That last point hits home. I often excuse my media consumption by saying I consume better media. Instead of scrolling, I’ll listen to an audiobook. Instead of streaming an entire Netflix series in days, I’ll watch an episode at a time or listen to good podcasts like “This American Life” instead of bro-ey ones. Yet it’s all creating an effect where I spend less and less time alone with my thoughts to imagine. Great piece, Thomas.
I think your point on not having time to imagine is spot on. The way David Lynch approached life and art should be an inspiration for many artists and storytellers.
I also believe it's not just a problem of imagination, but a lack of life experience - internal and external. Many approach the creation of stories by pulling from what already exists, sticking to the space between defined lines. Our culture nowadays likes to create copies of itself and act as if that's originality and progress, but the universe is infinitely bigger than our conception of it.
I just wrote something adjacent to this! Creativity and imagination are in such a deficit right now in Hollywood and publishing. Everything is a biopic. Everything is a trope.
Our culture is being reflected back at us because we are desperate for stories we know the ending to. I think uncertainty and fear breeds less imaginative stories because knowing the ending feels more comfortable than the unknown
That last point hits home. I often excuse my media consumption by saying I consume better media. Instead of scrolling, I’ll listen to an audiobook. Instead of streaming an entire Netflix series in days, I’ll watch an episode at a time or listen to good podcasts like “This American Life” instead of bro-ey ones. Yet it’s all creating an effect where I spend less and less time alone with my thoughts to imagine. Great piece, Thomas.
It's so easy to do! I have a habitual impulse to reach for my headphones in any moment of silence.
I think your point on not having time to imagine is spot on. The way David Lynch approached life and art should be an inspiration for many artists and storytellers.
I also believe it's not just a problem of imagination, but a lack of life experience - internal and external. Many approach the creation of stories by pulling from what already exists, sticking to the space between defined lines. Our culture nowadays likes to create copies of itself and act as if that's originality and progress, but the universe is infinitely bigger than our conception of it.
I just wrote something adjacent to this! Creativity and imagination are in such a deficit right now in Hollywood and publishing. Everything is a biopic. Everything is a trope.
Our culture is being reflected back at us because we are desperate for stories we know the ending to. I think uncertainty and fear breeds less imaginative stories because knowing the ending feels more comfortable than the unknown