timotheories 2.0: Expanding Creativity and Community

Part 5: Building a New Path

Introduction

Hello dear readers! 

Welcome back to the final installment of my comeback series, From Renovation Chaos to Creative Clarity: My Comeback Story

Over the past four posts, I’ve shared my journey from creative burnout to reigniting my passion. In Part 1, The Hiatus (Or More Affectionately, I Hate This), I took you through the long stretch of challenges that began in 2017, including an extended home renovation project and professional stagnation, which left my creative pursuits sidelined. Part 2, Finding Purpose: Overcoming Creative Blockages, delved into the mental and emotional blocks I faced, and how building new routines, embracing growth, and relying on my support system helped me reconnect with my art.

Then, in Part 3, Finding Strength in a Storm: My Story of Growth, I shared how life’s unexpected twists—like adjusting to new relationships, becoming part of a blended family, and managing my mental health—became catalysts for growth. I also reflected on how creative outlets and a strong community, even in the form of surprising allies, helped me navigate these storms. Finally, in Part 4, Rekindling Creative Passion: My Journey Back, I revealed how this process of self-discovery and resilience led me to reignite my creative flame, with timotheories becoming my sound piece for exploring and sharing this renewed energy.

Now, in this final post, Building a New Path, it’s time to look ahead. 

With lessons learned, it’s not just about returning to form—it’s about evolving. I’ll walk you through my new vision for timotheories, outlining how the platform will grow beyond its original scope to incorporate new formats, deeper community engagement, and an even stronger focus on creativity and collaboration. This journey isn’t simply about recovery from burnout; it’s about creating a sustainable, fulfilling future for myself as an artist, an educator, and a leader in creative communities. 

Together, we’ll explore the steps I’ve taken to align my creative and professional goals, and how I plan to keep growing—both personally and within the timotheories ecosystem. 

And. 

And I’m going to explain how this builds a foundation for me to help you better. Here we go.

Creating a New Vision

Reflecting on my journey, building a new path really has been a profound and transformative experience, crystalline in fact. Almost 10 years later, what began as a blog outlet to express my thoughts on art has evolved into something much bigger. 

Through careful planning, strategic action, and resilience in the face of challenges, I’ve set the stage for a sustainable and inspiring future. 

The evolution of timotheories is simple. 

The platform is no longer just about creating content; it’s about fostering a community, encouraging creativity, and sharing meaningful insights that help others in their artistic journeys, whether they’re creators or patrons of the arts.

In navigating my creative hiatus and the challenges that came with it, I’ve come to realize that my journey with timotheories is far from finished. If anything, the difficulties I faced provided me with a much clearer vision for the platform’s future, because I had to reconnect with myself at the source. I firmly believe that the best is yet to come. 

William S. Burroughs once said, if you’re not growing, you’re dying. Which I think is why sometimes it feels like we go through similar problems until we learn from them. Through life’s challenges, I was forced to either renew my sense of purpose or abandon it, and fortunately art won out.

As I reconnected with my creative self, I’ve grown more confident in the belief that timotheories can serve as a bridge for other creators and art enthusiasts looking to share, learn and thrive.

And this next statement is less about you and how I can serve you, but it really does need to be said. The most important realization I’ve had was in the logistics of it all. My goals don’t need to change drastically – they need to expand.

So what exactly is this new vision you ask? I’m going to outline my plans and aspirations in three parts. Focusing on the content I want to produce, my personal growth as an artist, and my goals for community engagement,.

Initially, this blog was a platform to share my thoughts about art, which slowly evolved into a digital persona. I reviewed films, interviewed creative professionals, and shared resources with the goal of helping artists. These were very specific types of posts, but how did they connect back to the act of creating, collecting art or even building your skills up to take on business? That was where I struggled. Then I got further enmeshed in the social media, video production, writing, of just making content, rather than being the content. Which sounds super zen, but will make sense as we keep going. 

I’ll be the first to admit that my new goal doesn’t sounds drastically different from the old one, I still want a multi-faceted business that covers a wide range of creative disciplines, provides insights on creative process, life skills, curating collections, consuming media, etc. But here’s the new thing – I want to expand the business and bring timotheories into new formats. Instead of slowly picking away at ideas over time, I plan to broaden my scope and spread specific content across multiple channels all at once. Everything everywhere all at once, but like with art ideas. 

