of ours might say.
Tom, first of all: solid piece.
Secondly, I think many people are aware of what you say, and would even agree.
The problem is that the ecosystem has ensnared us, entrapped us, as you describe.
Beyond basic necessities like food - but perhaps soon that, too - this social media ecosystem is the pipeline for love and belonging.
I think many want to do what you are doing, but can't rationalize the sacrifice. Perhaps it's an austerity that haven't toughened up enough to embrace yet.
To provide a cosmic gloss, the purpose of your archetype often does thankless labor.
But the idea is to live by example, and through that example, set a precedent that will change people's minds - perhaps in unseen ways.
That's about as much I can say on the matter in one go - it is a complex one, and perhaps the preeminent question of our era.
I look forward to reading your newsletters each week but cannot become a paid subscriber because I am struggling myself. Are devoted fans enough? I think so. My newsletter is "me sharing my research about a topic I am interested in" and my handful of subscribers are friends and family who subscribe not because of the content but because they are interested in what interests me. I too "never have achieved anything of real note in my life." This morning I spent an hour watching forty white birds sitting on a black roof--doing absolutely nothing. They weren't building better nests, creating new things, or making anything. I am like a white bird sitting on the roof of your writing about to fly away.