I played with a similar concept in my novel. Instead of painstaking world-building, I left a lot to the imagination. For example, I have one character, Ethan Odhiambo who actually changes sides in the conflict. The only thing you know about him is his name and position. You learn he's a runner and only later is there a vague reference to where his family comes from. I don't describe his physical features or anything. I leave a ton of empty space.
I only truly describe the two main characters. Even explicit details about the scenes are quiet unless they advance the plot.
In contrast, J.R.R. Tolkien did incredible world-building with intimate details and stories down to developing his own languages (Elvish to name one)
Robert Jordan, of The Wheel of Time fame, also had tons of details and characters. In fact, after Fourteen books! what I can say is that he got lost in his own story and it took Brandon Sanderson to weave the conclusion from hundreds of detailed threads.
This happens in musical composition for me. Upon re-listening to a mix while writing, I can hear the empty spaces fill up in my head—a string counter melody or a blast of trumpet punctuation. A chorus of damn angels if I let it. And inevitably when I strip it back out, trusting that an engaged listener might fill those rests with their own imagined score, it takes all my will to not shovel back in a load of fill. Space is good. Catch your breath.
I would love to hear an audio version of this. I think the same principles apply.
Some of my favorite punk or metal songs will have a nice little pause in there, just to remind you that you're going 8 million miles per hour. Without those pauses, you really don't quite notice.
I love that Bosch painting so much and remember getting lost in it at the Prado - worth the trip just for that.
This term is awesome and so interesting to think about - I may just do my own post on it ;) Horror vacui relates for me to the silences in writing too. When I first started creative writing earnestly in college stories, they were dense to the point of choking. (Faulkner was my obsession.) Then by grad school, I came upon Carole Maso - poetic with her constant line breaks and pauses - and learned that that space for leaving the reader with their own thoughts and making their own connections is also so valid. Just white space on the page to breathe can be so valuable. As an artist, it's definitely hard not to try to fill that - as in real life.
I can definitely relate to this "constant need to be engaged or doing something."
This also reminds me of an experiment (had to Google it, but here it is: https://www.science.org/content/article/people-would-rather-be-electrically-shocked-left-alone-their-thoughts). In that study, researchers found that people chose to give themselves mild electric shocks when left alone without any other stimuli for 15 minutes. We're so bad at just sitting quietly and thinking that many of us would rather zap ourselves just to be "doing something."
That's why meditation and yoga sound like super easy and straightforward concepts, but damn is it hard to ACTUALLY sit with your thoughts and focus on sensations around you for any period of time. I believe the maximum I managed was around 15-20 minutes, and that was with guided meditation where there was always a person talking so I was still "doing something" by listening to them.
I don't know how much of it is "modern societal norms" and how much of it is simply "we're not intrinsically that great at introspection." I'm sure the modern pace of life has at least some role to play in it, but maybe the explanation is bigger than that.
Probably so. I'd argue that the number one contributing factor leading us not being introspective is the go-go-go mentality, and the idea that being away from our technology is anathema, but I am also sure there are other necessary (but not sufficient) conditions.
I can see this cause clearly, so naturally I want to point it out and rail against it. I know it's one thing that's making things worse for most humans, and so naturally I'm drawn (through Pareto's Principle) to this low-hanging fruit.
Really interesting post and I loved the Bosch. It's curious, but as far as I am aware (from my vantage point in Tokyo), Japanese aesthetics values empty space (you see a lot of it on the canvas). But on the other hand, Japanese websites tend to be very crowded, perhaps with their own Horror Vacui. Go figure.
Japanese art is really important in this conversation! That's how a lot of these concepts entered western art, too. I remember learning about Cezanne and Van Gogh being super into the more compositional/minimalist stuff, which is kind of funny for Van Gogh in particular (notorious for his own horror vacui!).