My goal covers a wide range of creative disciplines—from traditional arts to contemporary digital mediums, but all of the content is talking to each other at any given time and it feels more intentional. Because it is.

More importantly, I want to build a vibrant community where creatives can share, learn, and grow together, fostering genuine connections and mutual support. So let me walk you through the specific steps I’ll take to achieve this, touching on three key areas.


Content Evolution

The evolution of content is the heart of my vision for timotheories. While I’ve always focused on creativity and storytelling, I now see an opportunity to push the boundaries and be more thoughtful with both the type of content I create and the ways I share it.

  • Expanding Video Interviews: One of the first steps in this new content strategy is to incorporate more video interviews, branching out into podcasts and live streams. These formats offer flexibility and immediacy, making it easier to connect with my audience in real-time. This shift will also allow me to bring in guests more often, facilitating richer discussions and deeper dives into creative processes.
  • Introducing Themed Seasons: For open discussion content (like the YouTube Cross Talk or Confer Culture podcast), I’m introducing themed seasons to create a more cohesive storytelling experience. This change will allow me to focus on specific topics or genres over a set period, ensuring that the content remains high-quality, structured, and impactful, while also giving me room to innovate within each season.
  • Focusing on Positive Reviews: As a creator, I want my platform to radiate positivity. I’ll be shifting away from negative reviews and focusing instead on celebrating content I love—whether that’s a board game, an album, or a film. By spotlighting creative works that inspire me, I’ll keep a positive and supportive space for both creators and their audiences.
  • Diversifying Content Channels: To keep my content organized and aligned with my core values, I’m introducing three key pillars: Digitally Curate Your Heart, School of Thoughts, and Kuality Talks. These pillars will act as the foundation for every piece of content I create, from in-depth interviews to opinion pieces, allowing me to categorize and show ideas in a way that resonates with my audience.
  • Broadening the Scope: Moving beyond film, music and gaming, I’ll explore aspects like literature, culinary arts, travel, and wellness. This more holistic approach reflects the diverse interests I hold and allows me to dive deeper into the creative process. Expect case studies of influential artists, deep dives of art intersecting life, and continued critical analysis.
  • Telling Personal Stories: I’ve also realized the importance of weaving personal stories into my work. I’ll be sharing more about my own creative process, focusing on the “why” behind my artistic choices. By offering a more intimate connection with my audience, I hope to inspire others to think about their creative motivations and make their own stories more visible.

Professional Development

Reimagining timotheories has also led to significant personal and professional growth. Through this process, I’ve identified new career paths, expanded my network, and found more ways to improve my skills as both an artist and educator:

  • Content Creator: As I continue to produce reviews, interviews, and discussions on creative work, I aim to solidify my role as a content creator who not only critiques art but offers practical, actionable advice. I’ll share insights into time management, the art-making process, and how to keep a balance between creativity and life’s obligations.
  • Continued Education: To stay on top of industry trends and deepen my knowledge, I’m committing to ongoing education. This means enrolling in workshops, courses, and seminars that can enrich my skills and keep me sharp.
  • Networking: Building relationships within the creative industry is essential. By continuing to network with other creators, industry professionals, and thought leaders, I’ll make sure that I stay inspired and connected to new opportunities. This will also open doors for potential collaborations that can elevate the platform.
  • Launching a Podcast: One of the most exciting developments on the horizon is the launch of another timotheories adjacent podcast. This podcast will offer a more personal touch, allowing for direct conversations with the audience and in-depth explorations of creative topics. It’s a space where I can share candid art thoughts, bringing the audience into my creative process.
  • Collaborations: Collaboration has always been an important part of timotheories, but I’m looking to expand these opportunities even further. By teaming up with other creators and professionals, I can enrich the content I produce and share a wider variety of perspectives with my audience.
  • Mentorship Programs: I’m also working on establishing a mentorship program. Through this, experienced creators can guide and support newcomers, helping them navigate their creative journeys while building a supportive and collaborative community.

