Bit late getting to read this one unfortunately, but I've already forwarded it to my Father and my friends. You've managed to articulate the reasoning behind the Soaring Twenties idea beautifully, so I'd like to get as many people on board with the idea as possible.
"There is a bias inherent in the present (and probably inherent in all the presents of the past, if you get what I mean) that now is, by definition, the greatest time ever and that the future must by necessity be even better."
Agree with you, I think the idea is most prevalent among the ultra-competitive, somewhat obnoxious, hustle culture types, usually followed by "There is literally no competition bro!".
They do have a point - it's never been easier to stand out and "get ahead", because the bar has been set quite low - but I fall more on your side of the argument. As you mentioned, when it comes to the essential virtues - civility, ethics etc, we are far behind across the board.
That being said, I'm hopeful that the Soaring Twenties will bring about a resurgence of those values - judging by the traction that "How to be a man" 'content' is getting the message is resonating, even if it's still a bit rough and ready.
"So strip away the subsequent myth-making of the biographers and you can see that these artists were talented, enthusiastic, often bellicose dreamers who had a vision and a commitment. No different then, at least potentially, than the kind of young artists and writers and thinkers who I interact with everyday."
Not expressed anywhere near often enough, despite the obsession with their idiosyncratic routines and practices. They may have been 'weird' people, but still flesh and blood same as the rest of us.
One of the most worrying practices, and something I've discussed at length with my mother (also a Doctor, a GP) who has prescribed the medication many times, is treating 'hyperactive' children with ADHD medication. A lot of these kids just need more tools for expression and time outside, not to be numbed with pills.
Same goes for antidepressants, although I've yet to be convinced they aren't necessary entirely for severe cases, having had a cousin of mine come back from having been on the brink of perishing entirely thanks to the medication.
But the obvious example is someone like Poe - would we have had his incredible body of work if had opted for Prozac instead of poetry?
How many kids are being handed pills instead of paper and numbing their emotions instead of expressing them?
"Our Paris is the Internet. Our Paris is DM groups and Discord channels and Telegram chats. It is Zoom calls and podcasts, newsletters and message boards."
Genius, wonderfully unique take on this.
"But you can ‘flex’ by taking a carefully staged photo of your beach-bronzed leg next to a limited edition hardback of a novel by a cult author. And if your ego must play such games, you can at least help an artist out along the way if they have a physical artefact to sell you."
This right here is going to be the next big trend I feel. Branding is absolutely enormous in the e-commerce and fashion sphere. Brands that represent micro-niches are thriving and growing enormously, and consumers are moving away from the big generic fashion brands and more toward something they feel represents them, specifically. Brands as a means of expression really.
I think the art world is going to be the same, going more and more niche as people compete over who can find the undiscovered gems that most accurately reflect the tastes of the character they're trying to portray. Whatever that says about our image-focused generation doesn't matter if it means that artists are being supported at the end of the day.
Beautiful message at the end too. Corny, but true.
Quick question, where, if anywhere, do you feel will be the physical hives of artistic activity for the Soaring Twenties? The equivalent of Paris in the 20s, or London in the 60s for example.
I’ve always been turned off by that ‘there is no competition, bro’ business mindset. Now, in art I truly do believe that there is no competition. In fact I don’t believe in competition generally, other than with the previous version of yourself.
The problem with the ‘no competition, bro’ mentality you are describing is that it sees everyone else as a potential rival. It sees life as zero sum which is the definition of scarcity thinking.
And from this comes a gleeful revelling in the ills of the world. More people obese? Less competition. Education failing children? Less competition. People being turned into Netflix bingeing phone zombies? Less competition.
Just buy stocks in these community killing corporations and F the greater good. Anything for a quick buck to fill the hole in your soul.
Gleelfully smirking at so-called NPCs is toxic thinking.
See, a great Society is built on a foundation of great culture and art. Great art needs great audiences. And everything that undermines people’s health, attention span, and general sense of wonder and humanity makes them a less savvy, receptive and switched on audience member. (Don’t forget that all creators also consume media to master their art so this applies to everyone)
We rise or fall together. I believe in wealth and abundance and beauty. But I want to earn those things through my own merit, not because all of my ‘competition’ have been psychologically and physically hobbled from the jump.
