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As some of you may know, I am suffering from a surfeit of Mishima (having just re-read The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea, one of my favorite books) and an even bigger surfeit of Dead Fathers/Grandfathers. As a consequence of my reaction to this, perhaps, I've been asked several times in the last few weeks why I habitually wear so many SKULLS about my person.
In a nutshell:
1) As memento mori: "As you are, I once was; as I am you shall be". The reminder of the inevitability of death is a spur to live life to the full. Both of my grandfathers (and my father to a lesser degree), whilst not famous or even remarkable in the literal sense, at death were justifiably proud of lives well lived. Mishima constantly reminds me of the need to live fully, and to remain true to a personal vision of "glorious destiny". I don't want to be famous, remarkable, or even leave a legacy; I'm not even particularly interested in being the best of anything. I do however, strive to transcend mediocrity (which is measurable solely against what I personally am capable of). I think the list of people that I admire reflects this: Brunel, Rucker, Newton, Darwin, Mishima, Cellini, Dewdney, Kavan, Kafka, Conway-Morris, Cuvier, Susan Van Noorden... (the list is interminable). All are flawed and human, yet somehow Great. They have the elusive quality that Mishima calls authenticity; Doers. Time is short and there is SO much to DO!!!
2) As an indication that practically since birth, I've been obsessed with taking biological things apart, to revel in the structures beneath. One of my happiest discoveries has been the Galerie d'Anatomie Comparee (click on Galerie de Paleontologie... button), and the nearby Grand Galerie d'Evolution in Paris, both places I could quite happily dissolve into and never be seen again.
Anyway, enough boredom for everyone. I've finally sussed out how to use my Olympus Mju Digital, so expect many City pics soon! (And pics of my new haircut, YAY!)
In a nutshell:
1) As memento mori: "As you are, I once was; as I am you shall be". The reminder of the inevitability of death is a spur to live life to the full. Both of my grandfathers (and my father to a lesser degree), whilst not famous or even remarkable in the literal sense, at death were justifiably proud of lives well lived. Mishima constantly reminds me of the need to live fully, and to remain true to a personal vision of "glorious destiny". I don't want to be famous, remarkable, or even leave a legacy; I'm not even particularly interested in being the best of anything. I do however, strive to transcend mediocrity (which is measurable solely against what I personally am capable of). I think the list of people that I admire reflects this: Brunel, Rucker, Newton, Darwin, Mishima, Cellini, Dewdney, Kavan, Kafka, Conway-Morris, Cuvier, Susan Van Noorden... (the list is interminable). All are flawed and human, yet somehow Great. They have the elusive quality that Mishima calls authenticity; Doers. Time is short and there is SO much to DO!!!
2) As an indication that practically since birth, I've been obsessed with taking biological things apart, to revel in the structures beneath. One of my happiest discoveries has been the Galerie d'Anatomie Comparee (click on Galerie de Paleontologie... button), and the nearby Grand Galerie d'Evolution in Paris, both places I could quite happily dissolve into and never be seen again.
Anyway, enough boredom for everyone. I've finally sussed out how to use my Olympus Mju Digital, so expect many City pics soon! (And pics of my new haircut, YAY!)