Letter from the Editor #4

There is an oft repeated maxim regarding the nature of insanity I’ll spare you the bother of re-stating here, though by now it has flitted across your mind subconsciously; such is the nature of these truisms, ingrained so thoroughly through repetition they begin to evade critical thought. I do not contest the validity of this particular turn of phrase, for actions demonstrate the truth of it plainly enough. As with many of these parables, however, it is no sooner than you follow one that you find the tail of another, heading in the opposite direction – this one extolling the virtues of perseverance and persistence, patience in the face of adversity. There is no clear direction here, no, nor was there ever meant to be.

Witty turns of phrase, astute alliterations; smoke signals sent from a range on the horizon, swept by prevailing winds towards the sea. That is not to say there is nothing to be gained from a certain sort of adherence to them; perhaps, like Rorschach’s ink blots, you see what you need to see.

Hommage has changed, as you can see; a philosophical change made manifest in material form. Less evolution and more maturation, a few steps further forward toward the image in my mind’s eye. Some changes will be more obvious than others. I’ve long had a certain antipathy towards mass media, for example, as I believe it to be the enemy of the individual. Social platforms, with their inbuilt engagement metrics, can quite literally shape entire cultural or artistic movements, not on merit, if there is such a thing, but on popularity. I need not expound on the perils of relying on the whims of the crowd for validation, nor need I list the artists whom died penniless only to be granted posthumous acclaim, to make clear the importance of establishing and doggedly following one’s internal compass. I now aim to make visible the tip of the iceberg for nothing more than to announce to the inquisitive that there is yet more to be found.

After all, your absolute favorite thing may well be something you’ve never heard of. Start looking.