Well said. I really think this is going to be the right approach. It’s a waste of time to wait and hope for the traditional structures to somehow come around. We’ll all have to just get to work doing it ourselves. Momentum is powerful.
Fantastic. Nothing like that specifically planned I do have one with an alien and a crow I haven’t cut yet you could order. I can’t post it here, but if you go to my profile and Notes I just uploaded it, or I could DM you, if you like.
Indeed it does. We did not manage to raise five practicing Catholics but we did raise five cynical conservatives who believe in God. We can have holidays without fighting. ( daughter and daughter in law aren’t getting along just now, but it’s spite not politics!)
My daughter is homeschooling her 6 children. 5 boys 2-12 and a baby girl this year.
The process you describe relates to the distinction I made between artist and artisan. I make patchwork quilts with thousands of pieces and knit fair isle sweaters. I haven’t an original idea, I use patterns, I am an accomplished artisan. You sir, even with the help you describe, are an artist. Not everyone can be an artist but everyone can be an artisan.
TBH I describe my items as craft items, there is no shame in being a craftsperson, we all can use all the help we can get. :-) But thanks for the generous compliment.
Thanks very much, blush. For full disclosure I do generate the initial images using an LLM AI, but they are my own unique image prompts, and they do take hand editing to get ready to cut on a laser cutter, and I do hand assemble them on my kitchen table. :-)
One thing to remember: last time the PC-monster was this strong, was the 1970s. Then, it was allowed to retreat and hide out during the 1980s to return as academic feminism and related crap like critical theory et c.
I am often struck, even in the midst of bewailing all that modern times have taken from us, at the immense amount of creativity the internet has unleashed. From humor to history to science to odd, autistic hobbies lovingly curated there is an immense richness out there, of which substacks like this one are an integral part. And just like it is important to get off the sofa and move your body around in the outdoor world, it is important not just to consume entertainment, whether high or low brow. Create. Artist or artisan, everyone should take a turn at creating.
I agree. The difficult part is the apprenticeship. Getting good enough at something you begin to benefit from the effort. It can be a lot of hard work early on for very little reward. But producing things is much more rewarding than consuming them.
And I also agree the internet has unleashed wonders. Memes are an example. A good meme can instantly deflate a billion-dollar propaganda campaign.
I think you’ve nailed the core issue—HOW we get our information, and from whom, now matters more than the factual basis of the information itself. The far right has developed an information ecosystem that constantly feeds their faithful audience whatever they want to say in defense of one man’s atrocities, while at the same time demonizing the traditional media outlets as part of “the enemy within.” The Left has no such established info ecosystem, relies too heavily on traditional media (especially apparent when said media scolds Harris for not speaking enough with them while yielding a sane-washing blind eye to trump’s evil), and does not use the same playbook of telling lies. The traditional Fourth Estate should publicly and loudly be indicted (in the court of public opinion) for aiding and abetting a convicted felon.
Well said. I really think this is going to be the right approach. It’s a waste of time to wait and hope for the traditional structures to somehow come around. We’ll all have to just get to work doing it ourselves. Momentum is powerful.
Alternatives will speed their decline. It is all a fight for attention. People spending time on Substack are not on CNN or the BBC.
I think it is important we produce the work, and worry less about platforms and reach. That will come in time.
Yep for me, my main art work here is my papercuts.
https://substack.com/@whispertrees/p-144671510
Very nice work. Love the Eccentric 2049.
Thanks, it can be yours. :-)
These are utterly gorgeous. I am thinking of a Christmas gift….any lovecraftian plans, otherwise it might be the aliens in the convertible.
Fantastic. Nothing like that specifically planned I do have one with an alien and a crow I haven’t cut yet you could order. I can’t post it here, but if you go to my profile and Notes I just uploaded it, or I could DM you, if you like.
I will bookmark your page and keep an eye. Saw several things I’d be very pleased to own. You are extremely talented.
Just checked out your profile I was home schooled as well, and glad for it, I think it gives a person an extra sharp bullshit filter.
Indeed it does. We did not manage to raise five practicing Catholics but we did raise five cynical conservatives who believe in God. We can have holidays without fighting. ( daughter and daughter in law aren’t getting along just now, but it’s spite not politics!)
My daughter is homeschooling her 6 children. 5 boys 2-12 and a baby girl this year.
The process you describe relates to the distinction I made between artist and artisan. I make patchwork quilts with thousands of pieces and knit fair isle sweaters. I haven’t an original idea, I use patterns, I am an accomplished artisan. You sir, even with the help you describe, are an artist. Not everyone can be an artist but everyone can be an artisan.
I think you would enjoy my essay here on revving craft guilds.
https://substack.com/@whispertrees/p-144571152
TBH I describe my items as craft items, there is no shame in being a craftsperson, we all can use all the help we can get. :-) But thanks for the generous compliment.
Thanks very much, blush. For full disclosure I do generate the initial images using an LLM AI, but they are my own unique image prompts, and they do take hand editing to get ready to cut on a laser cutter, and I do hand assemble them on my kitchen table. :-)
Agreed. But there’s no money in it, art that is. We will still make it anyway. 6th album: https://open.spotify.com/album/4F2uaFb4Xl8V2h9UUaB4Is?si=pAC04ifcSHG6eXRjGBx5Ig
One thing to remember: last time the PC-monster was this strong, was the 1970s. Then, it was allowed to retreat and hide out during the 1980s to return as academic feminism and related crap like critical theory et c.
This time, let's finish the job.
I would love to finish the job.
I am often struck, even in the midst of bewailing all that modern times have taken from us, at the immense amount of creativity the internet has unleashed. From humor to history to science to odd, autistic hobbies lovingly curated there is an immense richness out there, of which substacks like this one are an integral part. And just like it is important to get off the sofa and move your body around in the outdoor world, it is important not just to consume entertainment, whether high or low brow. Create. Artist or artisan, everyone should take a turn at creating.
A good reminder.
I agree. The difficult part is the apprenticeship. Getting good enough at something you begin to benefit from the effort. It can be a lot of hard work early on for very little reward. But producing things is much more rewarding than consuming them.
And I also agree the internet has unleashed wonders. Memes are an example. A good meme can instantly deflate a billion-dollar propaganda campaign.
I think you’ve nailed the core issue—HOW we get our information, and from whom, now matters more than the factual basis of the information itself. The far right has developed an information ecosystem that constantly feeds their faithful audience whatever they want to say in defense of one man’s atrocities, while at the same time demonizing the traditional media outlets as part of “the enemy within.” The Left has no such established info ecosystem, relies too heavily on traditional media (especially apparent when said media scolds Harris for not speaking enough with them while yielding a sane-washing blind eye to trump’s evil), and does not use the same playbook of telling lies. The traditional Fourth Estate should publicly and loudly be indicted (in the court of public opinion) for aiding and abetting a convicted felon.
I think the traditional media is lost. Whatever comes next it won't be them.
Just published a novel and on with the next.
Feel free to add a link if it is available online.