Today on the train ride back to Rome from Puglia I caught up on some podcast listening, including a Fresh Air episode featuring the writer, David Mitchell. \u00a0The title of the post is the quote from Mr. Mitchell early in the interview that quickly spun me into a time-traveling* train-ride rapture. \u00a0How divine when discussion of art and art-making transcend the medium, as is right and righteous.<\/p>\n
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The following are all paraphrased quotes from David Mitchell from his conversation with Terry Gross:<\/p>\n
The better tied the straight-jacket the greater the actor’s escapology has to be to get out… Maybe that’s what originality is\u2013the confinements you choose from the beginning.<\/p>\n
It’s a life long job before you are worthy to sweep up the crumbs under the tables of the masters.<\/p>\n
Structure, originality and innovation is not actually a story… useful ingredients, but not art itself.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Art isn’t the What<\/strong>, it’s the How<\/strong>. \u00a0{then mentions a name, but I can’t make it out, sounds like “loll”…?} said this very well: If you try and write about the universe, you’ll end up staring at the bricks in your garden, but if you start with the bricks, you may end up saying something new about the universe… start with the people.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Originality needs obstacles.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n