If we never take the time to sit with the empty spaces of the canvas of our lives, we won’t really know how to optimally paint those spaces when we DO move
I like how you tied this together, Andrew. My day today started at 4:30 am so I could go to the 6 am class- where I sprained muscles in my rotator cuff, that apparently isn’t a cuff at all, more about that later. I also accidentally made the instructor pass out because I held my choke too long. It scared the shit out of me. I thought he was having a seizure or messing with me as he snored and convulsed on the floor. I’ve never been so happy to see someone wake up in my life. Then yoga, a dentist appointment, medication picked up, and during all this, my phone stopped working. I couldn’t text or call anyone that didn’t have an iPhone. And because I couldn’t bare not knowing if people needed me, or could reach me like my kids. I went straight to the AT&T store for a new phone(2 hours later), then to the Chiropractor for my shoulder. I’m just walking in the door and instead of laying down, I open my email to see this newsletter. Now here I am still riding the excitement and terror of the morning and filling up every inch of my day. Why can’t I stop? What am I running from? Grief. Because when I stop and sit in my empty house when my kids are with their dad; I am left to feel pain of loss. Loss of my daughter who just passed away in May, the loss of my marriage. The loss of my close friendships now states away. Stuck in an unfamiliar city, that while I do like it, feels foreign too. I’ve always been a fill up every inch and minute of my day kind of gal- go go go go, no excuses, just get it done, because once’s it’s all done, I’ll be able to relax. BUT there is always more. Another thing, what’s next? I’m exceptional at a lot because of this drive, but the past 1.5 years has taught me that I have to rest, I have to be still, nothing is actually that urgent at all and I’m allowed to respond to the world when it makes sense for me, without the guilt that I could be missing out or letting something fall through the cracks or someone down. But it’s not my job to do everything or be everything for everyone. I forget sometimes and I have to force myself to be present. This was just the reminder I needed. So I’m going to shut down and sit on the porch and be with myself and my new friend grief who is always with me for a while.
I played with a similar concept in my novel. Instead of painstaking world-building, I left a lot to the imagination. For example, I have one character, Ethan Odhiambo who actually changes sides in the conflict. The only thing you know about him is his name and position. You learn he's a runner and only later is there a vague reference to where his family comes from. I don't describe his physical features or anything. I leave a ton of empty space.
I only truly describe the two main characters. Even explicit details about the scenes are quiet unless they advance the plot.
In contrast, J.R.R. Tolkien did incredible world-building with intimate details and stories down to developing his own languages (Elvish to name one)
Robert Jordan, of The Wheel of Time fame, also had tons of details and characters. In fact, after Fourteen books! what I can say is that he got lost in his own story and it took Brandon Sanderson to weave the conclusion from hundreds of detailed threads.
Do you hate the show like most WOT fans? I like it, but I've never read the series (and won't any time soon). Alley has to yell at the TV a lot.
They totally changed the story in a lot of ways. As expected considering the current social politics.
But is it good, like fun to watch? Do you enjoy the show?
Tolerable
This happens in musical composition for me. Upon re-listening to a mix while writing, I can hear the empty spaces fill up in my head—a string counter melody or a blast of trumpet punctuation. A chorus of damn angels if I let it. And inevitably when I strip it back out, trusting that an engaged listener might fill those rests with their own imagined score, it takes all my will to not shovel back in a load of fill. Space is good. Catch your breath.
I would love to hear an audio version of this. I think the same principles apply.
Some of my favorite punk or metal songs will have a nice little pause in there, just to remind you that you're going 8 million miles per hour. Without those pauses, you really don't quite notice.
I love that Bosch painting so much and remember getting lost in it at the Prado - worth the trip just for that.
This term is awesome and so interesting to think about - I may just do my own post on it ;) Horror vacui relates for me to the silences in writing too. When I first started creative writing earnestly in college stories, they were dense to the point of choking. (Faulkner was my obsession.) Then by grad school, I came upon Carole Maso - poetic with her constant line breaks and pauses - and learned that that space for leaving the reader with their own thoughts and making their own connections is also so valid. Just white space on the page to breathe can be so valuable. As an artist, it's definitely hard not to try to fill that - as in real life.
Fun stuff to ponder as always.
I love this take! If you end up doing this, let me know - I'll be sure to read it (I do tend to read all of your stuff anyway, but just in case).
Now I need to visit the Prado. What else did you really enjoy there?
my memory is awful but some Goya and that odd Velasquez assemblage portrait with a nun and a dwarf etc. come to mind.
Will do!
And Depeche Mode, Enjoy the Silence is now in head...
Two things:
1. Goya is great! I would love to see some of his stuff in person, especially that Saturn munching one
2. We are seeing DM tonight!
OMG FOMO. You're so lucky, enjoy the show!
Minus the waiting, standing, sitting, lower back pain, and new music... this is going to be an unadulterated super duper fun experience!
I can definitely relate to this "constant need to be engaged or doing something."
