A few weeks ago I posted about art. Admitting I could only see what I couldn't get 'right,' I felt, for a long time, art was something I let down, due some mysterious defect. This attitude limits not only what I think I can do, but what I attempt. Basically, if I don't try, then … Continue reading Optical delusions
writing
Doctor Who: Master of our fate?
Soldier Man Some characters are too good to live. In Tess of the D'Ubervilles, Thomas Hardy created a character he loved, and mourned that the story he created killed his Tess. Hardy, though, didn't change the ending. He let it stand. Tess died and he didn't diminish her sacrifice with her ghost in some saccharine sequel. … Continue reading Doctor Who: Master of our fate?
Doctor Who: Wood for the Trees
From the previews I thought this would go down a spooky girl fairy tale path, influenced by William Blake (Tyger Tyger!). Easy to assume with the kid in the red coat running around through the woods, and with the wolves, and the deliberate spoken references to Hansel and Gretel. This current series does like making … Continue reading Doctor Who: Wood for the Trees
Shameless Self Promotion (Hashtag Writing)
A post subtitled: where else to find writing by me. Apart from my thoughtful posts about SF TV and other important issues here, my most recent writing was published at Sparks of Consciousness blog here. It is a mock pretentious literary analysis speculative fiction essay/story experimental thing called : writer of nil repute. … Continue reading Shameless Self Promotion (Hashtag Writing)
Doctor Who: Depth Perception
Arcs of Triumph? From a writer's point of view The Doctor is a hero that unlike many others, is never 'complete' to quote the repair droids of the MS Madame Pompadour. As we have seen, even as he faces death his story isn't done, because his timeline extends through all of time and space in … Continue reading Doctor Who: Depth Perception
Notational Interludes
After my post about art I could write about how I'm also a frustrated musician, inspired by my mother, who was the epitome of a folksy mcfolk musician, playing, as she did sporadically, the piano accordion, recorder, xylophone and glockenspiel, mostly by ear. On the other side of my family my knitting Nan focused her powers on … Continue reading Notational Interludes
Doctor Who & Hamlet: Are we who we say we are?
If you've yet to watch the 2014 Doctor Who episodes, then you probably should. Or you can enjoy this song Who Are You by The Who, which posits important questions thematically linked to Doctor Who and this post. Like: Well, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?). I really wanna know (Who are you? … Continue reading Doctor Who & Hamlet: Are we who we say we are?
A Deeper Breath – more on Doctor Who
The first viewing is raw, impressions are quick, and it's about trying to get the vibe of it, The Castle style. Later, on reflection, and upon a brief survey of what other people think (everything from deep love to resentment at this new guy and the title sequence), it's time for further analysis of Deep Breath. … Continue reading A Deeper Breath – more on Doctor Who
Doctor Who: Deep Breath of Comedy, Confusion and Action
The first episode after a regeneration sets the tone, but is also a one-off. The Doctor gets the opportunity to be vulnerable in ways he is mostly not the rest of the time. Much of the rest of the cast can be left to drive the narrative given his erratic behaviour, mental confusion and often … Continue reading Doctor Who: Deep Breath of Comedy, Confusion and Action
The Secret Museum – epiphany and review
I attended a book talk-launch type thing the other evening. It was for Molly Oldfield's The Secret Museum. It was a good talk. Oldfield was erudite - full of interesting and amusing anecdotes about meeting international museum curators and seeing first hand all the things they can't display. To her credit, she coped well with woolly … Continue reading The Secret Museum – epiphany and review
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