The topic of how we work and consume as creatives has been on my mind for years now and it's becoming ever more pressing. Two books I think you'd enjoy on the topic are "How To Do Nothing" by Jenny Odell and "The Extinction of Experience" by Christen Rosen
Dear Liv, thank you for your comment, and indeed, it's a vast and very personal topic, but it's so worth it to explore. Thanks for your recommendations, I've read Jenny Odell's book, and I enjoyed it, but I share the criticism that the book has sometimes a little tendency towards elitism, assuming that we all share the resources and capacities to take time off in nature, as well as the mental capacity and education to follow the principles of mindfulness. Regardless of this, I think there are a few valuable lessons in that book, and it spoke to me as it fits my personal situation and is adaptable to my work and family life.
I didn't know the other book, thank you for your recommendation, I will look into it!
I would agree with the criticism, that How To Do Nothing has a tendency towards elitism (like unfortunately many resources around the topic do). Christen Rosen tends to write in absolutes in her book, so I’d take it with a grain of salt. But she covers a wide range of topics (many of which might be interesting for your ongoing series!), so it’s definitely food for thought.
I'm very much looking forward to your next videos!
In the last couple of months or year, I found myself thinking a lot:
"Curation is the key" - we have unlimited access to content and work.
The lack of curation speeds up the overflow. A photographer once said to me: I am only looking at pictures that are printed..... that's one way to slow down and connect.
Enjoying curated work or curating before diving deeper is something to look into and will play a key role in the creative (digital) world.
This resonates deeply with me! Thank you so much, Ramon! I feel like this is the biggest challenge for the time we live in: we look way too often outside (endless scrolling) and spend way too little time looking inside and what we really care about and what really matters to us. This is such a great reminder!
and yes, indeed, I think we need to re-learn many things lost along the way. It's like a pendulum, modern technology doesn't go away, and this is for the biggest part a good thing in my opinion, but we need to find the balance again and listen to our brains and guts. Glad you enjoyed the piece!
Thank you, Ramon. This resonates with me! I am on the journey with you. I first read Thomas Merton in the 1970s: that he still speaks to us today is witness to further degradation of our relationships and attention. If you haven’t read it, Jenny Odell’s _How to do nothing_ addresses the question of attention from a different location. Thanks again! Tschüss!
Thank you, Marcello! It's indeed a long journey, but it's so worth it to dig deeper and get back to the roots of influence and inspiration, and probably this is a neverending learning process. Jenny Odell was a huge influence on me as well, but it has been a while since i read How to Do Nothing, thanks for reminding me! Have a great Sunday!
Thanks much for this insightful piece, Ramon. I was drawn to it by your reference to Thomas Merton, as I serve on the board of the International Thomas Merton Society. Our Chicago Chapter is planning a presentation next month on topics relating to social media; the main talk by Richard Putz is entitled, “Thomas Merton and Marshall McLuhan have coffee and discuss the rise of Christian Nationalism in America,” while another speaker will discuss “Merton on Redeemed and Unredeemed Technology,” with references to Jacques Ellul. If possible and with permission, I would like to also see about playing this video for the group.
Dear Michael, thank you for getting back to me, and glad that you liked it! I would be honored if that video is played for the group, and that sounds very intriguing! I just recently stumbled upon Thomas Merton and his work, philosophy, and life really resonated with me! So Thanks again, and good luck with the presentation!
thanks again for these insights and thoughts about "housecleaning" as the overconsumption of social media and its "nonsense-input" it creates really concerns me in a way as i feel often overwhelmed by it.
So – to "plug yourself out" in order to find real connections is a good reminder – let's say "Arschtritt" (a kick up the bum) – to start real encounters & connections again. Some years ago I used to organize small gatherings of 4-6 friends & fellow photographers to show & discuss each others work. It was always so beautiful to see how happy everybody was to be able to meet, discuss and show the work in a familiar ambience.
I think it's time to finally revive this meetings. :)
.
It's beautiful to see here that your video resonates a lot with the viewers and that it opens up so many views & thoughts.
I became more reliant on social media during the covid pandemic, but I’ve been gradually getting back to healthier habits and intentionality, while also cultivating social connections online and maintaining creative outlets.
I’ve also been inspired by some of your other comments, and plan to occasionally try leaving my phone at home when I head out. I already make an effort to not reach for my phone during the morning coffee, as tempting as it may be to check what’s happening in the digital world.
Thanks Mike! Really appreciate your feedback, and I am currently digging deeper and write an episode on the small changes that actually worked for me which is coming within the next 2 weeks! It‘s quite the journey, and Covid was definitely when it got really bad!
Deep work and flow state are key topics which will dominate the next decades of not only creative minds but almost everyone in my opinion. Since a few months now I'm researching on flow state and eventually planning on starting a long term photography project around that.
Cultivating a curated digital and physical space is a huge challenge for me but it seems like I've been able to create a productivity system which works for me now. A system which does not make me feel like important information is slipping through my fingers but also maintaining this required commitment.
