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Letter From The Founder
As I read through these pieces each week sometimes I have to think about a certain theme or hook or idea that connects them or that I can use to introduce the works as a whole (When one doesn’t present itself I simply cheerlead for how great and talented and prolific this group of creators here are). But on other weeks the theme is obvious. This is one of those weeks.
As I read this weeks offering I was struck by how much the works riffed on, expanded upon and referenced previous works from other members. Not in a rip off way, but in a dialogue way. This, to my mind, is hugely healthy and is one of the goals I always had with this STSC venture.
See in the promotional copy I refer to thinks like salons and speakeasies and such for a reason. True creative works are a product of conversation and dialogue and debate and argument. The lone genius is a myth, everyone needs people to bounce ideas off. So as this group grows and matures I am thrilled to see this conversational back and forth between various creators naturally and organically occur.
And who knows perhaps down the line we will have a Symposium where everyone has to critique/reimagine/expand upon someone else’s previous work. I know we have the talent to easily pull this off and make it an entertaining issue indeed.
But for now, sit back, relax and enjoy this weeks offering.
Until next week,
Live well,
Essays
on final & not-so final resting places by Yuelian
On American vs German burial policies. I feel the comparison has a metaphorical resonance too, somehow. And there is beautiful photography to boot. What more could you ask for in this short of a space?
Things I liked in August (2022) by Thomas Kealy
Some great recommendations here across fiction, non-fiction and cinema. Us Thomas’s are know for our exquisite taste.
Wield Desert Power by Pr0ph3t
As I said in the intro, there is more and more cross-pollination happening as our writers inspire and are inspired in turn by their peers here at the STSC. Pr0ph3t’s expansion and riffing on Luke’s recent ‘Three Cities’ work is a prime example. I would love to see more collaborations on this from the two, whether in print or via audio.
bookmark #511 by Deepansh
The king of consistence refuses to let up. At this point I’m genuinely baffled. How does he post over 500 poetic meditations like this and never once miss? Incredible.
Urban Off-Roading by Samantha Childress
The latest dispatch from life in Cairo. Wonderful, evocative prose and remembered dialogue. I may be a cliche but I mean it when I say ‘it feels like you are there’.
Comedy through cartoons: an interview with New Yorker cartoonist Liza Donnelly by Alex
I guess the moral of this interview is that wikihow is actually good for something, particularly it’s ‘how to shoot your shot’ guide. This was a fantastic interview and of course it is filled with excellent cartoons from Liza. Thoroughly enjoyed this.
The Continuum of Creators by Clint
Every group needs a scapegoat. Ours, for some reason, is Atomic Habits. I think it’s one of those Rick and Morty things where in the audience spoil the work they praise with the sheer magnitude of their oblivious sycophancy. That’s my take. But Clint’s- way better and more detailed assessment- concerns the Levels of Creators and is essential reading. Some of his very best work to date here.
Movie Recommendation: The Three Colors Trilogy by D.B.
One of the best film reviewers around (because he’s an actual skin in the game practitioner) reviewing one of my favourite cinematic trilogies? What a gift. D.B.’s championing of films and his analysis of why the great pieces work is always a delight.
When are the basics too basic? by Mark
A second reaction pieces this week, this one in reaction to Clint’s Continuum of Creators above. As with all of the best additive pieces this expands on and adds nuance to Clint’s initial ideas while also being able to stand on it’s own two legs as a solo piece. That being said I think the two works make ideal companions and should both be read in turn.
Haunted by Ghosts in Dreams by Gavin
Snowboarding, Lost and the nature of dreams. The hiatus did Gavin the world of good it seems as he is really stretching his legs with this one and showing just how good of a prose stylist and storyteller he is.
At the end of a closed runway by Trilety
What if all the planes were tied down at lift-off, forced to struggle against their tethers? An airborne carousel of aluminum longing.
This, friends, is how you start an essay. I’ve said since day one that Trilety is a real talent and I am glad that she is a part of the STSC squad. This latest is further proof that my words remain true.
What Becoming a Father Taught Me About Self Care by Charlie Becker
Man, this was powerful and packed a real wallop in a short time frame. In a time where people fill essays with bullet point ‘learnings’ Charlie conveys and important message through story and emotion. This is how it is done.