There’s a difference between winning and losing the least. There’s no thrill or honour in the latter for me.
Anyway. That touches on just one of the many, many great points you brought up in your wonderful response, Conor. I’ve gotten about 10 different essay ideas from it, as is usually the case.
Thanks as always and I look forward to hearing from you again next time,
I completely agree with you, and I think getting rid of those feelings of superiority is one of the most important things for a "winner" in life to do.
Competition in general is a good thing for society as a whole, it forces everyone to be better to raise their game. The fastest way to improve is to surround yourself with those who are slightly better than you in my opinion.
Not so far ahead that it's demoralizing, and not those you're significantly in front of as that lends itself to complacency.
"See, a great Society is built on a foundation of great culture and art. Great art needs great audiences. And everything that undermines people’s health, attention span, and general sense of wonder and humanity makes them a less savvy, receptive and switched on audience member. (Don’t forget that all creators also consume media to master their art so this applies to everyone)
We rise or fall together. I believe in wealth and abundance and beauty. But I want to earn those things through my own merit, not because all of my ‘competition’ have been psychologically and physically hobbled from the jump.
There’s a difference between winning and losing the least. There’s no thrill or honour in the latter for me."
This right here is just beautifully put, and I'm adding it to my notes immediately. The whole response is very well articulated, thank you for taking the time to write it out Tom.
You leave me unconfortable here Thomas... I usually have something to say, something to add to your weekly newsletters, but this one leaves my speechless. I don't see anything of value to add, I felt like you said it all, in even better words than I could.
The fall of the gatekeepers (good thing) and the atomization of society (less of a good thing) might indeed profit the artist within the coming decade. You made a good point regarding History, and I think that the artists - GenZ or millenials - that will thrive will be the ones who believe there is more than cautionary tales and dust to be found there. They will be the ones with the strength and curiosity to immerge themselves in the past and bring back from its depths the forbidden gems that the gatekeepers kept hidden from us all along. And by transmuting this raw and old material, they'll be able to create the gold of our generation. I except many writers and artists to be "rediscovered" within the next years. And after a long enough time, the small tribes born from the atomization of society and the internet-era will progressively merge together and create the schools of thought of tomorrow.
I only had that thought the other day after I finished Steppenwolf by Hesse and found out that he was largely ignored outside of Germany for a few decades despite being a Nobel Prize Winner until the Beat generation discovered him and he became enormously popular again. It's an interesting one to think about.
Oh yeah, many authors and artists fit that description. Possibly the most known of all (and heartbreaking) is Lovecraft: he died in the 1930s in misery, convinced he was a washed up loser and nowdays he is possibly one of the most known and appreciate authors in the world. His influence is evident in nearly every science-fiction and horror art form.I find it both depressing and ecouraging. But this ambivalence is the price of art I guess
Keep your day job, write as purely as you can and try not to be downhearted by your lack of ‘discovery’ is what I tell myself. The art life as barbell strategy.
This way there is no depression at the lack of ‘fame’
There’s probably a newsletter in these concepts if I flesh them out. Dialogue always brings new ideas doesn’t it?
I couldn’t agree more, Sebastien. Your ‘rediscovery’ idea is a very interesting thought. All art movements have influences and spiritual forebears. I wonder who ‘ours’ will be, I wonder who will be resurrected. I wonder also who I myself should try and play a hand in resurrecting?
Very good food for thought there.
As you brilliantly put it there is more to be found in history than cautionary tales and dust.
Amazed at the weekly art you create. It deserves wider distribution and syndication. We should give it a try. There have to be many "Furys" out there that would receive it as passionately. Well done Tom.
Thank you Steve. I know my potential audience is much bigger than it is at present. But I’m in no rush, I’m building my skillset and build word of mouth the right way. When people are ready they will arrive.
I’m a big believer in that old Last Psychiatrist phrase ‘if you are reading it, it’s for you’.
