And can it even be avoided at all since our thinking and experience is necessarily self-referential?
I like how Hrvoje makes the helpful distinction between rote rumination/introspection and the looking out and away through the other people‘s perceptions and modeling (i.e., conversations, books). Or am I just reaching for straws?
A powerful reminder that balance in all things is necessary. I saw a video of Fran Lebowitz talking to Toni Morrison about how modern readers are blind to art by their narcissism - if they can’t ’see themselves’ in the writing then they don’t like it. Books are expected to be mirrors for the individual instead of windows into a wider world of experience. it’s an interesting idea. And as someone who is often bored by myself, I enjoy the call to look beyond the navel.
To play devil’s advocate, is this piece itself not teetering on introspection? Can it even be avoided in this genre of writing?
(This is coming from a fellow over-ruminator)
it is. I should’ve addressed the irony. I think it’s inescapable, at least in this genre, so my advice is not to spend too much time on it.
And can it even be avoided at all since our thinking and experience is necessarily self-referential?
I like how Hrvoje makes the helpful distinction between rote rumination/introspection and the looking out and away through the other people‘s perceptions and modeling (i.e., conversations, books). Or am I just reaching for straws?
you are not, Brigitte. gaze should be focused outwards.
“Ground your writing in yourself, in your own experience, but don’t linger on it — reach for the outer.”
— I’m going to be thinking about that line for a while.
A really interesting take, Hrvoje. :)
glad you like it. thanks for reading, Michael.
A powerful reminder that balance in all things is necessary. I saw a video of Fran Lebowitz talking to Toni Morrison about how modern readers are blind to art by their narcissism - if they can’t ’see themselves’ in the writing then they don’t like it. Books are expected to be mirrors for the individual instead of windows into a wider world of experience. it’s an interesting idea. And as someone who is often bored by myself, I enjoy the call to look beyond the navel.
Interesting. I like reading fiction precisely because it takes me out of my own self-absorption. Thanks for reading, Evelyn!
Exactly!
This is great
wow. thank you. means a lot coming from you. I’m a big fan of your writing.