Artistic transparency and author collaboration.

In Bookmark Now (my edition adds Writing in the Age of Information Overload to the title), Adam Johnson makes an interesting point.

Essentially, the book is a collection of essays by modern authors. They tackle various aspects of writing, addressing new authors and reader alike. The editor, Kevin Smokler, mentions how writing has evolved a lot in the time the internet has come to be a dominant force, and also how reading is still integral, despite youth reading "less" (i.e. fewer books).

Johnson points out that creation of art in this age is very different from previous ages. Art existed and each individual work had its purpose. By analyzing different pieces by the same artist, or by comparing one artist with one of his contemporaries, we can attempt to glimpse thoughts that he or she may have had while creating. The book, as a whole, mentions how in this age, the creative process becomes very transparent to the audience of a work of art. If you like one particular show, you can scour the web for blog posts by people involved, or for short behind-the-scenes clips. It's fairly easy to see the people involved in the production of something give their two cents' worth about their role. If you enjoy Battlestar Galactica (as I now do, courtesy of Darrell M. Stark), you can go online to Bear McCreary's blog and see how he went about choosing a piece of music for a particular scene.

In addition, collaboration is a big part of this. Whether it's an artist for one track, or two directors for a film, the results are always interesting. You may or may not enjoy the result, but you can not deny that the artist is affected. It really changes you to see someone else's take on something that you are working together on.

Johnson's insight is that writing, especially with regard to novels as a medium, is not something that this practice has pervaded completely. It's not that you don't have books with multiple authors, or collaborations. It's entirely different, however, to create stories on a normal basis with various people and get into the "nitty-gritty," so to speak.

It would be nice to think there was another model, though, one that could inspire a pair of young, edgy writers to walk along lonely railroad tracks, kicking rocks and running dialogue back and forth for the story they were writing. Or better yet: a husband and wife team in Nikes, debating about how to close a novel chapter as one folds laundry and the other changes a diaper.

The model Johnson is referring to here is the model of "how to tell stories that matter." And, personally, I love the idea of someday perusing the subtleties of a character with my wife. That's something to shoot for, isn't it? I mean, as long as we both enjoy writing, creating together.

It's great to use the individual talents of each person, and it's also poetic that each one will try to gain ground over a point of contention when both people are adamant about the direction of a story. To me, the most influential part of it all is the way you can witness the other's creative process, so similar in time and place, but so different in direction.

Two good friends of mine are both writers, and although they both write in different ways, I'd love to see them collaborate together on a project, especially after hearing both of their ideas and perspectives on a long car ride. And also, there's something romantic about two lovers writing their hearts out, together.

You live and you learn, and sometimes you watch.

I realize that most of my posts are just ramblings of a madman, completely disorganized and indirect. I also realize that life presents itself that way.

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The entertainment industry has a very practical purpose. I don't just mean to give stress relief or whatever. Really, it lets us experience life as perceived by other people in a very direct manner, and it lets us do it from the comfort of own homes (or theaters). It often gives us insight into experience we never would have a path to in our actual lives. The most important aspect of this? It lets us sit back and see things from the other person's point of view. We learn to be able to say, "Okay, I see where you're coming from." Regardless of right or wrong, it lets us see how people do what they do. Whether or not we agree with their actions and beliefs, we come to learn something important: empathy.

Driving down the Garden State Parkway, yelling at those idiotic drivers ahead of me, I often stop myself. I mean, they have to have some reason, right? How often do you do that? The problem's all about everyone's own free will. If we learn to stop ourselves and try to understand each other better, I'm sure we'll be less angry and more forgiving. At best, we make a positive impact on others, and spare ourselves unnecessary anguish in the process. At the least, we can hope to catch a break ourselves in the future.

Sometimes, people need to hear things from a specific person, at a specific place and time, in a specific way, to really get the message. After all, haven't we all been there? How many times have your parents told you one thing, only to find out 40-something odd years later that you understand. Even if you don't agree, and even if you do things differently, you at least understand.

A friend of mine gets really angry at people in general. He says people are dumb. I agree. He says they don't think. I agree. He wonders why they can't just be logical and wake up, and think for themselves. I don't. And the reason he's angry, is because he really cares. It's sort of counter-intuitive, but he would've made his peace long ago if he didn't really care. He'd be cynical and pessimistic and would take what he could, regardless of others. He's not like that. He's angry because he wants others to live better. In turn, that allows him to live better. The problem is, people don't get things like that right away. Some people need to hear it differently. I did, too. I used to be angry, too.

The beauty is there. And that's where our lovely system of movies, television shows, blogs, and weblogs all come in handy. We get to see things from others' perspectives. And it doesn't matter that we think they're stupid for not seeing something right in front of their faces, or that we cry and laugh right along with them. We don't need to agree. It's not about the result, it's about the process. As my pal Gerald (from Hey Arnold!) said once, "The journey's more than the destination, man." (It was from Downtown as Fruits, btw. What ever happened to great TV?) We have to learn to live life, and part of it is learning to live with others. Or, at least, trying to see where they come from.

I still hate soap operas and reality shows. But, I take comfort in the fact that somewhere out there, someone is learning a lesson from the stupidity of another.