And I believe that as the Soaring Twenties kicks in and things blossom after the upcoming storm before the calm, as it were, then many more people will find that these essays for them.
It’s now simply a question of patience and perseverance.
Again, I appreciate your kind words and regular presence here, Steve.
Tom, your essays inspire, plain and simple. Thank you.
I echo Fury in that I felt this piece, viscerally. I've long sought the motivation to contribute my own verse to this powerful play rather than follow along enviously. All I've lacked is the impetus. Here's to The Soaring Twenties!
Motivation is a tricky subject. You need some impetus for your art to have energy but I don’t think you can simply will it to happen.
I think- without sounding too esoteric- that your intuition sense when the timing is right. I’ve sensed this so strongly of late that I’ve spontaneously leapt into action, so to speak.
So I guess the key, with art or with anything, is to be in a state of preparation and practice, to at least keep things ticking over so that when you get hit by then inspiration you will be able to capitalise.
If this essay or anything else has been a catalyst in such feelings then take that energy and go, go, go.
Shit another fucking banger. Ngl, One of the best newsletters I get in my inbox, and I sub to almost everyone. This is mb also speaking bout the quality, or rather soul, of the others, which they apparently lack. Just seeing this, cuz I read yours.
But the energy was off the charts in issue 13, I FELT it, brimming with the chi as I write this, now. You had lots of cool concepts I haven read before, of the top of my head: soaring twenties (lol ofc), the rhyming rather than repeating of history, the cool one was: Paris is the DMs and such.
But I think overall you put in words what I've been feeling, tingling, too. I couldnt, and quite, put my finger on it. I smelled it in the air, so to say.
That, Now's our Chance.
Strip away the legend, and the legends were just flesh and blood.
That said, Nows the time for our Legends. Our legends to be born.
This notion struck me as I read the passage of World war one and the flu and Yet there was an Apparent Moveable Feast. They put their stamp on history, to make it such, to spin it in that way, and we now see it as such. The Legend. The Roaring, and The Twenties.
People will now. This is our time.
Even if on our deathbed, we didn't leave that mark we intended.
We at least shot for the stars, something, something that was more than mundanity, and the ratta race, and the normie filth.
Great essay Tom. Thank you for elaborating on the topic. Paris is the Internet. How about the cafes and studios of the Soaring Twenties artists? Do you mean behind-the-scene of artists? Looking forward to your next essay.
Thanks for stopping by Celeste, great to hear from you.
If the internet is the equivalent of ‘Paris’- the city where the artists of the Lost Generation lived- then each twitter subculture, telegram group, discord channel and even email exchange has the potential to be a ‘cafe’ so to speak. A place to dream, scheme, discuss and create.
And like a cafe they are open to all. And it it possible to start your own. Everyone’s welcome. Anything’s possible.
Thank you for your reply. I definitely can see that Instagram DM as one of the cafes too. It is now the main place that I go deep on topics about Money Twitter and a tiny bit of business and everything in between with new friends on Instagram. I am also planning to invite people to do written interviews for my newsletter in DM.
That’s a great idea. My current viewpoint is that newsletters and so on are becoming replacements for the supplements and arts sections of Sunday newspapers.
If I am right then there will be a demand for book and film reviews, interviews with creators, features, analysis and so on as well as the actual art itself. Written interviews would be a great part of this. I have been making similar moves towards this myself.
I have been planning to analyse on art as I start to see a pattern of what I like in terms of art. It may take me some time to do that as I collect ideas.
It may be a great way to help people relax and read for pleasure more.
All this rosy 20s business needs a splash in the face of Turchin elite overproduction.
Bit late getting to read this one unfortunately, but I've already forwarded it to my Father and my friends. You've managed to articulate the reasoning behind the Soaring Twenties idea beautifully, so I'd like to get as many people on board with the idea as possible.
"There is a bias inherent in the present (and probably inherent in all the presents of the past, if you get what I mean) that now is, by definition, the greatest time ever and that the future must by necessity be even better."
