Finding the Balance Between Experiencing and Writing, But For Media

I struggled with the newsletter this week because I seem to be in a consuming phase, not a production phase. Normally I don't like the idea of consuming over engaging, but you'll see what I mean when I say I'm halfway through the Moore Bond films, can't stop listening to the Carly Simon theme song, just put on the entirety of Stop Making Sense (album), watched six episodes of 9-1-1 in a day, have had at least two reading sessions in the last week while I usually struggle to have one, and spent 8 hours on Saturday wandering Hyrule. It's not that I'm not normally interested in all these activities, but to do as much I've been doing, I have to be especially receptive. I seem to be nothing but receptive right now, which means the part of my brain that engenders critical or academic writing has limited functioning.

Ideally, the balance between intake and output (again, looking for better descriptors) would always remain at an even keel for the stability of the newsletter. But I think in establishing my ongoing (public) writing process (which I am overall enjoying) the process will need some thought and ongoing work to fit into my schedule. So far, my Monday newsletters have been written the week of because any attempt to pick up a previously considered topic has been a struggle, or I didn't have the schedule space, and pre-writing on top of my regular weekly sessions was beyond my current capacity. I'm sure solutions will present themselves, or I'll develop the capacity I need, but I doubt it will be this week.

It's not that I don't feel generative at all - I would love to make some rec lists or fill in some crosswords. That may be a future solution as the scope and style of newsletter takes shape. The trouble for me right now is picking a topic or argument. My brain won't focus for more than a paragraph or so on any film or theme. Or I will simply write a 'poor me' rant about how hard it is to write. So in the meantime, enjoy my letterboxd Bond reviews and look forward to my screening of Flow on Thursday.

The Fanthropologist is a free weekly newsletter by film/TV scholar Lena Barkin. Paid subscribers get access to commenting and weekly discussion posts. If you'd like to support the newsletter; tell your friends, consider leaving a tip, or sign up for a subscription.