A New Beginning…

Film Influence No. 4: Dazed and Confused

/ Cody McCullough / 2 Comments

        I’ve always been fond of of anything that explores the topic of what Pete Townshend called the “teenage wasteland.”  In fact, my poem “The Wasteland” probably has more to do with my formative years than the dusty Central Oregon landscape.  In my mind, Dazed and Confused is one of the best films to ever explore the topic.  It also doesn’t hurt that the film has by many accounts achieved cult film status, and features a number of actors and actresses who went on to become stars.  One of my favorite lines in the film is spoken by the character Cynthia: “You know, I’d like to quit thinking of the present, like right now, as some minor insignificant preamble to something else.”  I couldn’t agree more.

        When it comes to “A New Beginning…”, there’s definitely a “teenage wasteland” component.  Divided into three parts, “A New Beginning…” delves into the past, present, and future.  Sound familiar?  The past, of course, is where the “teenage wasteland” component comes in.  By contrasting that component with both the present (middle age) and the future (old age), I explore the human psyche in its three most prominent forms.  I’m not going to lie, sometimes I feel like my writing process is a psychological experiment gone awry.  That, of course, is what I’m going for and what makes it fun.  Every now and then, though, I have to take a break and just enjoy life.  I’m on a deadline, however, so I suppose I should finish up Part Two.  While I’m working, enjoy the “Baba O’Riley” video below:

Film Influence No. 5: Cave of Forgotten Dreams

/ Cody McCullough / 6 Comments

        When it came time to narrow down my top five film influences, I had no idea how difficult that would be.  Given what passes for movies these days, I would have thought it would have been a much easier task.  I was wrong, however; I’m not sure why that keeps happening.  Oh that’s right, I’m human….  In the end, I reworked my list several times and even wrote a post about a film that I had to cut.  That brings me to my mantra for this post:  I love to write, it’s the rewriting that’s a pain….

        I suppose it’s time to discuss a film that did make the cut, which is Cave of Forgotten Dreams.  I loved this film.  I’ve watched a lot of good documentaries lately, (I Am Bruce Lee, Jiro Dreams of Sushi, and The Buddha, just to name a few) and this one tops the list.  One of the reasons that I liked it so much is that I have always been a history buff.  Personally, I believe history deals with the central question of asking yourself what it means to be human.  As you may have noticed, historical references pop up from time to time in my poetry.  History has always fascinated me, and the story of the Chauvet cave in Southern France is quite amazing.  The film captures the oldest known pictorial creations of humankind, which I find to be astonishing.  Admittedly, though, history isn’t for everyone, nor is this film.  The film blew me away, but my wife and daughters all fell asleep and we were watching it in 3D.  I would have thought that would have kept them awake.  It didn’t bother me that they all fell asleep, though, because I know that everyone has their own tastes.  Whether it be food, music, films, fiction, poetry, religion, or really anything else, we all have our own preferences.  As long as you’re not harming anyone, I believe people should be free to express those differences; even if it means falling asleep during a film that I find to be enthralling.  I am no Caligula….

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Photo by Elizabeth McCullough

        Another reason that I liked this film, is that I like caves.  There are just so many good metaphors that can be drawn from a cave.  That’s probably why I included a poem titled, “The Dark Cave” in “A New Beginning…”  It is one of the five lost poems from “The Past, Present, and Future” that crossed over into the novel.  It’s probably why I also describe my writing process as crawling into a tunnel in my mind.  I’ve also had some very interesting real life experiences in caves.  Those stories, of course, are for another day….  Today, I would like to leave you with a pair of questions.  In the film, the archeologists discuss the fact that one of the cave artists had a crooked little finger.  Naturally, I looked down at my hand and noticed that my little finger is in fact crooked.  I then asked my wife about it, and her little finger is crooked too.  I looked it up, and according to a 1964 study only 1% of healthy newborns are identified as having bent, or crooked, little fingers.  Admittedly, to be counted the little fingers had to bend inward at an angle of 15 to 30 degrees.  I’m not sure if mine, or my wife’s, bends that much.  Still, though, I find the whole topic to provide an interesting link to the past.  That, of course, brings me to the questions: Is your little finger bent?  If so, does that mean anything?

And so it continues…

/ Cody McCullough / 8 Comments

        Crawling out of the metaphorical tunnel that is my writing process, an epiphany occurred to me: Time is irrelevant, it always has been.  “A New Beginning…” has always existed, will exist, and has already ceased to exist.  That being the case, I have nothing more to write; yet everything to write.  February 3rd will arrive, and fade, just as all days eventually do.  When the time comes, I have no doubt that it will fade the way I always knew it would….

        With regard to my writing progress, the novel is now 1/3 of the way to completion.  Go figure, that 2/3 of the novel still floats around in the backwater of my consciousness….  Each chapter that flows from my mind, frees my focus.  In the end, my mind will be clear and ready to tackle seven adventures.  That, of course, is a story for another day….

        In the meantime, I seek to wrap up what began more than half-a-year ago.  “The Past, Present, and Future,” eventually will come to a close.  From every ending, though, there is “A New Beginning…”  Next week, the journey continues on its path to what can only be described as its ultimate climax.  The reader, of course, will be the final judge.

        As of yet, I have focused on verse.  Prose, though, has always been a shadowy figure lurking at the poker table of life.  Finally revealing itself to be a chimera, the figure has called my bet.  Now, it is my turn to answer.  In the upcoming weeks, I will unveil my film influences followed by my literary influences.  Each of which, will shed new light on my novel and my writing process in general.

