I like to think of myself as a poet.
Perhaps this is an ambition shared by many people, for whom capturing ideas in words - perhaps fewer words than might otherwise be the case if simple prose were used - so that complex and original ideas might be communicated.
In more recent times, my creative writing has shifted naturally towards prose, and I am actively engaged in writing what will be my second novel.
My first I wrote when I was around 30, and it took me the best part of a whole year to write.
But then, writing a novel is never going to be an easy task. Whatever its quality.
Put simply, a novel is simply an extended work of prose, and its completion is as much a matter of discipline as anything else.
In this I can speak from experience, and even though few people even know of the existence of this piece of writing, those that have seen it, have said kind things about it.
More recently, I have taken it out of its now digital draw, and dusted it off metaphorically, and one of my carers, an avid reader, has read it over the Summer with a view to my editing it with the assistance of an external eye, and thereby completing it.
Whilst poetry has the benefit of brevity in most cases, if a novel consists of say 150,000 words, and my personal writing tariff for this second novel is 500 words per day, working six days a week, making 3000 words per week. The maths as to the time it will take simply to write it is not difficult to work out.
Editing and no doubt rewriting parts of it will now doubt add considerably to the time it takes.
500 words a day is a good manageable target, and most weeks I achieve what I have set out to achieve.
Sometimes I will take time out, but I miss not writing my tariff. And I have currently written almost 88,000 words. Perhaps about half of what I feel will be a sufficient total, to tell the story that is in my head and heart.
Strangely, this blog entry is about poetry. A form of poetry that is quite exceptional and unusual.
It is about a film, that is over 30 years old, and which to my knowledge, is almost the only example of its kind.
Because it is a full length film, one hour and 20 minutes, and part of a trilogy of films that were created over the course of more than 20 years.
They are an unusual trilogy of films, and probably most people will never have heard of them let alone seen them.
Because they are after all rather different from what we have come to expect of this medium.
Because they do not have a typical narrative, nor do they have actors or performers.
They are almost entirely without words, though they have a strong soundtrack, by composer Philip Glass.
And some aspects of the music are composed to words, although these words do not of themselves constitute by any means a narrative.
The title of the first film is Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out of Balance, which is a native American word which is broadly translated by way of an introduction to the first film as life out of balance.
It is a remarkable achievement, and I suppose I feel fortunate to have seen the first film in this trilogy when it was first released in the United Kingdom in the early 1980s.
This coincided with the time that I was at university in London, and I suppose as a young undergraduate student, I was more willing and open to attending something that was not exactly a roaring success at the box office.
Although it did apparently make a small profit for the filmmakers.
It is one of the great benefits of the Internet, that it is possible to discover information about something as obscure as this film I believe still remains simply by searching on Google.
This week, I watched the first film in this trilogy once again, or perhaps it would be more truthful to say that I have listened to it.
Because whilst it is obviously something to be watched in its entirety, it is an o aural experience as much as a visual one.
And I was reminded of the fact that I have had the great pleasure of having seen the film projected in a concert hall with the soundtrack played live by The Philip Glass Ensemble.
An unusual experience in the United Kingdom, which took place because I happen to live close enough to Brighton to have attended a concert performance given by Philip Glass himself, with His Ensemble.
I have never heard so many Californian accents in one room in Britain in my life.
Apparently, the tickets sold out within 20 minutes of being on sale, and it was only the fact that a close friend bought three tickets in order to take me along as a present that I was able to attend.
It is one of those privileged experiences that I will always treasure.
But I would encourage anyone who is able to to gain access to a copy of this film, which is I believe now available on DVD, after many years of wrangling over copyright which kept it out of print.
I have never seen the second and third films in the trilogy, though I do have copies of them.
One day, I will certainly devote the time needed to catch them, as I am sure they will be worth it.
Sunday 21 July 2013
Wednesday 17 July 2013
Consumed By A Black Hole
We understand very little about black holes.
Their existence has been determined primarily as a theoretical construct, part of the theorising of particle physicists trying to determine the ultimate nature of the universe.
But theory is about to be added to by observation, as cosmic events are set to take place that will be visible from Earth during the next several months, events that have their origins in the mists of time, becoming visible as a consequence of a physical separation of around 26 million light years.
This Summer, it seems, what it has been possible to observe using radio telescopes from Earth will make it possible for scientists to see what happens as matter is consumed by a black hole.
There is apparently a black hole at the heart of most galaxies, and our own galaxy, the Milky Way, is no exception.
In the constellation of Sagittarius close to the heart of our galaxy scientists have observed as a gas cloud, possibly the debris from a decayed star that has reached the end of its life, is about to enter our own black hole.