An Extraordinary Career by Charles Schifano
I’m not going to speak about Charles’ latest directly because it goes without saying that it is excellent. 115 essays and not a single miss yet. What I am going to do is to use this space to implore Charles to collect these essays as a book. Multiple books if necessary with high quality reproductions of the accompanying photos. My bookcase is crying out for this.
Wonder Years by Paul Publisher
Virgo season is upon us. I didn’t know what that meant but I do now, and more to the point I got to enjoy Paul’s wonderful prose style and powerful way with metaphor and analogy as I did. Always a delight, always an education.
The Hidden Curriculum of Sports Professionalisation by Tim
The damage of the professionalisation of children’s sports is a neglected problem that needed to be addressed. Fortunately Tim is the man for the job. This is an eyeopening and essential piece from a man who truly understands self-directed education.
Modelling Idleness by Thomas J Bevan
Don’t just do something, sit there.
That Funny Feeling by Lyle
Huh. It’s weird how writing things down gives you perspective on them. Funny how that works.
And it’s funny how reading works as honest and sincere as Lyle’s have a way of softening your heart and making you look up from your own navel and your own (often inconsequential) problems.
Fiction/Poetry
How Khorya And Borya Smuggled A Chort by Vanya
In the greatest, most joyful way this will leave you saying ‘What on earth did I just read?’ Madcap, utterly unique work from Vanya (and his brother and- he get around a bit- Craig)
Billy Prince and the Jazz Quartet by AJ
Jazz tinges short fiction from AJ? That’s all I needed to hear. The subject matter perfectly matches AJ’s prose style- unhurried, precise without being boring and simple in the best possible meaning of that word. Excellent.
In My Mind by G K Gaius
G.K.’s ability to imply so much in such a short space is a real talent. A real practitioner of ‘The Iceberg Theory.’ He continues to impress with this short short story form.
Cats Still Prefer Love's Trouble by David Torkington
Tanka, for those who don’t know, is a thirty-one-syllable poem, traditionally written in a single unbroken line. A form of waka, Japanese song or verse, tanka translates as “short song,” and is better known in its five-line, 5/7/5/7/7 syllable count form.
And it turns out that David is very, very good at writing them as this selection of five examples demonstrates. This one is my favourite:
Lustily eldritch, Cats still prefer love’s trouble For reasons unknown. They slip to nightmare spaces And still make it home for treats.
Sonnet no. XXIV by James Maynard
Podcasts
Will Vita Share this one too? (Tragedies of Modernity #17) by Thomas J Bevan and Craig Burgess
In this one Craig and I tackle bodged electrical works, dimmer switches and the cursed nature of going viral. It was cathartic for me, if not for you.
What I learned from Pablo Picasso (Wednesday Audio #69) by Craig Burgess
Pablo Picasso was from the West Riding of Yorkshire, it seems. Who knew? That’s the thing about these podcasts. They always teach you things, especially if you play them at two ecks.
TJB Film Recommendation
Chungking Express (1994)
D. Wong Kar-wai
W. Wong Kar-wai
S. Brigitte Lin, Tony Leung, Chiu-wai Faye Wong
As I said with Tokyo Drifter I tend to really like French New Wave ideas when they aren’t done by the French New Wavers themselves. Well, I say ideas but it’s more of a certain energy really and the early Wong Kar Wai films have this energy in spades. I could highlight several of his films but I’m going with this one because it is the one I have most recently rewatched.
So. Chungking Express is about a Hong Kong neighbourhood and two lovelorn policemen- one who falls for a Garbo-esque blond wig and sunglasses clad underworld figure and the other who falls for a gamine who works at a cafe (and might be the origin point of all of those increasingly annoying cinematic Manic Pixie Dream Girls). You’ve got pineapple expiration dates as metaphor, crying bath towels, California Dreaming that never gets old and the frenetic wobbly camera of the market place.
This film is like cinematic shoegaze music and I love it. It’s that simple.
Thanks as always for reading/listening and thanks in advance for pressing all of those various buttons at the bottom which help the Omnibus spread further.
Also I can again confirm that Craig and I will be recording a new episode of the Tragedies of Modernity podcast tonight at 8pm GMT. We’ll host it and record it live from the STSC community and then post it via this Substack tomorrow.
If you want to join us live and listen in and post questions/comments/heckles in the podcast channel chat you are more than welcome. You simply have to sign up to the community first.
I look forward to seeing you over at the Social Club.
Cheers!