Welcome to the Odyssey

I know this is a few months after the fact, but I saw the "Odyssey" a couple of weeks ago. I chose to wait a while to see it in Imax at the Air and Space Smithsonian near Dulles. I liked seeing "big" movies on the Smithsonian Imax and I felt that that's how I should see Christopher Nolan's take on the story.

It was a vibe. 

I originally hadn't planned to see the movie. Yeah, I'd heard the discourse and saw tons of YouTube videos anticipating how "good" or "bad" the movie was going to be. I was indifferent. I'd read the epic in middle and high school (both as a reading assignment and for my own curiosity because I'm a nerd). I thought it was fine. I preferred the Wishbone episode "Homer, Sweet Homer" - which is indeed how I first learned about the story. 

There are parts of the "Odyssey" I really like. The action oriented parts of the story like the scene in the cave with the cyclops or when the ship must sail between Scylla and Charybdis. I was probably most familiar with the slaughter of the suitors, but I hated the part where the slave girls were hanged for "entertaining the suitors". I also didn't like that all of Odyssey's men died. I felt that was unfair because all they wanted to do was go home after ten years at war.

My opinions on the epic began to change when I started watching the YouTube channel Overly Sarcastic Productions. The hosts, Red and Blue, would do summaries of different famous literary works, history, and tropes. Their summary of the "Odyssey" came out about 11 years ago (has it really been that long?) and clearly Red really liked Odysseus. Her enthusiasm for the story and hero softened me on the epic and I wondered if part of the reason I hadn't enjoyed reading it originally was because of the translations I had.

Then, about a year and a half ago, I heard a song on one of my Broadway music channels. Athena was singing with several other gods and goddess to free Odysseus from Calypso. At first, I had mixed feelings on there even being a musical about the "Odyssey".

But the music was so catchy and good.

It turned out that this had been one guy's passion project that he had shared on TikTok. Through his social media, he was able to do auditions, make a recording, and eventually put together a semi-animated production (these were fan animations based on the songs and singers' looks). 

I fell completely in love with Epic the Musical. I listened to it on repeat while moving into my house. I kept hearing the songs in the back of my mind while watching the Christopher Nolan version. 

Is it a perfect adaptation of the epic? No, but it carries the spirit of the story as I understood from Red's summary. Finally, I began to understand why people loved this story and tell it over and over again.

I've seen other adaptations of the "Odyssey". Some are more fantastical, some goofy (like the episode of Arthur where D.W. is Odysseus), and some that I only realized were adaptations long after I'd seen them ("Oh Brother Where Art Thou"). 

I think Epic the Musical is my favorite (after the Wishbone episode of course). It takes a man who didn't lose a single soldier under his command during a ten year war and slowly breaks him down to the point where he doesn't recognize himself anymore. This version also is so loyal to his wife that he risks the wrath of a goddess when he spurs her advances. It even includes the scene where, as a final test, Penelope asks Odysseus to move their wedding bed and he tells her he can't because it's carved from the tree growing in their room.

I was disappointed that Nolan's version skipped this scene, but at least his included Argos. 

Of course I cried when Argos died. I always cry when animals die, but Argos really was the bestest boy. 

Like I said earlier, the Christopher Nolan film was a vibe. I really liked the music and the scene with Circe is some of the best body horror I've seen in a while. I was on the edge of my seat during the transformation. I liked the references to other myths like Actaeon and I liked his take on the gods. I understand that some people didn't like that the gods were more metaphorical than physical beings. I felt it was a unique take, even with witches, magic, cyclops, and giants being explicitly shown. 

Overall, I'd say Nolan's "Odyssey" is a good movie. I wouldn't want to see it in 4D or whatever special edition people were raving about, but seeing it in Imax was a treat. I've been listening to the soundtrack quite a bit. Agamemnon was a presence, even when presented as just a man. 

I don't think I need to see it again. 

The movie is flawed and carries a much more modern message about PTSD and our understanding of how empires fall. That's not a bad thing, but it's not Homer's Odyssey. But neither is Epic the Musical or Wishbone's version (which fits ten years of story into less than 30 minutes) Homer's Odyssey.

I've written about this in other posts, but stories are alive. They change with time. Before Disney made "Snow White", the Grimm brothers were editing collected versions from German story tellers, and before them the story was passed orally and branched out into different stories. Many of us are know the story with dwarves, but others grew up with versions that had thieves help the princess instead. Before Homer put the Odyssey to paper, it was sung. It was passed from generation to generation orally. Now we are passing the story through translations and new media that Homer couldn't have even imagined in his time. 

Like many old stories that are still being retold, people take what is most meaningful to them and hone in on that part. Some people might love it and others clutch their pearls and sneer that it's nothing like the original story.