Long-Term Plans

Looking ahead, my long-term vision for timotheories is ambitious, but it’s grounded in the values I’ve cultivated through this journey. Here’s what’s on the horizon:

  • High-Quality Content: Consistency and quality are at the core of my content strategy moving forward. Whether it’s through blogs, videos, or podcasts, I’m committed to producing content that engages, educates, and inspires..
  • Educational Resources: I plan to develop educational resources that can help other artists. These resources will range from practical guides on technical skills to deeper reflections on creative strategies, allowing budding artists to access valuable information at any stage in their journey.
  • Public Speaking and Workshops: I’m eager to engage in public speaking and workshops to share my experiences with a wider audience, providing practical insights to those who want to support artists through business and community-building relationships.
  • Community-Led Events: I want to take the platform offline and into real-world spaces, organizing events like art shows, film screenings, and creative meetups. These events will help foster a deeper sense of community, allowing like-minded people to come together and share their passion for the arts.
  • Financial Sustainability: As I expand timotheories, financial sustainability becomes crucial. I’m working on establishing revenue streams through merchandise, publishing, and other ventures that will allow the brand to thrive in the long term without compromising its core mission.
  • Continuous Innovation: Finally, my goal is to keep timotheories relevant by consistently innovating. Whether it’s exploring new content formats, embracing cutting-edge technology, or responding to cultural shifts, I’m committed to keeping the platform dynamic, adaptable, and progressive-thinking.

Implementation and Action

Building this new path has been both a challenging and rewarding process.

Reflecting on my journey, I’ve come to appreciate the importance of resilience, adaptability, and the power of community in not only surviving challenges but thriving in the face of them. Over the past few years, I’ve realized that my creative work, family life, day job, and other interests aren’t isolated parts of my life—they’re interconnected and can actually reinforce one another.

This mindset shift has empowered me to embrace my creativity fully, without feeling the need to compartmentalize my life. timotheories is becoming more than just a creative outlet—it’s a representation of my journey and my belief that creativity and life’s practicalities can work together harmoniously to make me the best version of myself.

However, recognizing this was just the first step. The real work came in translating my reflections into clear actions and laying out a plan to turn my vision into reality.


Planning and Strategy

This transformation didn’t happen overnight. It took careful planning, patience, and a lot of honest reflection on what I want to achieve. Here are some of the key elements that went into creating this new path for timotheories:

  1. Content Analysis: I spent a great deal of time analyzing my past work to figure out what resonated most with my audience and what felt most meaningful to me. I took stock of the types of content I enjoyed making and those that aligned best with my vision. This analysis provided me with a foundation for future content, helping me see which areas to double down on and which to evolve or let go.
  2. Competitor Review: I evaluated other creators and platforms in the same space, assessing how they engage with their audiences and what kind of content they produce. This helped me pinpoint opportunities to differentiate timotheories and set more realistic, yet ambitious, goals.
  3. Honest Self-Assessment: I had to be honest about my own capabilities, passion, and available time. What would it take to keep this momentum going in the long run? I confronted my weaknesses, acknowledged my strengths, and charted a course based on my realistic capacity to stay consistent and motivated.
  4. Goal Setting: Once I’d laid the groundwork, I began setting clear and actionable goals. These goals were divided into short-term and long-term objectives, with checkpoints along the way to measure my progress and stay on track.
  5. Detailed Roadmap: My next step was to take these goals and create a detailed roadmap for execution. This roadmap included timelines, content formats, and strategies to build out my different content pillars (Digitally Curate Your Heart, School of Thoughts, and Kuality Talks).
  6. Content Calendar: I’ve always been an advocate of to-do lists, but now I’ve created a dedicated content calendar to plan and manage the production and release of content across all channels. This ensures I keep consistency while allowing space for flexibility and creativity.

Execution

Turning these plans into action has required consistent effort and a lot of juggling. But I’ve learned the key to success isn’t perfection—it’s persistence. 

Finding a balance between personal and professional responsibilities has been one of the biggest challenges. Establishing a realistic schedule was essential to guarantee that I could manage my creative commitments while also attending to other aspects of my life.

