Can You Feel The Beat?

[citrakayah]

As I’m writing this, I am totally psyched out. Not only is it night- and I’m always psyched at night- I have just finished reading a bit about the Beat Generation. To those of you who know me very well: My reaction is exactly what you think it is. To those who don’t: Intense feeling of solidarity, inspiration, vigoration, and desire for emulation. Some of my writing, I suppose, already takes after some elements of beat literature.

Of course, my poetry isn’t as good. But I think that as I learn more about the Beats they’ll become a definite influence on my work. Just reading even the bit I already have makes my writing instincts itch.

Which brings me to another point: instincts. That’s what my writing is usually about. Transformation. Therianthropy. Being feral. Being Other. To hell with writing about the human condition. I’m not quite human. Hell, is anyone quite human? What the hell does the term even mean, ‘human’ and ‘human condition’? And don’t say it means ‘member of the species Homo sapiens’, while that’s right and the type of answer I might give out, I mean in a more metaphorical and philosophical sense. And I don’t think anybody has a straight answer, at least not one that’s universally true.

I can’t think of a single thing I’ve written that doesn’t at least touch on transformation, therianthropy, being feral, being Other. Even what I’ve written for the Wanderer’s Library all has elements of therianthropy and being Other in it. Walmajarri is the obvious example, but the skinwalkers in ‘Skinwalkers’ are entities warped by a foul variety of magic into killing machines- and importantly, one can emphasize with them. They don’t want to be the way they are. They’re practically infants. They just... are.

I don’t want to be another Beat, but I do want to emulate some parts of them.


The Therian News Network still isn’t up. Tried emailing Solomon. Doesn’t work. Or, rather, he hasn’t responded yet. And I emailed him a week or two ago.

Comments

[avia]

Now I feel really inspired to read your writing. Is there anything you can link me?

I become tired of reading about the "human condition", for all the reasons you say. First, I am not human. Second, there is not one "human condition" even for humans. Third, why I care what the current condition is? I want to move past it, beyond it, transform shift grow learn become.

Reading about how things are now, is not a way to learn to change anything. I am an evolving creature. I want to learn how things can be.

[citrakayah]

'Awakening', 'Spirits of the Wind', 'Runners', 'The Wanderer' and anything under the tag 'Wanderer's Library' are some of my better works.

I think many humans don't even like reading about 'the human condition'. Consider the popularity of writers like Clare Bell, who write xenofiction. Yeah, they're very much like humans, but they're noticeably different.

And in relation to your last comment- I think that's one of the reason that science fiction and fantasy are ascendant.

[avia]

Thank you very much! I'm definitely looking forward to sitting down with these. ^v^

[allati]

What the hell does the term even mean, ‘human’ and ‘human condition’? And don’t say it means ‘member of the species Homo sapiens’, while that’s right and the type of answer I might give out, I mean in a more metaphorical and philosophical sense.

I wrote an entry at one point that touched quite a bit on this question. Or at least, I think I asked it (rhetorically) in a degree of depth. Primarily because I am the sort of being that kind of question is especially relevant to. I may PM it to you at some point.

[citrakayah]

I'd like that.