Agree with you, I think the idea is most prevalent among the ultra-competitive, somewhat obnoxious, hustle culture types, usually followed by "There is literally no competition bro!".
They do have a point - it's never been easier to stand out and "get ahead", because the bar has been set quite low - but I fall more on your side of the argument. As you mentioned, when it comes to the essential virtues - civility, ethics etc, we are far behind across the board.
That being said, I'm hopeful that the Soaring Twenties will bring about a resurgence of those values - judging by the traction that "How to be a man" 'content' is getting the message is resonating, even if it's still a bit rough and ready.
"So strip away the subsequent myth-making of the biographers and you can see that these artists were talented, enthusiastic, often bellicose dreamers who had a vision and a commitment. No different then, at least potentially, than the kind of young artists and writers and thinkers who I interact with everyday."
Not expressed anywhere near often enough, despite the obsession with their idiosyncratic routines and practices. They may have been 'weird' people, but still flesh and blood same as the rest of us.
One of the most worrying practices, and something I've discussed at length with my mother (also a Doctor, a GP) who has prescribed the medication many times, is treating 'hyperactive' children with ADHD medication. A lot of these kids just need more tools for expression and time outside, not to be numbed with pills.
Same goes for antidepressants, although I've yet to be convinced they aren't necessary entirely for severe cases, having had a cousin of mine come back from having been on the brink of perishing entirely thanks to the medication.
But the obvious example is someone like Poe - would we have had his incredible body of work if had opted for Prozac instead of poetry?
How many kids are being handed pills instead of paper and numbing their emotions instead of expressing them?
"Our Paris is the Internet. Our Paris is DM groups and Discord channels and Telegram chats. It is Zoom calls and podcasts, newsletters and message boards."
Genius, wonderfully unique take on this.
"But you can ‘flex’ by taking a carefully staged photo of your beach-bronzed leg next to a limited edition hardback of a novel by a cult author. And if your ego must play such games, you can at least help an artist out along the way if they have a physical artefact to sell you."
This right here is going to be the next big trend I feel. Branding is absolutely enormous in the e-commerce and fashion sphere. Brands that represent micro-niches are thriving and growing enormously, and consumers are moving away from the big generic fashion brands and more toward something they feel represents them, specifically. Brands as a means of expression really.
I think the art world is going to be the same, going more and more niche as people compete over who can find the undiscovered gems that most accurately reflect the tastes of the character they're trying to portray. Whatever that says about our image-focused generation doesn't matter if it means that artists are being supported at the end of the day.
Beautiful message at the end too. Corny, but true.
Quick question, where, if anywhere, do you feel will be the physical hives of artistic activity for the Soaring Twenties? The equivalent of Paris in the 20s, or London in the 60s for example.
Great post as always, all the best.
I’ve always been turned off by that ‘there is no competition, bro’ business mindset. Now, in art I truly do believe that there is no competition. In fact I don’t believe in competition generally, other than with the previous version of yourself.
The problem with the ‘no competition, bro’ mentality you are describing is that it sees everyone else as a potential rival. It sees life as zero sum which is the definition of scarcity thinking.
And from this comes a gleeful revelling in the ills of the world. More people obese? Less competition. Education failing children? Less competition. People being turned into Netflix bingeing phone zombies? Less competition.
Just buy stocks in these community killing corporations and F the greater good. Anything for a quick buck to fill the hole in your soul.
Gleelfully smirking at so-called NPCs is toxic thinking.
See, a great Society is built on a foundation of great culture and art. Great art needs great audiences. And everything that undermines people’s health, attention span, and general sense of wonder and humanity makes them a less savvy, receptive and switched on audience member. (Don’t forget that all creators also consume media to master their art so this applies to everyone)
We rise or fall together. I believe in wealth and abundance and beauty. But I want to earn those things through my own merit, not because all of my ‘competition’ have been psychologically and physically hobbled from the jump.
There’s a difference between winning and losing the least. There’s no thrill or honour in the latter for me.
Anyway. That touches on just one of the many, many great points you brought up in your wonderful response, Conor. I’ve gotten about 10 different essay ideas from it, as is usually the case.
