Mixed Bag of Thoughts

Sometimes while I'm going through my day to day, I have very random thoughts that result in me going down rabbit holes.  I realized that I want to write about these thought threads in order to get them out on "paper" but also realize that they probably won't warrant a full multi-paragraph post.  So we'll have a go and see what happens.

I'm currently reading Red Rising by Pierce Brown and I've read my fair share of dystopian young adult series throughout the years (i.e., The Hunger Games, Maze Runner, etc.) and I find the overall themes of climbing out of oppression by means of pitting children/teens in violent competition/survival scenarios astonishing.  Red Rising is no different as teens are put into different groups based on a caste system and then forced to quarrel and survive until there's a winner.  I imagine our fascination with this type of story can probably be traced back to Lord of the Flies.  Perhaps there's something even before then.  Without getting into a full on tangent, I find it especially interesting that there's this draw to societies where equality and equity are absent and the goal is to see those at the bottom of the caste system given "opportunities" to climb out of their socio-economic situation.  I do however enjoy the thought of meritocracy leading the way to victory.  Obviously, I would never say "we have enough of these stories" because they do have unique characters, settings, and writing styles behind them.  I just find myself getting bored whenever I dive into a new one because I feel like I know how they end--at least the first book.  Usually, the second and third books of these trilogies/series do present themselves as a little more original and fresh.  I'm kind of looking for one to exceed my expectations which is hard to find.  I think Red Rising has given me enough to continue the series.

I've jumped straight into a binge 90s movies mode the last few weeks, finding the storytelling far more compelling than the films released in recent years (with few exceptions of course).  It probably comes down to super hero and cinematic universe fatigue which I discussed at length a while back.  I think I've determined that the script writing had more quality back then.  While the special effects were not great in many cases (they still hold up in films like Terminator 2 and Jurassic Park), the acting, direction, and cinematography were not at all inferior to what we see today.  Action, Drama, comedy all have great films that seem like they wouldn't be made today.  That's probably more so in comedies.  Come on, you won't see Austin Powers made nowadays.  Far too many people would get offended and God forbid we do that in art anymore.  I expect eventually we'll see a resurgence of quality storytelling in film but until then, I'm going to enjoy these 90s classics.

Something I got into back in 2020 when I was "forced" to telework was true crime.  Ah, yes, true crime!  That wondrous world of crappy people--the dregs of society--deciding their wants and desires superseded the rights of loved ones and strangers alike (can you sense my disdain?).  I fell in deep in the beginning consuming whatever documentary I could find that fed the thirst.  I actually enjoy seeing how people think they can outsmart the authorities but often overlook some piece of evidence that inevitably leads to their arrest.  It was funny because I told my wife about some of these stories I came across about spouses offing each other in an attempt to acquire life insurance payouts.  I could only shake my head because so often these dimwits thought it was better to orphan their children rather than getting a divorce (not an easy choice by any means) because for them, the "image" of divorce was just not worth it...  Follow that logic with me.  You'd rather remove your spouse from the face of the earth and risk putting yourself in prison, leaving your children without either parent with trauma, because divorce was just not a good look for you in your religious community...  I just don't get it.  Anyway, I've enjoyed a lot of these stories simply because I find people and their choices and motives compelling from a storytelling point of view.

Side note:  Many of these true crime documentaries led me down the path of documentaries on cults like Wild Wild Country (check it out if you haven't) and that became a huge fascination, which has influenced Find Us in the Shivering.  Expect more of that element to come about especially with the introduction of the town's leader, Anson.  

Also, Find Us in the Shivering will be showcasing a different kind of art this week since Jared will be out of town.  It's an image we discussed a while back when thinking about "branding" for the series.  The goal is to use it for merchandising (coming soon), which will support us and probably be used as a placeholder as our schedules can sometimes get very busy.  

Another bonus we're working on is an old time gazette from during the time around the founding of the valley and town of Find Us in the Shivering.  This will be a single page (digital) that will showcase stories as well as plenty of creepy easter eggs that hint at the oddities and weirdness surrounding what Josh will eventually find himself embroiled in.  It's a fun side project that I need to work on more but definitely look forward to that in the near future as well.  

Finally, I want to say thanks to you all for reading and supporting me in this fun endeavor.  It's been a rewarding process that has stretched me and allowed for writing consistently.  It's still early on even though it feels like a lot longer than three months.  Make sure to subscribe (you can do so for free), share with others on Facebook and/or Instagram, and comment!  Don't let my parents be the only ones, lol.