I am still fairly indifferent to it. While I really liked watching it in Imax, I don't think I'd enjoy it as much at home on my TV. Part of my good experience was watching it with other people in the theater. The woman next to me was very excited to see it and I enjoyed listening to her react at different parts. 

You know, I don't think I actually had a thesis for this post. I just had feelings, feelings I wanted to sort out. I didn't want to get into the controversies or do a deep dive analysis. I kind of wanted to meditate on it. 

And that's okay.

If you enjoyed this post (or it really pissed you off) please like, share, and/or leave a comment. I love hearing from my readers and I hope y'all like hearing from me.

Until next week.  

Welcome to Mindful Writing

How easy is it to take out your phone or tablet, pull up your social media of choice, word vomit 250 characters (if there's a limit), hit enter, and then promptly regret whatever it was you wrote?

Thank goodness I'm not famous or a few thousand people would have screen shot me misspelling the word six.

Though I find that the ability to type on a keyboard is a skill unto itself, I don't find myself worrying all that much when writing on my phone or tablet. Heck I rely so much on autocorrect when I fat-finger a word that I don't always notice when it corrects to something ridiculous. 

If there wasn't a standardization for submitting fiction and poetry to different journals, I probably wouldn't even notice that there were font options. (Granted I use comic sans for my webcomic - but that's a joke unto itself.) 

I don't notice the individual letters on the screen I'm reading from, just the words. And the words are important, but someone had to create the template that the program pulls together the letter images to form those words.

Last Christmas, my sister and brother-in-law gave me a beautiful glass pen which requires ink from an inkwell to use and a calligraphy book. I've only recently started trying them out.

And I love it!

An example of my work... it's not perfect, but I'm getting there.

There is something so satisfying gracefully crafting each letter into existence. I have to think before and during each stroke I make. The calligraphy book I'm working in describes the act as drawing instead of writing. I'm inclined to agree.

This isn't my first time trying out calligraphy. I grew up seeing the beautiful work from Japanese and Chinese writers and artists in my relatives homes and in museums. In middle school, we had a calligraphy section in my art classes where I epically failed at trying to draw Japanese kanji (my Japanese cousins had fun pointing out how I kept poorly writing the days of the week).

Eventually my interests drifted elsewhere, but I held on to some of my art work from that period in my life (until I left home and then it was lost - most likely - to the trash bin). However, that didn't lessen my appreciation of the artform when I came across it.

I have a few friends who have absolutely beautiful handwriting. It's almost enviable. One of my friends sends me letters and I almost want to frame them because her penmanship is unbelievable. Another of my friends actively wrote with a pen and inkwell during writing critique sessions. Though his critiques could be a blow to my ego, they always looked amazing.

As someone who struggled with writing for a long time, I never thought of my handwriting as "pretty". I remember my aunt once saw my penmanship while I was working on my travel journal to Japan. She was appalled and had me practice each letter every day at the kitchen table. My 11 year old self spent 6 weeks in Japan and for 6 weeks my aunt made certain I'd be able to read that journal nearly twenty years later. 

(I still have that journal. That handwriting is still awful. I was obsessed with food. I can see the improvement over the weeks.)

I would argue that my current journey into calligraphy is more meditative than anything. Unlike when I write a letter to a friend or type up my latest blog post, I'm completely focused on each movement I make with the pen. Each stroke must be carefully made or the ink might stain or the letter might look deformed. I relax and block out the outside world.

I do something similar when doing yoga, shooting a gun (at a designated target range), or actually meditating (there I'm usually focused on breathing). My problems melt away and I am in the moment - enjoying the moment.

If you're struggling to find something new to do or want to develop mindfulness, why not try calligraphy. It will be tough at first, but don't worry about what your work looks like at the beginning. The beauty will come with time. What you might find (or at least I hope you do) is the peaceful feeling that comes when focused on one task while the rest of the world doesn't matter.

If you enjoyed this post (or it really pissed you off) please like, share, and/or leave a comment. I love hearing from my readers and I hope y'all like hearing from me.

Until next week...maybe.

Welcome to the Sound of Silence

Happy holiday weekend everyone! The kids are heading back to school (if they haven't gone back already), outdoor pools are about to close, and the fashion industry tells us we can no longer wear white. Pumpkin spice has returned to coffee and sweet shops everywhere. In some places the leaves are already starting to change and I'm sitting here watching Hocus Pocus while writing this post.

It's a quiet weekend for me. Which means I have plenty of time to think, overthink, and think some more. Writing in my blog helps me organize my thoughts and try to make heads or tails of the crazy that is my life. This topic has been buzzing around in my mind for a while, but last night, before bed, I was kept up by a single question. What is the sound of silence?