Thanks as always and I look forward to hearing from you again next time,
Live Well.
Tom.
I completely agree with you, and I think getting rid of those feelings of superiority is one of the most important things for a "winner" in life to do.
Competition in general is a good thing for society as a whole, it forces everyone to be better to raise their game. The fastest way to improve is to surround yourself with those who are slightly better than you in my opinion.
Not so far ahead that it's demoralizing, and not those you're significantly in front of as that lends itself to complacency.
"See, a great Society is built on a foundation of great culture and art. Great art needs great audiences. And everything that undermines people’s health, attention span, and general sense of wonder and humanity makes them a less savvy, receptive and switched on audience member. (Don’t forget that all creators also consume media to master their art so this applies to everyone)
We rise or fall together. I believe in wealth and abundance and beauty. But I want to earn those things through my own merit, not because all of my ‘competition’ have been psychologically and physically hobbled from the jump.
There’s a difference between winning and losing the least. There’s no thrill or honour in the latter for me."
This right here is just beautifully put, and I'm adding it to my notes immediately. The whole response is very well articulated, thank you for taking the time to write it out Tom.
You leave me unconfortable here Thomas... I usually have something to say, something to add to your weekly newsletters, but this one leaves my speechless. I don't see anything of value to add, I felt like you said it all, in even better words than I could.
The fall of the gatekeepers (good thing) and the atomization of society (less of a good thing) might indeed profit the artist within the coming decade. You made a good point regarding History, and I think that the artists - GenZ or millenials - that will thrive will be the ones who believe there is more than cautionary tales and dust to be found there. They will be the ones with the strength and curiosity to immerge themselves in the past and bring back from its depths the forbidden gems that the gatekeepers kept hidden from us all along. And by transmuting this raw and old material, they'll be able to create the gold of our generation. I except many writers and artists to be "rediscovered" within the next years. And after a long enough time, the small tribes born from the atomization of society and the internet-era will progressively merge together and create the schools of thought of tomorrow.
Exciting future, indeed.
I only had that thought the other day after I finished Steppenwolf by Hesse and found out that he was largely ignored outside of Germany for a few decades despite being a Nobel Prize Winner until the Beat generation discovered him and he became enormously popular again. It's an interesting one to think about.
Makes you think doesn’t it?
Posterity will do what posterity does. I think when you write you have to look beyond your own lifetime, as it were. Because who knows.
The work is the work and it will either be discovered and re-evaluated or not. You have to do it anyway. In spite of possible obscurity.
This is what I tell myself anyway...
Oh yeah, many authors and artists fit that description. Possibly the most known of all (and heartbreaking) is Lovecraft: he died in the 1930s in misery, convinced he was a washed up loser and nowdays he is possibly one of the most known and appreciate authors in the world. His influence is evident in nearly every science-fiction and horror art form.I find it both depressing and ecouraging. But this ambivalence is the price of art I guess
Keep your day job, write as purely as you can and try not to be downhearted by your lack of ‘discovery’ is what I tell myself. The art life as barbell strategy.
This way there is no depression at the lack of ‘fame’
There’s probably a newsletter in these concepts if I flesh them out. Dialogue always brings new ideas doesn’t it?
I couldn’t agree more, Sebastien. Your ‘rediscovery’ idea is a very interesting thought. All art movements have influences and spiritual forebears. I wonder who ‘ours’ will be, I wonder who will be resurrected. I wonder also who I myself should try and play a hand in resurrecting?
Very good food for thought there.
As you brilliantly put it there is more to be found in history than cautionary tales and dust.
Very exciting times ahead,
Live well,
Tom.
Amazed at the weekly art you create. It deserves wider distribution and syndication. We should give it a try. There have to be many "Furys" out there that would receive it as passionately. Well done Tom.
Thank you Steve. I know my potential audience is much bigger than it is at present. But I’m in no rush, I’m building my skillset and build word of mouth the right way. When people are ready they will arrive.
