Time for Change?

Cauldron: Anxiety

Change, the Buddhists say, is the only thing we can be certain of. 

Still a bit shell-shocked by the recent State election, in which the Labor Party were almost annihilated. What is surprising in particular is the extent of the swing to the National Liberal Party. Some it seems wanted change no matter what, which of course, is what democracy usually delivers. The longer the governing party stays in power, it seems, the harder the fall in popular support, when it comes. 

This drawing, above, is about an experience of anxiety early this morning, due to thinking about assignments! I had an internal image of the bowl or cauldron, which is a shape I am often drawn to, full of moving fragments, like fleeting feelings and thoughts. Interestingly, the image in my mind was originally in black and white, but I didn't have those pastels in my pastel box. The pastel that looks like white, is actually green - the colours are washed out due to the camera flash. The black was added later, with watercolour ink. The sensation was one of upward movement and agitation, of constant flickering, like fireflies rather than butterflies. I did manage to breathe through this sensation, which changed it enough to feel calmer, but not enough to go back to sleep. 

Autumn fruit: persimmons and tamarillos

Change of course is as inevitable as the seasons. We can try to resist change, but it doesn't work. This book will save your life, which I have written about before, is a very satisfying book by A.M.Homes, about a man who tries to avoid the unpredictability of life by staying indoors, shunning human contact, and trading on the (admittedly changeable) stock market. His life becomes a roller coaster of surprises and opportunities, after a sink hole opens up outside his house (this is set in L.A.), and he experiences extreme physical pain, both of which events seem to have symbolic, as well as literal, meaning. I think it would make a great movie. 

I have just read another (non-fiction) book by A.M. Homes (whose first name is Amy), The mistress's daughter, which is about her investigation into her birth family, as she was adopted. She also wrote the Safety of Objects, which was made into a film a few years ago. 

Personal Learning Plan: Assignment one

On the subject of change, I want to make one more comment, this time about the politics of fashion. I have a book called Fashion and Anti-Fashion, which is a kind of anthropological investigation of the purpose of fashion, arguing that fashion is basically about change for the sake of change (and selling products, of course). The content is basically irrelevant. The constant element of change is what is important: it signifies being fashionable, and presumably, being open to change.  On this note, and with some irony, I was interested to read this article about Asma Assad, wife of the Syrian president. Asma was apparently admired for being keen on (French designer) Louboutin platform shoes, which was supposed to denote that she would espouse 'Western values' of democracy and freedom. Shock horror, apparently not true! Asma does like French shoes, but doesn't want democratic change in Syria. Quelle surprise!

Now the evenings and mornings are cooler, I am happy wearing my unfashionable fake ugg boots, bought in New Zealand, much to the disgust of my family. Doubly uncool - not even real uggs. 

more later.