This process is vividly described as feeding, and already deep space observations have identified fluctuations in x-ray emissions that have been attributed to the consequences of matter entering into this black hole.
It seems that the temperature of the matter is raised by millions of degrees, and as a consequence, it has been possible to observe massive fluctuations in it the emanation of x-rays as vast quantities of energy have been released.
The kind of energy equivalent to millions of times that emitted from our own Sun.
Scientists are expecting the consequences of this feeding event to be visible from Earth over the next several months, and it is expected that we will learn a great deal about the life cycle and perhaps functioning of black holes.
All of this is extraordinary stuff, almost impossible to comprehend within the constraints of our understanding of events at the far reaches of our potential for observation.
But it is food for thought. I am already beginning to try to contemplate as a writer just exactly what these kind of events might signify from a purely fictional point of view.
Black holes have often figured in science fiction stories as a means of enabling travel between different parts of our universe, and in truth, these imaginings are just as valuable as the theoretical constructs of particle physicists.
The extremes that have been conjured in the theorising concerning black holes is rather extraordinary.
Most schoolboys will be familiar with the concept that a black hole generates the kind of extremes of gravity such as to make close observation completely impossible.
Even if we had developed the kind of space travel that has been the subject of film-makers imaginations for the past 50 or so years.
It will be interesting to keep up to date with the abstruse world of those observing these events, using the kind of observational techniques which seem of themselves almost to be the subject of science fiction.
Whatever the case, this Summer seems set to be interesting for many reasons.
And it will be worth trying to appreciate what we think we understand about this most arcane area of study, for what light it may shed on our appreciation of the nature of the universe.
Their existence has been determined primarily as a theoretical construct, part of the theorising of particle physicists trying to determine the ultimate nature of the universe.
But theory is about to be added to by observation, as cosmic events are set to take place that will be visible from Earth during the next several months, events that have their origins in the mists of time, becoming visible as a consequence of a physical separation of around 26 million light years.
This Summer, it seems, what it has been possible to observe using radio telescopes from Earth will make it possible for scientists to see what happens as matter is consumed by a black hole.
There is apparently a black hole at the heart of most galaxies, and our own galaxy, the Milky Way, is no exception.
In the constellation of Sagittarius close to the heart of our galaxy scientists have observed as a gas cloud, possibly the debris from a decayed star that has reached the end of its life, is about to enter our own black hole.
This process is vividly described as feeding, and already deep space observations have identified fluctuations in x-ray emissions that have been attributed to the consequences of matter entering into this black hole.
It seems that the temperature of the matter is raised by millions of degrees, and as a consequence, it has been possible to observe massive fluctuations in it the emanation of x-rays as vast quantities of energy have been released.
The kind of energy equivalent to millions of times that emitted from our own Sun.
Scientists are expecting the consequences of this feeding event to be visible from Earth over the next several months, and it is expected that we will learn a great deal about the life cycle and perhaps functioning of black holes.
All of this is extraordinary stuff, almost impossible to comprehend within the constraints of our understanding of events at the far reaches of our potential for observation.
But it is food for thought. I am already beginning to try to contemplate as a writer just exactly what these kind of events might signify from a purely fictional point of view.
Black holes have often figured in science fiction stories as a means of enabling travel between different parts of our universe, and in truth, these imaginings are just as valuable as the theoretical constructs of particle physicists.
The extremes that have been conjured in the theorising concerning black holes is rather extraordinary.
Most schoolboys will be familiar with the concept that a black hole generates the kind of extremes of gravity such as to make close observation completely impossible.
Even if we had developed the kind of space travel that has been the subject of film-makers imaginations for the past 50 or so years.
It will be interesting to keep up to date with the abstruse world of those observing these events, using the kind of observational techniques which seem of themselves almost to be the subject of science fiction.
Whatever the case, this Summer seems set to be interesting for many reasons.
And it will be worth trying to appreciate what we think we understand about this most arcane area of study, for what light it may shed on our appreciation of the nature of the universe.
Tuesday 16 July 2013
Sea Monsters Really Do Exist
I don’t watch every television documentary about the Natural world by any means.
But like most people, I am always interested to discover something new about our understanding of the Natural world.
And just recently, BBC showed a remarkable documentary about the search to obtain footage from deep beneath the Oceans of giant squid.
These have been thought to exist, because of the stories that have been told for centuries by sailors, and in more modern times, by the occasional discovery of specimens that have usually washed up dead on beaches somewhere.
The evidence has been quite compelling that there has been some credence in the stories told by sailors of having seen entire ships pulled beneath the waves by giant squid, and additionally it has been observed that some Sperm Whales carry the kind of scars that indicate that perhaps they have been involved in a deadly struggle with such a creature.