"Stolen Focus" by Johann Hari might also be interesting for you :)
The topic of how we work and consume as creatives has been on my mind for years now and it's becoming ever more pressing. Two books I think you'd enjoy on the topic are "How To Do Nothing" by Jenny Odell and "The Extinction of Experience" by Christen Rosen
Dear Liv, thank you for your comment, and indeed, it's a vast and very personal topic, but it's so worth it to explore. Thanks for your recommendations, I've read Jenny Odell's book, and I enjoyed it, but I share the criticism that the book has sometimes a little tendency towards elitism, assuming that we all share the resources and capacities to take time off in nature, as well as the mental capacity and education to follow the principles of mindfulness. Regardless of this, I think there are a few valuable lessons in that book, and it spoke to me as it fits my personal situation and is adaptable to my work and family life.
I didn't know the other book, thank you for your recommendation, I will look into it!
I would agree with the criticism, that How To Do Nothing has a tendency towards elitism (like unfortunately many resources around the topic do). Christen Rosen tends to write in absolutes in her book, so I’d take it with a grain of salt. But she covers a wide range of topics (many of which might be interesting for your ongoing series!), so it’s definitely food for thought.
I'm very much looking forward to your next videos!
great input, as always! thank you!
In the last couple of months or year, I found myself thinking a lot:
"Curation is the key" - we have unlimited access to content and work.
The lack of curation speeds up the overflow. A photographer once said to me: I am only looking at pictures that are printed..... that's one way to slow down and connect.
Enjoying curated work or curating before diving deeper is something to look into and will play a key role in the creative (digital) world.
This resonates deeply with me! Thank you so much, Ramon! I feel like this is the biggest challenge for the time we live in: we look way too often outside (endless scrolling) and spend way too little time looking inside and what we really care about and what really matters to us. This is such a great reminder!
Thank you so much Susanne,
and yes, indeed, I think we need to re-learn many things lost along the way. It's like a pendulum, modern technology doesn't go away, and this is for the biggest part a good thing in my opinion, but we need to find the balance again and listen to our brains and guts. Glad you enjoyed the piece!
Thank you, Ramon. This resonates with me! I am on the journey with you. I first read Thomas Merton in the 1970s: that he still speaks to us today is witness to further degradation of our relationships and attention. If you haven’t read it, Jenny Odell’s _How to do nothing_ addresses the question of attention from a different location. Thanks again! Tschüss!
Thank you, Marcello! It's indeed a long journey, but it's so worth it to dig deeper and get back to the roots of influence and inspiration, and probably this is a neverending learning process. Jenny Odell was a huge influence on me as well, but it has been a while since i read How to Do Nothing, thanks for reminding me! Have a great Sunday!
Thanks much for this insightful piece, Ramon. I was drawn to it by your reference to Thomas Merton, as I serve on the board of the International Thomas Merton Society. Our Chicago Chapter is planning a presentation next month on topics relating to social media; the main talk by Richard Putz is entitled, “Thomas Merton and Marshall McLuhan have coffee and discuss the rise of Christian Nationalism in America,” while another speaker will discuss “Merton on Redeemed and Unredeemed Technology,” with references to Jacques Ellul. If possible and with permission, I would like to also see about playing this video for the group.
Dear Michael, thank you for getting back to me, and glad that you liked it! I would be honored if that video is played for the group, and that sounds very intriguing! I just recently stumbled upon Thomas Merton and his work, philosophy, and life really resonated with me! So Thanks again, and good luck with the presentation!
Dear Ramon,
thanks again for these insights and thoughts about "housecleaning" as the overconsumption of social media and its "nonsense-input" it creates really concerns me in a way as i feel often overwhelmed by it.
So – to "plug yourself out" in order to find real connections is a good reminder – let's say "Arschtritt" (a kick up the bum) – to start real encounters & connections again. Some years ago I used to organize small gatherings of 4-6 friends & fellow photographers to show & discuss each others work. It was always so beautiful to see how happy everybody was to be able to meet, discuss and show the work in a familiar ambience.
I think it's time to finally revive this meetings. :)
.
It's beautiful to see here that your video resonates a lot with the viewers and that it opens up so many views & thoughts.
All the best!
Thank you sharing these thoughts!
I became more reliant on social media during the covid pandemic, but I’ve been gradually getting back to healthier habits and intentionality, while also cultivating social connections online and maintaining creative outlets.
I’ve also been inspired by some of your other comments, and plan to occasionally try leaving my phone at home when I head out. I already make an effort to not reach for my phone during the morning coffee, as tempting as it may be to check what’s happening in the digital world.
Thanks Mike! Really appreciate your feedback, and I am currently digging deeper and write an episode on the small changes that actually worked for me which is coming within the next 2 weeks! It‘s quite the journey, and Covid was definitely when it got really bad!
This is so valuable, thank you!
Deep work and flow state are key topics which will dominate the next decades of not only creative minds but almost everyone in my opinion. Since a few months now I'm researching on flow state and eventually planning on starting a long term photography project around that.
Cultivating a curated digital and physical space is a huge challenge for me but it seems like I've been able to create a productivity system which works for me now. A system which does not make me feel like important information is slipping through my fingers but also maintaining this required commitment.
"Stolen Focus" by Johann Hari might also be interesting for you :)