I really like the song, The Sound of Silence, originally sung by Simon and Garfunkel and covered by Disturbed. I like both versions, but there is something truly haunting about the Disturbed version (I might get a little heat for that, but it's my honest opinion and I love rock). I was also inspired to ask this question because during my meditation and yoga practice, I am encouraged to maintain stillness and block out the surrounding noise. This can be particularly difficult in a noisy gym.

But in all seriousness, what does silence sound like? Its hard to wrap my head around. There's the metaphorical sound of silence. Where it is people who are silent for one reason or another on an issue (usually, but not necessarily, out of fear or political). Its one way to interpret the question.

Then there's the literal meaning of the phrase. Can silence have a sound? Isn't silence by definition the a sense of sound? 

Unless I suddenly become deaf or travel to outer space (because Ridley Scott taught us that in space no one can hear you scream), I won't find my answer. I'm sure I could (politely) ask, but would I be able to understand the answer?

Throughout the day, I am bombarded with different sounds. I love working to music or leaving the TV on while I cook and clean. I live across the street from a train station and I don't even notice the trains coming and going anymore. Crickets are constantly chirping as the sun starts to set and the three beagles downstairs make it impossible to sneak out of my own apartment (not that I need to sneak out, but they always announce my comings and goings and are super adorable). 

The amount of sounds I hear throughout the day can be overwhelming. I personally don't like going to concerts and haunted houses because the sounds can be too over stimulating for me. When I do find a quiet space, the noise is still there, but it's not as overwhelming. I am almost able to completely block out all outside noise, especially if I'm meditating.

One of my yoga teachers likes to talk about using sensory deprivation tanks. They showed one on the show Stranger Things to get El to the Upside Down world. My yoga teacher says that they get "visions" while in he tank. There isn't any light in the tank, but the mind will still create visions for them. I wonder if the same thing happens when in absolute silence.

Could the sound of silence be a peaceful mind? A sound that is still there, but still? Could it be phantom Maybe that's why I find this question so vexing. There are so many ways to interpret it. Some are positive, some are negative, and some are just neutral.

So what is the sound of silence?

I have no idea, but I'm sure it's different for everyone.

Welcome To The "What If Loop"

Or Why Being A "New" Adult Is Stressful

I like security and familiarity. It's probably why I have such a hard time getting rid of silly things like pictures or all of my books. I feel at home with them. Unfortunately this past year hasn't been the kindest to my sense of stability and familiarity.

Sure, I have a stable job and income, but I just moved several states away from all my friends and family. My roommate is great, but we've only known each other for a few months. Sure, I have my own room, but I sometimes still feel like I'm invading someone's space. It's a new experience that I don't have a reference point for. It makes me nervous and occasionally more paranoid than usual.

Then there is my questioning. Some days I worry that I'm going to wake up and find out I made this whole trip of to New Jersey up and that I don't actually work here. So far this fear hasn't become too irrational, but it's always in the back of my mind (variations of this include being fired, ending up in the emergency room for insert physical malady here, and insert horrible natural disaster here).

This leads to my "what if loop." What is a that? Basically it's how I think of my anxiety. When I'm really anxious, all I can think about it what if x, y, or z happens. Heck, sometimes I think in term of what if a, b, c or d didn't actually happen and instead I made them up (this happens a lot when I'm dating someone). 

These thought patterns used to not be that bad. They usually followed along the lines of "what if I don't pass this test" or "what if I forget my lunch at home." Sure it was hard to concentrate thinking like that and I tended to make them seem bigger than they really were, but they weren't all that life changing. Now, though, there's a lot more that can change. I don't feel that I have the same safety nets I did in college. These are the worse when I can't fall asleep or am so worked up that I can't stop talking in a loop.

Okay, yeah, everyone is a phone call/text message/ skype call/email away, but it isn't the same as seeing them in person. There are days where I wish I didn't worry all the time (then again, I sometimes wonder if I'd be happy if I didn't worry about something).

The trick is trying to stay calm and just go with what ever is happening. I have to remind myself that I can't control everything and that I need to calm down enough to make a critical decision.

How do I calm myself down? I think there's already a blog post about that (Welcome to Self Reflection should be it), but in a nut shell, Yoga, meditation and writing help out a lot. My focus doesn't even need to be on my problem while I'm doing any of those activities. I am able to let it all out and feel mentally prepared for my next step.

Which could always lead me right off a cliff if I'm not paying attention. It's a delicate balance.

Until next week.

If you enjoyed this post (or it really pissed you off), please, like, share, or leave a comment. I love hearing from my readers and I hope you guys like hearing from me. Now to go figure out this life stuff.