If you were expecting this to be another joke filled installment about one or more of the characters of the semi-fictional rock band, Mike’s F’d Up Journey, then you may be disappointed. I wanted to take this opportunity to address you, the reader, directly and candidly. If I feel that the conversation (well it’s more of a monologue) gets too heavy, I’ll try to lighten the mood. After all, the most important thing to a blogger is not the fame, fortune or adoration from the opposite sex. It is the reader. Writers spend their time crafting their words to be read and those of you who take time out of your schedule to read these posts, even if it’s only one or two of them, well, you’re the reason we write. I wanted to take a break from the admittedly convoluted story line of a band on the verge of collapse and speak just as a writer.
This blog was originally conceived as a space for me to do some extra writing when I wasn’t busy working on my novel (which I am currently editing). MFJSF was never intended to be a series academic or journalistic blog like so many of the blogs my former colleagues and professors have worked on. I never expected this blog to be particularly popular, perhaps because it lacks an inherently practical purpose such as informing people of what is going on in some corner of the world. I do however feel that the blog does serve a purpose: it provides honest absurdity and hopefully a dose of sincere entertainment. I believe that both are important.
What do I mean by honest absurdity? In creating the characters and vignettes for this blog, I create big, distinctive personalities with very real concerns, problems or obsessions. The absurd elements, like having two anthropomorphic band members, a deranged manager with no source of actual income who manages to live a hedonistic life style, etc are all meant to be taken at face value. There are no undertones or elaborate metaphors there. The absurdity is honest because the relationships between the characters are meant to be rooted in a sense of reality. The humor and, hopefully, the poignancy comes not from the fact that the characters seem like living cartoons but because despite their over the top appearances/origins, they are very much human and not in a contrived way like in some modern sitcoms and dramas.
What is dishonest absurdity? You can turn on the 24 hour news channels to see that in action. You can see educated adults yelling at one another like children, leaders and businessmen lie on camera without breaking a sweat, people say horrible, unforgivably cruel things about people who are different than them on some show that they would never say to that person’s face. You’ll see people spend all of their energy trying to blame problems on someone else while making a tidy profit from that same problem. I don’t want to get too involved in this political discourse that’s more focused on appearance and reputation than actually accomplishing what would benefit people the most. I’ll leave that to those who want to do that sort of thing. My point is that when people distort the truth to serve the agenda they are selling you in order to influence what you buy or who you vote for, that’s dishonest absurdity.
For years I studied how people interact with one another, not only on an interpersonal level but also how the media tries to sell certain ideologies to whoever will watch/listen to their programming. I’m not here to lecture you on what to watch or who to listen to. That should be your decision based on your judgment. If I can tell you one thing, it’ll be this: think for yourself. It’s very easy to get into the trap of following the herd. Never forget to take the time to make up your own mind about things. Live your life, don’t harm anyone and think for yourself. I’ll stop now before this turns into some third rate advice column.
Where was I going? Right. Honest absurdity, depression and the creative mind. This blog is an ongoing creative project. It’s important to nourish the mind by pushing it every once in a while to not just passively receive or regurgitate information but also to do something independently. We can often be so preoccupied with appearance, with how we’re perceived that it becomes a bit like an albatross around our necks. Don’t be afraid to do something that is a little bit out there (as long as you don’t bother or hurt anybody; there’s no need to be a jerk about it).
This blog deals with the issues that any artist or creative person might face along the way. Depression, loneliness, getting carried away, integrity vs. success. Depression in particular remains an intriguing subject matter to explore with the character of Brick. Traditionally the subject is either frowned upon because it’s, well, depressing or it’s dismissed as being nothing more than a pity party or being emo. Considering the fact that many great artists as well as leaders have struggled to cope with the condition with various degrees of success, it makes it hard to ignore as a subject to explore in literature, or at least this blog. Some scientists even claim that those with depression are more likely to be empathic towards others as well as being more realistic in times of crisis than those who have never been depressed, and that makes it even more interesting. It’s a serious subject and as a writer I try to be respectful when I write about it without making it too morose or pretentious.
There is a dark beauty to depression. It commands its own language, its own palette of hues and even its own soundtrack. Only those who’ve been through it can begin to understand it but it’s not something that someone who has been through it would wish for others to experience if they didn’t have to. It offers one a new perspective on life and shows one how meaningless most of the minutiae that dominates modern life can be.
Well, I think I might have lost my train of thought. I guess I’ll make a few finishing remarks and send you on your way. This was never going to be a great blog that would be referenced by thousands of professionals and casual readers alike. What was the point of starting this blog? If you’ve read anything here that made you laugh, then this blog was worth it. If you’ve read anything here that brought a smile to your face, then this blog was worth it. If you enjoyed the characters or found something meaningful in one of the blog entries, then this blog was worth it. If you enjoyed the music clips I include at the end, then this blog was worth it. If you enjoy reading this blog because you just like to mock everything that I write, then I’ll be a bit confused and hurt but the blog was still worth it (at least you’re reading, right?).
As always, thank you for reading. I’ll try to continue writing for as long as I’m around to write, whether it is for years to come or only days. Life’s too short. Spend it doing what you want to do and having fun with your favorite people. Be good to each other and to yourselves. See you.
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