Letter From The Founder
Naturally you will approach this introduction with a series of assumptions, whether you have ever read one of our Symposiums before or not. It’s simply human nature to operate from preconceptions, to use educated guesswork and to form preliminary ideas and opinions when we don’t yet have all of the information that we need.
This is a useful thing to be able to do. And it can also be dangerous and lead to all sorts of confusion, ignorance, prejudice and misunderstanding. But that can all come from the refusal to utilise any preconceptions too.
So my preconception here, my assumption, is that you are expecting me to discuss the theme of this months collection (which I already have done, in a somewhat ham-fisted manner) before saying nice things about all of the ultra-talented essayists, storywriters and increasingly filmmakers who have given us their work to showcase this month. And you’d be correct. Because as much as I want to defy your expectations and assumptions and become a villain who mocks and ridicules what our creators are trying to achieve here, I just can’t bring myself to do it, even in jest.
Who knows, maybe when it comes to myself and this introductions, maybe refusing the call to cynicism and jadedness and continuing to play it straight and sincere is the truly unexpected and preconception defying move. Maybe.
Anyway, enjoy.
3D Glasses Necessitating Artistry
Square .00001 by Elliot
A great start this. I’ve had to create a whole new, probably never to be reused category just to house Elliot Lessing’s debut submission for us. Which shows how seriously he’s taken the implied idea of playing with preconceptions
Essays
How to give birth to a story on Substack by Ana
There’s always at least one person each month who takes the theme in a direction that I hadn’t anticipated. Ana Bosch is that person this time out with a great essay on giving birth to a new work.
The Maze of Preconceptions by Vita
Vita once again provides us with an essay that offers some sound reason and common sense in a landscape that is often sorely lacking in those qualities
Coffee with Al Pacino by Michael K
Little Italy, Godzilla, Raging Al Pacino and coffee advertising. Mike in New York brings us a piece that is more in-his-prime, soulful Serpico/Scarecrow Al than over-the-hill, yelling, appearing for a paycheque latter day Al. Which of course is a good thing in my book.
No, I don't wear saffron robes! by Terry
Terry Freedman nabs the coveted ‘Best Title of the Symposium’ award as well as giving us a witty and insightful essay about Transcendental Meditation. What more can you ask for?
Fiction
The Dark Lord's Lesson by Clint
Seems like it’s not just Mick and Keef who have a bit of sympathy for the devil. Clintavo gives us a great riff on a clever concept here, which honestly completely conforms to the preconceptions I have built around his fiction by now.
Check and... by Konstantin
You may well have observed that virtually every symposium there will be one of these little write-ups where I say nothing besides ‘this is really, really good, you should read it.’ Or words to that effect. Well, this time it’s Konstantin Asimonov who has elicited this reaction. You should read this. It’s really, really good.
DreamLife by Minna
Having read all of Minna ‘s stories I can say that this one did exactly conform to my expectations going in. And those expectations were high. Style, concept, execution, voice- it’s all there, as it always is.
Elegiac Couplets, In a Way by Vanya
Once upon a time, I packed me a bundle, a right big one, laced up me bast shoes, nice and tight, trimmed me beard, even as can be, mustered up me courage, both holy and heathen, just to be sure and just in case, hopped on me wooden steed and galloped out of Tulubaika.
Maybe I’ve spent too much time on the internet but rather than writing something witty or astute, I just want to react to Vánječka ‘s opening sentence- and indeed all of this story- by simply posting a row of fire emojis. So that’s what I’m gonna do because this story is pure 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Poetry
[He didn’t provide me with a title] by F.B.
At the inception there came a conception to the reception of my mind But old preconception like quick contraception prevented exception to being unkind So postconception despite appreception remained misconception as change I declined Until interception creates reconception I stay in deception and back to the grind
[ F.B. Fanat in true renegade style forwent the usual channels of submiting work and simply dropped this untitle, unexplained poem in one of the channels of the STSC Discord knowing that I would feature it here. Hats off.]
Film
Diary of a Thought Leader by Craig
The Pride of Barnsley™️ Craig Burgess has evidently transcended the podcast realm and is now setting himself up to be a youtube Vlogging, course-shilling Thought Leader™️.
Preconception by Trilety
Not gonna say anything because Elliot Lessing ‘s comment to this video over on Trilety Wade ‘s Substack says everything:
Attention All Shoppers & Film Choppers: Trilety Don't Call Me Orson Wade may be inventing the Calico Quilt Cell Micro Video genre and or cinemuck. Prepare to jump ship. Prepare to jump ship. Women and Chicly-coiffed Childish Men first. This objet d'bon bon has the affect of jean-luc godard meets ed ruscha meets america's joyously crass videomemetards. As with all great Art -- I have absolutely no idea what I'm experiencing and what this all amounts to. Happily. Please dont get a job
Pre|Concept|Ion by D.B.
Just in time for Easter I bring you this work about spring, new life, and fertility. It’s an ambient, experimental video, so I recommend you watch it with lights off, full screen, and audio turned up.
However be mindful of your environment during playback, as the audio is not safe for work and might create awkward looks in households or in public.
Proper actual filmmaker DB blesses us with a proper, actual experimental short. I have just casually included it at the end of this Symposium as if that’s no big deal because that’s what I expected to happen with every one of these monthly collaborations.
In a final attempt of testing your preconceptions of the Symposium I am not going to conclude with the same ‘like and subscribe’ schpiel that I normally do. You should still of course do all of that and give us money and praise and so on. Goes without saying.
So cheers and we’ll see you next time.
Thank you, Thomas!
And, again and again, I am stunned by the quality of the selection. I haven't read all of them yet, but those I have are amazing.
Lol. Thanks Thomas! I wasn't even aware that award existed! Chortle 🤣