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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.