This also reminds me of an experiment (had to Google it, but here it is: https://www.science.org/content/article/people-would-rather-be-electrically-shocked-left-alone-their-thoughts). In that study, researchers found that people chose to give themselves mild electric shocks when left alone without any other stimuli for 15 minutes. We're so bad at just sitting quietly and thinking that many of us would rather zap ourselves just to be "doing something."
That's why meditation and yoga sound like super easy and straightforward concepts, but damn is it hard to ACTUALLY sit with your thoughts and focus on sensations around you for any period of time. I believe the maximum I managed was around 15-20 minutes, and that was with guided meditation where there was always a person talking so I was still "doing something" by listening to them.
Yes! I remember that headline, and I remember thinking to myself, "Yep, sounds about right."
Our societal norms are breaking us.
I don't know how much of it is "modern societal norms" and how much of it is simply "we're not intrinsically that great at introspection." I'm sure the modern pace of life has at least some role to play in it, but maybe the explanation is bigger than that.
Probably so. I'd argue that the number one contributing factor leading us not being introspective is the go-go-go mentality, and the idea that being away from our technology is anathema, but I am also sure there are other necessary (but not sufficient) conditions.
I can see this cause clearly, so naturally I want to point it out and rail against it. I know it's one thing that's making things worse for most humans, and so naturally I'm drawn (through Pareto's Principle) to this low-hanging fruit.
Andrew officially crosses the line into "Old Man Yells At (Digital") Cloud" territory! https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/old-man-yells-at-cloud
I think that was about 15 years ago, but I'm admittedly in a really weird spot between the fast-approaching future and the past.
Really interesting post and I loved the Bosch. It's curious, but as far as I am aware (from my vantage point in Tokyo), Japanese aesthetics values empty space (you see a lot of it on the canvas). But on the other hand, Japanese websites tend to be very crowded, perhaps with their own Horror Vacui. Go figure.
Japanese art is really important in this conversation! That's how a lot of these concepts entered western art, too. I remember learning about Cezanne and Van Gogh being super into the more compositional/minimalist stuff, which is kind of funny for Van Gogh in particular (notorious for his own horror vacui!).
If we never take the time to sit with the empty spaces of the canvas of our lives, we won’t really know how to optimally paint those spaces when we DO move
Loved the post :)
Well said, Grant!
I am thoroughly disappointed in Substack for not removing your racist, anti-Semitic, spamming account after I’ve reported it multiple times
I like how you tied this together, Andrew. My day today started at 4:30 am so I could go to the 6 am class- where I sprained muscles in my rotator cuff, that apparently isn’t a cuff at all, more about that later. I also accidentally made the instructor pass out because I held my choke too long. It scared the shit out of me. I thought he was having a seizure or messing with me as he snored and convulsed on the floor. I’ve never been so happy to see someone wake up in my life. Then yoga, a dentist appointment, medication picked up, and during all this, my phone stopped working. I couldn’t text or call anyone that didn’t have an iPhone. And because I couldn’t bare not knowing if people needed me, or could reach me like my kids. I went straight to the AT&T store for a new phone(2 hours later), then to the Chiropractor for my shoulder. I’m just walking in the door and instead of laying down, I open my email to see this newsletter. Now here I am still riding the excitement and terror of the morning and filling up every inch of my day. Why can’t I stop? What am I running from? Grief. Because when I stop and sit in my empty house when my kids are with their dad; I am left to feel pain of loss. Loss of my daughter who just passed away in May, the loss of my marriage. The loss of my close friendships now states away. Stuck in an unfamiliar city, that while I do like it, feels foreign too. I’ve always been a fill up every inch and minute of my day kind of gal- go go go go, no excuses, just get it done, because once’s it’s all done, I’ll be able to relax. BUT there is always more. Another thing, what’s next? I’m exceptional at a lot because of this drive, but the past 1.5 years has taught me that I have to rest, I have to be still, nothing is actually that urgent at all and I’m allowed to respond to the world when it makes sense for me, without the guilt that I could be missing out or letting something fall through the cracks or someone down. But it’s not my job to do everything or be everything for everyone. I forget sometimes and I have to force myself to be present. This was just the reminder I needed. So I’m going to shut down and sit on the porch and be with myself and my new friend grief who is always with me for a while.
Let it linger as long as you need to, Kaiha! I really appreciate the vulnerability you shared here.