Financial constraints were another hurdle, which I addressed by creating a loose budget and making more thoughtful purchasing decisions, cutting down on impulse buys that could disrupt my plans. Additionally, technical issues arose along the way, but I leaned on my community for help—seeking advice from knowledgeable peers and using online resources to troubleshoot problems.

Through it all, maintaining mental health has been a priority. I realized that to keep producing high-quality work, I needed to care for myself first. I turned to my support system when needed, prioritizing self-care to make sure I didn’t burn out again. Adopting a positive mindset has been crucial, especially when setbacks threatened to derail my progress. Practicing gratitude, staying flexible, and using affirmations have all helped me keep focus on the long-term goals of timotheories. Despite the challenges, the journey has been incredibly rewarding, and I’ve learned that resilience and adaptability are key to moving ahead.

theories Summarized

As I bring this final post of my comeback story to a close, I’m reminded of the long and winding journey that brought me here.

In this post, I’ve outlined the vision for the future of timotheories—a platform no longer just about creating content, but fostering a vibrant community, nurturing creative passions, and offering meaningful insights to guide others on their artistic journeys.

With a renewed focus on content evolution, professional development, and community engagement, I’ve set the stage for this thing I love to grow into a more intentional and impactful space, serving creators and art enthusiasts alike. 

It’s no longer just about overcoming burnout; it’s about building a sustainable future, expanding my creative horizons, and ensuring that this platform becomes a dynamic hub for both personal expression and collaboration.

Reflecting on the series as a whole, we’ve covered a lot of ground. 

In the first part, I shared the deep struggles that began in 2017—stagnation in both my creative and professional life, coupled with a long and challenging home renovation, which all led to a total pause in my artistic pursuits. In the second, I discussed how I finally began to break through mental and emotional barriers by developing new routines, leaning on my support system, and rediscovering the reasons why I was drawn to art in the first place.

Then we got to the third part where I really got vulnerable and came to terms with some major life changes – a blended family, mental health struggles, and discovering unexpected communities that helped me weather those storms. I also realized that growth comes from these moments of challenge, and creativity can be a lifeline. Then came part four, where I shared how these experiences fueled my artistic rebirth, leading me back to timotheories with fresh energy and a deeper sense of purpose. 

Now, in this final chapter, it’s all about building the future. I’m not just reviving a blog; I’m expanding its scope, bringing in new formats, creating deeper community connections, and setting long-term goals to guarantee the platform thrives – I aim to offer programming and engage with the creative world in more meaningful ways, with a focus on inclusive content, professional development, and community-led initiatives.

But this series isn’t the end of my journey. In fact, it’s just the beginning. 

As I’ve hinted throughout, there are exciting developments on the horizon—new content formats, more collaborative efforts, and a broader exploration of art, life, and creativity. I’m working to launch more podcasts, organize live events, and build a program that brings creators together to learn and grow as a community. The road ahead is full of possibility, and I’m eager to keep sharing it with you.

Thank you for tracking along, supporting me, and engaging with these stories of transformation. Together, we’re building something bigger than any one post, any one idea—timotheories is evolving into a living, breathing space for creative exploration. Stay tuned for what comes next, like and share this post if you got something out of it. And better yet, subscribe and leave a comment on your favourite part.

And let’s continue to create, inspire, and grow together.

Also, if you listen to Confer Culture every once in a while, you might get a kick out of this George Lucas image I just posted because it fits with the latest and greatest podcast episode – Grumpy Old Men. Chris and I have a running joke about Star Wars and poetry, but you’ll have to listen to learn more.

Until next time creative cuties.

Tim!

The Reconciliation of Art & Faith (Dave Von Bieker, musician, singer-songwriter, arts chaplain interview)

It’s finally arrived! After a solid couple of weeks worth of posts featuring my good friend Dave Von Bieker, also known by his very clever stage name of Von Bieker, our full-length interview is alive, well and available for all to enjoy.

In case you haven’t been following the previews, I have decided to change things up just a little bit and slowly publish some the content related to each interview rather then post a single preview and a longer interview. That, and Mr. Von Bieker and I had tons of content to share, so this was a good trial run.