I’m a big believer in that old Last Psychiatrist phrase ‘if you are reading it, it’s for you’.
And I believe that as the Soaring Twenties kicks in and things blossom after the upcoming storm before the calm, as it were, then many more people will find that these essays for them.
It’s now simply a question of patience and perseverance.
Again, I appreciate your kind words and regular presence here, Steve.
Tom.
Tom, your essays inspire, plain and simple. Thank you.
I echo Fury in that I felt this piece, viscerally. I've long sought the motivation to contribute my own verse to this powerful play rather than follow along enviously. All I've lacked is the impetus. Here's to The Soaring Twenties!
Warmest regards,
Joseph
Thanks for getting in touch, Joseph.
Motivation is a tricky subject. You need some impetus for your art to have energy but I don’t think you can simply will it to happen.
I think- without sounding too esoteric- that your intuition sense when the timing is right. I’ve sensed this so strongly of late that I’ve spontaneously leapt into action, so to speak.
So I guess the key, with art or with anything, is to be in a state of preparation and practice, to at least keep things ticking over so that when you get hit by then inspiration you will be able to capitalise.
If this essay or anything else has been a catalyst in such feelings then take that energy and go, go, go.
Thank you for this reply,
Live well,
Tom.
Shit another fucking banger. Ngl, One of the best newsletters I get in my inbox, and I sub to almost everyone. This is mb also speaking bout the quality, or rather soul, of the others, which they apparently lack. Just seeing this, cuz I read yours.
But the energy was off the charts in issue 13, I FELT it, brimming with the chi as I write this, now. You had lots of cool concepts I haven read before, of the top of my head: soaring twenties (lol ofc), the rhyming rather than repeating of history, the cool one was: Paris is the DMs and such.
But I think overall you put in words what I've been feeling, tingling, too. I couldnt, and quite, put my finger on it. I smelled it in the air, so to say.
That, Now's our Chance.
Strip away the legend, and the legends were just flesh and blood.
That said, Nows the time for our Legends. Our legends to be born.
This notion struck me as I read the passage of World war one and the flu and Yet there was an Apparent Moveable Feast. They put their stamp on history, to make it such, to spin it in that way, and we now see it as such. The Legend. The Roaring, and The Twenties.
People will now. This is our time.
Even if on our deathbed, we didn't leave that mark we intended.
We at least shot for the stars, something, something that was more than mundanity, and the ratta race, and the normie filth.
—Fury.
Beautiful, Fury. Nothing I can add to this other than to say I’m glad that someone else gets it and *feels* this as much as I do.
Good to know you friend.
This is our time, indeed.
Live well.
Tom.
Great essay Tom. Thank you for elaborating on the topic. Paris is the Internet. How about the cafes and studios of the Soaring Twenties artists? Do you mean behind-the-scene of artists? Looking forward to your next essay.
Thanks for stopping by Celeste, great to hear from you.
If the internet is the equivalent of ‘Paris’- the city where the artists of the Lost Generation lived- then each twitter subculture, telegram group, discord channel and even email exchange has the potential to be a ‘cafe’ so to speak. A place to dream, scheme, discuss and create.
And like a cafe they are open to all. And it it possible to start your own. Everyone’s welcome. Anything’s possible.
Make sense?
Live Well
Tom.
Thank you for your reply. I definitely can see that Instagram DM as one of the cafes too. It is now the main place that I go deep on topics about Money Twitter and a tiny bit of business and everything in between with new friends on Instagram. I am also planning to invite people to do written interviews for my newsletter in DM.
With gratitude
Celeste
That’s a great idea. My current viewpoint is that newsletters and so on are becoming replacements for the supplements and arts sections of Sunday newspapers.
If I am right then there will be a demand for book and film reviews, interviews with creators, features, analysis and so on as well as the actual art itself. Written interviews would be a great part of this. I have been making similar moves towards this myself.
Great minds think alike.
Tom.
I have been planning to analyse on art as I start to see a pattern of what I like in terms of art. It may take me some time to do that as I collect ideas.
It may be a great way to help people relax and read for pleasure more.