In the Beginning
Hi! I’m Zach and this is the Contemplation Corner newsletter containing updates, blog posts, and interesting things from me.
This is the very first newsletter I've sent out, so good on you for being ahead of the curve. I'm new to this whole email-specific thing, so I'll be working to make it look and feel a bit better going forward.
First order of business: if you're receiving this email because you subscribed to the Interdisciple blog, but you don't want to be a part of this newsletter, go ahead and unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom--no hard feelings.
Updates
I'm moving across the country to go to grad school in a matter of weeks. I'm simultaneously excited to begin my new life in a new city and full of neurosis at the thought of leaving the little bubble life I've been living since March 2020. Last week I left my job after two and a half years, which was bittersweet. I'll miss the great people I got to meet and work with, as well as the open and honest company culture. I'm not being overly generous either--it really was a great place to work!
I've only lived in two states my entire life, and one of those states was only for undergrad. I'll be trading the Southwest for the Northeast, oppressive dry heat for bone-chilling snow, and stereotypically, gun-toting vigilantes for bleeding-heart liberals.
It'll be an adventure to say the least. I've been to the city before, have some family nearby, and hope to keep pretty busy with school, work, and everything else. Expect more updates on how that goes in the future.
Shifting Perspective
My family and I have been watching the show The White Lotus on HBO Max as of late. It's a satirical dark comedy about the lives of different guests at this beautiful hotel in Hawaii - which takes place over the course of a week.
It's awkward, often boring, and sometimes just plain weird - yet I can't look away. It's "an examination of what happens when the veneer of conventional sociability dissolves and the power struggles stoked by race, class, and gender erupt from beneath the surface of everyday life." If you watch the show looking for entertainment in the conventional form of action, tons of drama, or adventure, you'll be searching for a while.
The show has overall positive reviews online, with many people either loving or hating it. Those that love it, praise it for its weird and satiric humor, enjoyable cringe and slow-burn stories with layers, while those on the other side of the fence feel it possesses a boring script that's too slow and on-the-nose.
As I read through some of these reviews and heard the feedback about the show from my family members, I started to think about how the shifting of perspective when we watch a show, read a book, or talk to a friend can completely change the impact.
If something doesn't make sense or is not immediately enjoyable, try changing the perspective of which your viewing it. Call it "seeing both sides," but a simple mindset shift of "this art is uninspired" to "what's the story they're trying to tell here?" can make a big difference.
Interesting Things
I really enjoyed Tom's recent essay on craft and life. It caused me to examine my own life and craft in a different way than I normally do. I'm envious of the way he can create vivid scenes as well as insight in his work.
If you like the idea of the art of writing over lifeless content, I would highly recommend subscribing to him. Aside from being a great writer, he's been really helpful to me with my own writing practice, and his private discord is full of interesting conversations and talented folks.
As always, if you've got ideas, suggestions, or feedback, feel free to reply to this email or reach out on Twitter.
Until next time,
Z