        Years from now, this little project may only be a footnote, or a non-starter.  On the flip side, it may be everything that I always purported it would be.  If you’ve liked my poetry, you should know that I have worked to make the novel its perfect genetic match (or if you like, the Yang to the poet’s Yin).  It hasn’t been an easy task, but it sure has sparked my creative juices.  I suppose there are worse ways to indulge one’s self.   “A New Beginning…” will be finished in the coming months.  It is only a matter of time….

        Join me, starting on August 11th, for a weekly countdown to the end.  Five film influences, followed by five literary influences, followed by yet another project.  In the end, much will be revealed.  Still, though, only the novel will illuminate the true meaning of: “The Past, Present, and Future.”  For now, I leave you with one more poem:

Life Springs Eternal

laying on
the floor

an epiphany
occurred

death becomes
the man

life forsakes
existence

yet we
press on

today I died
tomorrow I rest

peace becomes
a reality

that I cannot
enjoy

honest expression
releases

all that is
within

and all that
has escaped

revealing a truth
not yet realized

and not soon
forgotten

life springs
eternal

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Photo by Elizabeth McCullough

Interlude 4

/ Cody McCullough / 13 Comments

        With my poetry and musical influences now in the past, it is time to look to the future.  I’m very excited for my upcoming film and book influences, as they will shed the most light on the little project that I call “A New Beginning…”.  Interestingly enough, I recently dreamt up a major plot twist for “A New Beginning…”.  That plot twist, of course, came after I ran into a major roadblock.  It’s funny how that works (sometimes you get what you need after all)….  Needless to say, I’m excited to continue traveling through the tunnel of light that is the writing process.

        As my vision narrows, and the tunnel surrounds me, my focus has turned toward reaching a new milestone.  That being the case,  I’ve decided to take a short break from this blog.  I’m guessing 2 to 3 weeks should just about do it (or, perhaps, I’ll need 17 days, but I digress…).

        In the meantime, I will leave you on a playful note: Traveling through the dark for an eternity, I achieved great satisfaction while reading the tales of Trojans in The Illiad and Shakespearean lines such as “All the World’s a Stage”; yet it’s more than a feeling that madness has led me on this radioactive journey to the road not taken.  You have to have a little fun every now and again.  Otherwise, what’s the point?  Anyway, I’ll be back in a few short weeks.

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Photo by Elizabeth McCullough

Musical Influence No. 1 “More Than a Feeling”

/ Cody McCullough / 20 Comments

        A long time ago, I heard someone say “it’s easier to swim downstream, than upstream.”  That statement was based on the idea that we need to find the things in life that we are good at doing, and let them carry us downstream.  That, of course, is much easier than constantly fighting the current.  I suppose, though, it all depends on where the stream is headed; as it’s always a good idea to swim away from waterfalls….  Boston’s song “More Than A Feeling” reminds me of this philosophy, and consequently has greatly influenced my writing.  I’m sure I’ve heard the song many, many times, but it was only a few years ago that I made the connection.  I suppose you might say:

“I looked out this morning and the sun was gone
Turned on some music to start my day
I lost myself in a familiar song
I closed my eyes and I slipped away”.

        After making the connection, I decided that writing was one of the things in life that I was good at doing (or, at the very least, enjoy doing).  Not long after, I started writing my collection of poetry.  Since that day, I have to admit, I’ve had the feeling that I’m flowing downstream instead of upstream.  As it turns out, though, occasional rapids are impossible to avoid.  Fortunately, I’m used to them now.  No one is perfect, nor is the world, and occasional bumps are to be expected.  It is easier to deal with them, though, when you’re facing the right direction.  Even then, however, you should never underestimate the value of proper training.

        One of my favorite poems, “The Cool Morning Air,” deals with a similar theme.  On the surface, the poem appears to deal with the morning waking process.  Going deeper, though, the poem addressed the awakening of one’s consciousness.  Through this awakening process, the hidden path, or the current you are meant to follow, becomes visible.  I recently wrote another poem that dives deeper into this idea.  That poem, though, is an integral part of “A New Beginning…”, so I can’t discuss it yet.  In the meantime, I leave you with these words from Boston:

“It’s more than a feeling
(More than a feeling)
When I hear that old song they used to play
(More than a feeling)
I begin dreaming
(More than a feeling)
‘Til I see Marianne walk away
I see my Marianne walkin’ away”.

The Past, Present, and Future: A New Beginning…

/ Cody McCullough / 24 Comments

        One more time, I would like to thank everyone who read my poems. I appreciate each and every one of you. With my poetry collection now complete, I’m moving on to the second half of “The Past, Present, and Future.”  This, of course, will be my first novel.  The code name for this project is “A New Beginning,” which is how I will refer to it until it is published.  “A New Beginning” is also the quasi-beginning of a bigger project I have in mind.  As I have mentioned before, though, that is a story, or adventure, for another day….

        As you can see from the updated countdown, my goal is to have “A New Beginning” published by the one-year anniversary of the creation of this blog.  In the meantime, I plan to use this blog to publish snippets from “A New Beginning” and updates on the writing process.  Additionally, I may even publish a poem from time to time.  Again, I thank everyone for their support.  Tonight I raise a glass to each of you; metaphorically, of course.  Although, I do love a good party… With that, I leave everyone for now with one last poem:

An Empty Bottle of Rum

Shaking bats from my head,
I awoke and saw an empty bottle of rum.

Somewhere, Hunter S. Thompson
Was tipping his cap.

The laptop, that infuriating laptop,
It was there too.

Shaking out one last bat,
I knew the journey had begun.

The rum-filled days of youthful summer,
Now a thing of the past.

The responsibility of middle-aged fall,
Greeted me along my present path;

With future promise of old age,
And lazy winter days.

The rebirth of spring,
Hopefully far, far away….

by Cody McCullough

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Photo by Elizabeth McCullough