The first preview is about making art for self rather then a paycheck, and the second one about the role of art in a spiritual life. These are both great questions to consider in your own journey, and I think you’ll get a kick out of his answers, but don’t fret about the order of viewing – you can enjoy them before watching this video, afterwards, or over and over again. It’s your choice!

Now let’s discuss the main course – reconciliation. A couple of months ago, Dave and I sat down to talk about his role as an arts chaplain and his burgeoning career as a musician. You see, dear readers, Dave is a big believer in believing in something larger then yourself.

Whether you are into a religious ideal, self-actualization or somewhere in-between, the main theme running through this interview is the importance of reconciling art and faith within ourselves. The demands placed on artists are great, and they come both from within and from our clients, but Dave acutely recognizes this and has done things in his life to help him resolve those larger questions.

As the founder of Bleeding Heart Art Space (https://bleedingheartart.space/), this is a gallery Dave helped build, where faith meets art. Their tagline is Art Space, Sacred Space, Community Space. It’s a shining example of multiple elements of life coming together in a healthy relationship.

In the interview, we discuss the value of having a routine, another innovative musical hero named Dave, intention in art, the difference between performing and making, the immutable nature of music, and finally, why we need to reconcile art and faith. An easily answered question, of course.

theories Summarized

So there you have it, you absolutely can make a case for art and faith working together. Seamless really, and we managed to have fun while we solved all of the worlds problems. Now that that’s been accomplished, please tell me what YOU thought. Did one question stand above all the others? Do you agree with Dave? Are you a bigger fan of David Burns now?

Please check out more Von Bieker (http://vonbieker.com/) and if you’re interested in his social media –  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Sound Cloud, Spotify, iTunes and YouTube have all the good stuff.

And special thanks to Dave for being daring, dapper and disciplined. We need more leaders like him in our local communities, artists who spend more time giving back then they do focusing on themselves. And if you want a bankable theory, I expect this is just the start of it for him.

Tim!

 

Thunder Buddies (Broken Social Scene, Hug of Thunder review)

Every once and a while, we all need a hug. Especially when it gets weird and dark.

 

Broken Social Scene – Hug of Thunder

released July 7, 2017
********* 9/10

Broken Social Scene are a Canadian indie rock band (yay for Canadian content!) formed by Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning. Sometimes they have six members, and sometimes they have nineteen band members, because above all, Broken Social Scene are a musical super group of popular Canadian indie rock acts and solo artists…

Metric (Emily Haines, James Shaw), Feist (Leslie Feist), Stars (Amy Millan, Torquil Campbell, Evan Cranley), Apostle of Hustle (Andrew Whiteman), Do Make Say Think (Ohad Benchetrit, Julie Penner, Charles Spearin), KC Accidental (Kevin Drew), Valley of the Giants (Brendan Canning), Land of Talk (Elizabeth Powell), Raising the Fawn (John Crossingham), Reverie Sound Revue (Lisa Lobsinger), Treble Charger (Bill Priddle), Jason Tait, Justin Peroff, Jason Collett, Ariel Engle and a few other people have all featured at one time or another.

Altogether, they have released a whopping five studio length albums since their inception in 2001, which I think is pretty admirable given that all of these artists are in at least one other full-time band.

Despite misgivings that no band can be this big and still sound like the individual artists within, BSS manages to do just that. Sometimes they are chaotic and experimental, other times they are orchestral, sometimes they are sad and introspective, and still other times they are celebratory, but they are never timid in their presentation. Hug of Thunder is no weak sauce either.

This isn’t your Spider-Man album, no pulled punches people, please.

BSS spend most of the album letting us know that they are counter-culture, and by that, I mean that they refuse to share dream pop tracks and emotionally abuse people on the internet. This is a community of people shouting the importance of community, when most of us are screaming about politics into our phones. It resonates with the hipster nihilism we started to experience in the early 2000s, the stuff that took root in popular culture and grew into a field of bullshit weeds.

Ideas of love, community, sexuality, and honest to goodness rock and roll seem to have been completely forgotten about in recent years, but BSS refuse to give up on us ingrates. They’ll elevate us up, despite the incredible effort it takes to produce tracks like Gonna Get Better, tittle track Hug of Thunder, and Vanity Pail Kids.

