H.P. Lovecraft’s Monster Drawings: Cthulhu and “an open slice of howling fear”

Image | | Paul Greer


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“On March 23rd, the manuscript continued, Wilcox failed to appear; and inquiries at his quarters revealed that he had been stricken with an obscure sort of fever and taken to the home of his family in Waterman Street. He had cried out in the night, arousing several other artists in the building, and had manifested since then only alternations of unconsciousness and delirium.”

via nearsightedmonkey


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“Mountains featured several species of forgotten, intelligent beings, including the ‘Elder Things.’ The sketch on the right side of this page of notes (click here to view it in a larger format), with its annotations (‘body dark grey’; ‘all appendages not in use customarily folded down to body’; ‘leathery or rubbery’) represents Lovecraft working out the specifics of an Elder Thing’s anatomy.” That such things lurked in Lovecraft’s imagination have made his state of mind a subject of decades and decades of rich discussion among his enthusiasts. But just the body count racked up by Cthulhu, the Elder Things, and the other denizens of this unfathomable realm should make us thankful that Lovecraft saw them in his mind’s eye so we wouldn’t have to.”

from openculture

Patti Smith’s advice to young artists

Video | | Paul Greer

“A writer or any artist can’t expect to be embraced by the people. I’ve done records where it seemed like no one listened to them. You write poetry books that maybe 50 people read. And you just keep doing your work because you have to, because it’s your calling.

But it’s beautiful to be embraced by the people.

Some people have said to me, “Well, don’t you think that kind of success spoils one as an artist? If you’re a punk rocker, you don’t want to have a hit record…”

And I say to them, “Fuck you!”

One does their work for the people. And the more people you can touch, the more wonderful it is. You don’t do your work and say, “I only want the cool people to read it.” You want everyone to be transported, or hopefully inspired by it.

When I was really young, William Burroughs told me, “Build a good name. Keep your name clean. Don’t make compromises. Don’t worry about making a bunch of money or being successful. Be concerned with doing good work. And make the right choices and protect your work. And if you can build a good name, eventually that name will be its own currency.”

via austinkleon

Kill it With Fire: why Gamification sucks and Game Dynamics rule

Quote | | Paul Greer

“Want to make people run? Don’t give them a badge for running. Give them a ball and shove four sticks in the ground. They’ll run around the field chasing the ball (and each other) for ages. The experience is intrinsically challenging and amusing, and the running is a by-product. Games rely on dynamics like these and rules to generate the conditions for positive engagement.”

— Philip Trippenbach

“Half Sick of Shadows” by Parlour Trick (2013)

Video | | Paul Greer

 

Edit : Oct 2013

“Half Sick of Shadows” (The Parlour Trick’s first official music video) stars the enchanting, world-renowned dancer Rachel Brice.

“Deep gratitude and support to the hundreds of Kickstarter backers who made it possible to create this piece as well as The Parlour Trick’s first full-length album, A Blessed Unrest and a wide assortment of related materials.

Huge props to all of the wonderful people who collaborated on “Half Sick of Shadows”: Adam Lamas, Bryan Shelton, Devon Devereaux, Brien Hindman, M.S. le Despencer, and Star St. Germain.

Especially big snorgles to “A Blessed Unrest” partner Dan Cantrell, who composed the haunting piano tune that eventually evolved into “Half Sick of Shadows”, and to Rachel Brice, its shining star. Danbot and Bibbles, you are, without a doubt, two of the most fiercely talented creators I have ever had the opportunity to work with and I am endlessly inspired by you both.

Gratefully, ghostfully,

Meredith Yayanos“