This was an extraordinary documentary, and usefully without adverts on British BBC television, it falls nevertheless compelling in its sense of drama.
Quite simply, it focused on an expedition to seek out the giant squid, just off one of the islands of Japan, in what were described as pristine seas, u un-spoilt by any form of pollution, and with depths commensurate with what has been theorised about where such a creature might be hidden.
It was quite amazing to see a professor that has devoted around 40 years of study to this particular animal, accompanying a varied expedition of specialists in all kinds of fields associated with ocean depths.
The craft available to the scientists included two distinct machines, capable of diving to around 1000 feet.
As well as thisa third machoperate as a simple remote camera, capable of filming for up to 30 hours continuously at great depths.
Armed with all of this technology, the team set off for an area of sea from which the larger quantities of squid had been recovered.
It was helpful to be told from the outset that the expedition would be more successful than anyone could have hoped for, this knowledge not distracting from the sense of expectation as to what might be captured.
What was quite extraordinary when images were first captured was the drama of the Actual images.
First with successful images was the remote camera, which brought back images from a depth of 600 feet that showed distant passing shots of something resembling what was being sought.
And then, one of the techniques to be used by the team was introduced, that the Prof had given up one of his valuable frozen specimens so that it could be liquidised and used as a simple signal lure, telling any squid within sensing distance that a female was in the area.
This liquidised juice was then released into the sea by a simple form of syringe, fitted to the front of one of the diving vessels.
Each of the two primary vessels were equipped with Excellent All Round vision, and with special high-definition cameras that had been developed exclusively for this use.
The results when they came were extraordinary.
And as special as the actual confirmation of the existence of such an extraordinary creature was the sense of Revelation experienced by the elderly professor, seeing for the first time in the flesh a creature he had previously only seen in the form of dead specimens, or part specimens.
It is quite sobering to be reminded that we can still be so amazed at new discoveries in the animal kingdom.
I suspect that these images have been seen by many people that subscribe to things like the Discovery Channel, but this was my first opportunity to see such an extraordinary documentary.
And I am sure it will not be the last!
But like most people, I am always interested to discover something new about our understanding of the Natural world.
And just recently, BBC showed a remarkable documentary about the search to obtain footage from deep beneath the Oceans of giant squid.
These have been thought to exist, because of the stories that have been told for centuries by sailors, and in more modern times, by the occasional discovery of specimens that have usually washed up dead on beaches somewhere.
The evidence has been quite compelling that there has been some credence in the stories told by sailors of having seen entire ships pulled beneath the waves by giant squid, and additionally it has been observed that some Sperm Whales carry the kind of scars that indicate that perhaps they have been involved in a deadly struggle with such a creature.
This was an extraordinary documentary, and usefully without adverts on British BBC television, it falls nevertheless compelling in its sense of drama.
Quite simply, it focused on an expedition to seek out the giant squid, just off one of the islands of Japan, in what were described as pristine seas, u un-spoilt by any form of pollution, and with depths commensurate with what has been theorised about where such a creature might be hidden.
It was quite amazing to see a professor that has devoted around 40 years of study to this particular animal, accompanying a varied expedition of specialists in all kinds of fields associated with ocean depths.
The craft available to the scientists included two distinct machines, capable of diving to around 1000 feet.
As well as thisa third machoperate as a simple remote camera, capable of filming for up to 30 hours continuously at great depths.
Armed with all of this technology, the team set off for an area of sea from which the larger quantities of squid had been recovered.
It was helpful to be told from the outset that the expedition would be more successful than anyone could have hoped for, this knowledge not distracting from the sense of expectation as to what might be captured.
What was quite extraordinary when images were first captured was the drama of the Actual images.
First with successful images was the remote camera, which brought back images from a depth of 600 feet that showed distant passing shots of something resembling what was being sought.
And then, one of the techniques to be used by the team was introduced, that the Prof had given up one of his valuable frozen specimens so that it could be liquidised and used as a simple signal lure, telling any squid within sensing distance that a female was in the area.
This liquidised juice was then released into the sea by a simple form of syringe, fitted to the front of one of the diving vessels.
Each of the two primary vessels were equipped with Excellent All Round vision, and with special high-definition cameras that had been developed exclusively for this use.
The results when they came were extraordinary.
And as special as the actual confirmation of the existence of such an extraordinary creature was the sense of Revelation experienced by the elderly professor, seeing for the first time in the flesh a creature he had previously only seen in the form of dead specimens, or part specimens.
It is quite sobering to be reminded that we can still be so amazed at new discoveries in the animal kingdom.
I suspect that these images have been seen by many people that subscribe to things like the Discovery Channel, but this was my first opportunity to see such an extraordinary documentary.
And I am sure it will not be the last!
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