I’m not gonna lie, this album deserved better than the world it’s been brought up in. Our celebrations of libertarianism are so common now that it’s tough to stomach the idea of pulling together and getting along, but Please Take Me With You and Skyline insist, almost plainly that we do. Though never quietly.

But here’s the catch, while you can consume this album in parts and pieces, it’s actually best viewed as a whole. Recognizing that a stable of musicians reunited after a seven year hiatus in order to combat against global indifference is a far stronger statement than Protest Song can deliver all on it’s own. Broken Social Scene have come together to release a pragmatic optimism, and that is probably the best antidote we could receive. Unabashed positivity isn’t realistic in 2017, but stating that the world is ending is foolish too.

We need to keep up the fight and keep working, vigilant without naivety. A challenge to be sure, but I wouldn’t have the message delivered any other way.

Pros: Halfway Home, Gonna Get Better and Protest Song are all excellent demonstrations of the gentle-hearted politics of this album, Hug of Thunder being a personal favourite.

Cons: At certain intersections the lack of a frontwoman or frontman is difficult to digest, and leaves the album feeling disjointed, like a compilation or a soundtrack, rather than an album. But this rare.

Runtime: 52 minutes

Points of Interest: In March of 2017, Broken Social Scene made an appearance on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert, featuring past members Emily Haines, James Shaw, Amy Millan, and Evan Cranley, indicating we would see the a return to form. Ariel Engle is a new member of the band, and she has worked with Andrew Whiteman on AroarA previously, which is how she was introduced to the rest of the troupe.

The best and worst parts of Broken Social Scene come from their ability to work together as a group, and in taking it a bit safer with this record, those aspects become more apparent. This is still an excellent record, but not perfect because the exploration isn’t quite where it has been previously. Their message is amazing though, which makes up for a lot of that safety net.

theories Summarized

To put it in brief, this is an anthem for a new generation of apathy. The WIIFM (what’s in it for me) drone need not apply themselves in this case, because Broken Social Scene are all about that open concept of love, empathy and pulling together as a greater community. I’ve not much else to say, except that you really should listen to this album. And those are all of my theories on the matter.

Tim!

The Price To Not Pay Is Steep (Health)

Holistic health has been on my mind as of late dear readers.

 

You see, I have this theory that there is a strong connection between art, healing, and health. And I think holistic health holds the key to that connection.

Holistic health is a type of healing process which considers the whole human being and not just the body parts and/or symptoms. As we strive towards optimal health and wellness, considerations of the body, mind, spirit, and emotions are all relevant.

I like to believe that we can address each of those aspects of ourselves with some basic activities. For the body, there is exercise. When it comes to the mind, reading things and a variety of things covers it off, emotions are founded in both positive relationships and pursuing our passions, but spirit is the most difficult to address.

To put it simply, I think that art is key to addressing the spirit, and if we ignore this part of ourselves, we suffer all the more for it.

Medicine For The Heart

 

The interesting part of this theory is that there is evidence out there which suggests a healing connection between art and the spirit, but it is not given nearly as much research as other disciplines, but it certainly can provide value. The point we need to consider most in this discussion is that each of us is drawn to different forms of art, so what heals me might not heal you as easily. And I think that has to do with our preferred learning styles.

  • Visual learners prefer two dimensional forms of art like drawing, painting, and photography.
  • Kinesthetic learners should look towards performance arts, like dance, magic, and theatre.
  • Auditory learners are best served by music, writing, and narration.

Now, outlining the reasons why I think art has the power to heal our spirit will take up far more time than a single post can give, so rather than diving deeply into it today, I will share a few of my favourite videos on the power of art for affecting the spirit.

Namely this one.

 

And also this one.

And definitely this one.

Health Matters

If it hasn’t been made clear yet, the aim of this post is to address health as it relates to the OECD index, making this the eighth entry in the Wellness Factors of Life series inspired by Postconsumers.

