A Plethora of Inspiration

Hot dang, it’s a great time to be a consumer! 

 

As a writer and an in-the-works artist, inspiration is the unexpected fuel that gives rise to a boost of creativity and productivity. 

 

While I’ve learned not to rely on it for motivation,  it’s nice when it does hit as it provides a bonus flare to the imagination that can leave ye feeling invigorated and more curious than ever.

 

Of late, I’ve been fortunate enough to come across a wealth of great works of art that have colored me excited and thought I’d share in case you’re wondering where I’m spending my time/curious on my thoughts of where to direct your eyeballs on the seemingly unlimited amount of media out there currently. 

 

First things first, some movies.  

 

I finally saw Furiosa the other night, and was not disappointed. Just like Mad Max: Fury Road, one of the most well-shot movies I’ve ever seen, this lives up to the visual hype. A constant feast for the eyes, I’m not usually one easily won over by action for action’s sake. But Furiosa does it so differently and beautifully, that the chaotic, dystopian car battles are worth the 90+ minutes of seat-time. Just be prepared to meditate after to fully catch your breath.

 

A quieter movie, but also done amazingly well. Have you ever heard of the movie Prospect? This one was recommended to me by my cousin and artist, Noah Frase, and had flown under my radar.  Starring Pedro Pascal and Sophie Thatcher of Yellowjackets fame, it follows the story of a girl who travels with her father to an alien world in search of precious resources. Well, bad stuff happens, and the girl is forced to make some harrowing, adult choices. What I loved about the movie is the world-building.  No exposition drops or glimpses into the wider universe, just a tight, neat view of the planet, its purpose, and the problems that come with it. Plus, it’s beautifully designed. There are plenty of subtle props used throughout that make this world feel lived in, without having to have the actors talk about it.  Thought it was really, really well done.

 

Then there’s Dune Part 2.  What else is there to say that hasn’t already been said about this movie? The book Dune was what turned me into reading and writing when I was 14 after my Dad gave it to me. I love it. And am so glad to see it getting the big screen love it so rightfully deserves. I think I’ve watched this 3 times since it’s come out on Max. It just hits all the right notes for me.

 

Then there’s all the goodness happening in streaming too. 

 

House of the Dragon came back spitting flames (pun heavily intended.) Despite my weariness of a network redipping their toes into a franchise with mixed results, HOTD upped the anti in season 2 and feels much more like GOT seasons 1-5.  The character development is on point, and I am envious to say the least.

Then there’s the Bear Season 3. I’ve heard mixed reviews on this, with folks saying it was too slow, but really enjoyed it. There were some slower, plodding episodes, but those tended to be my favorite because they focused so much on character, which, you guessed it, is something I’m striving to improve in my own writing.

 

Lastly, there’s the Fallout TV show on Amazon. When I first heard about this one, i was worried that Amazon might not get it right as I wasn’t a big fan of the Rings of Power, but I was happy to be wrong. Fallout provides the campy humor and extreme violence found in the game and is rounded out really well with its visuals. The plot his all the right notes for me, and not only got me wanting to play Fallout some more, but also wanting to jump back into the dystopian world of the Dragod.  

 

Then there’s books. I’ve got two non-fiction recs for you all that blew my socks off.

 

First, The Immense World by Ed Yong.  If you’ve a fascination with the natural world and all the (fellow) creatures within, then this is a must read. Yong dives deep into the experience of sense across the animal kingdom and exposes how limited our own perception of the world really is. Magnetism, electric fields, UV light, all of its being sensed by our furry and scaled counterparts, and The Immense World goes into great detail describing just how peculiar and different animals can experience the world compared to our own. I recommend this one if you’re looking to expand your imagination of how senses work, as it it feels very much in sense like a new form of magic.

 

Last but not least, 4000 Weeks by Oliver Burkeman.  Not your typical self-help book, this one flips productivity and time management on its head and encourages the reader to think about productivity across a lifespan and less about trying to check every last box on every to-do list everyday. It emphasizes much more on the quality over quantity approach, and how one’s to-do list is always going to be there regardless. So why not take a breather, think about what’s really important that day, and get it done? This was an awakening for me as a chronic “get-shit-done” person who is prone to feeling overwhelmed and stressed. If you ever need encouragement to take a step back, realize how time is fleeting, and reevaluated how best to use it, this book is for you.

 

Phew! That was a lot to throw at you, but there’s been a lot of goodness that happened to find its way to my plate.

 

There’s definitely others too, but if you’re looking for inspiration yourself, or need to take a breather from the grind with some good ol’ fashion media consumption, then keep these on your radar.

 

I’ve left watching/reading each of these feeling exhilierated and ready to drum up something cool.

 

Hope they do the same for you if you give them a shot!

 

That’s it for now, Fellow Creatures.

 

Stay formidable! 

 

-Jeff