Artists matter, and I know in my heart of hearts that I will always advocate for the arts, no matter where I am or whatever the context that I am making the argument in. But timotheories isn’t just about me, it’s also about providing you with the resources you need to fight the good fight. As art makers, art facilitators, art collectors, and art enthusiasts, each of us has a responsibility to share with the world the merits of working on creative projects, from economics, to health, to politics, to entertainment, you creative cuties know that art has the power to heal. Physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

The spirit is the key in all of this.

 

theories Summarized

It is absolutely essential to reconsider the notion of the starving artist, and start to consider the notion of the starving souls who do not support the arts nor make room for creativity within their lives, it takes time to establish yourself creatively, no different than any other specialization.

Doctors, engineers, lawyers, scientists, politicians, professors, and teachers, I’m looking squarely at you.

So let’s invest in art, because it’s good for us.

And yes, I am theoried out for the night, so I’m gonna settle into bed with a good book, after a night of exercise, writing, and communicating with my lovely girlfriend, and know that I met all of my wellness needs. Another day, another theory satisfied.

Tim!

On The Shoulders Of Giants (89th Annual Academy Awards)

Last year the two words whitewashing and oscars seemed to be synonymous with each other. I wrote a rather exhaustive post about it, point of fact. To be fair, I am an artist though, so it’s quite difficult not to be a lens for the big issues I find wrapped around my heart. Sigh.

Now, I have written about this theory before, but let me remind you that there is an idea out there which states that creative professional experience the highs and lows of life even more deeply than an average person. I want to posit something different from that.

We all feel things very deeply, and humans are capable of amazing things when we work together. In fact, I think it’s because we should work together that we achieve greatness.

Children start out with the same basic abilities and aptitudes, as we age, personalities come through and environments shape us into complex individuals.

 

The Full List of Nominees

I’ve always been a fan of film. Cinema. The movies. Whatever you want to call it, I’ve celebrated motion pictures in my life.

Sitting here at my desk, I’m watching the trailers for the nine films which have been nominated for Best Picture 2017. La La Land, Moonlight, Manchester By The Sea, Arrival, Hacksaw Ridge, Hidden Figures, Hell or High Water, Lion, Fences. I’ve seen more than half of these movies already and I cannot wait to watch the remaining ones I’ve missed. Films make my heart ache with joy, fear, sadness, compassion, anger, excitement, achievement and a number of other emotions.

It’s because so many creative people come together to engage our sense that films mean something. And I think that this year in particular, the academy has done an excellent job listening to the public. 4 of the 9 choices are headed by minority actors, and that’s a big deal.

La La Land has the most votes by far, and while it is an excellent film, it is something of a self-congratulatory piece about Hollywood. So I really hope that this movie doesn’t take it, because we’ve been there, and done that. And Arrival is my new favourite first contact film. On the other side of the coin, Hell or High Water is a classic film on all accounts – I reviewed it late last year and I loved it. It perfectly serves as to what film making is all about. It would be an excellent dark horse entry.

But looking more closely at the nominees, I have to notice something. I’ve only seen the 5 films with white actors headlining them, and that’s an important point.

Award Winning

When you give an award you are truly GIVING something as payment, compensation or as prize. Consider that statement for a second. How many billions of people are there in the world? 30? And how many different ethnicities make up that total?

The challenge we face is that for decades the Academy Awards (like many other institutions) have focused on certain types of people, non necessarily because those people were the most deserving, but because they were singled out for compensation. As the global community expands, it makes sense that we continue to honour those who do the best job, but in instances where many are deserving, it’s those who go over and above should be awarded. By default these means minority groups which need more representation. I haven’t seen Moonlight or Fences, but could easily see them taking it.

I hope they do. Hidden Figures and Lion would be fantastic as well, but based on what I’ve read, Moonlight and Fences are better films. Guess we’ll find out in three days though.

theories Summarized

#OscarsSoWhite was a necessary rebellion against disrespectful authority. I think with it came even more artists working together this year to create films that represent life as it is, and even better, the voters now have an opportunity to choose recipients that better depict humanity. We may be standing on the shoulders of giants, but while every statue has a head of gold, the feet are always made of clay, and liable to crumble towards the end. It’s time to choose a different champion, and that’s my theory.

Tim!