profile

Chaos Theory

This is precisely the time when artists go to work

Published 3 months ago • 2 min read

chaos theory

with Antonina Mamzenko

Hi friend,

"This is precisely the time when artists go to work" is a quote attributed to Toni Morrison.

And she did write it. But the context of why she wrote it is often missed out when it gets whipped up to inspire us in times like these.

Toni was having a moment of hopelessness, all the way back in 2004: "Not only am I depressed, I can’t seem to work, to write; it’s as though I am paralyzed... I’ve never felt this way before..."

It was her friend - who, to my knowledge, remains unnamed - who shook her out of it: "No! No, no, no! This is precisely the time when artists go to work—not when everything is fine, but in times of dread. That’s our job!" (the original article detailing this interaction, curiously, is no longer on The National website, but you can access it via this archive link).

And if Toni can have a moment like this, so can we.

I’m having those moments a lot lately. The times we are living through are arguably ten times the intensity of that 2004 election year in America. The imperial boomerang is boomeranging, and chickens are coming home to roost.

"I don't know what the fucking point is anymore" I messaged my friend and wonderful coach Keri Jarvis. She gently challenged me on it: "Ok, let me meet you there... what IS the fucking point?”

It took me a minute (more like three weeks) to really contend with that question and arrive at my own answers.

The point is, to not lose hope.

The point is, to keep making/growing/cooking/writing/drawing/photographing beautiful things, everyday things, mundane things, challenging things, HUMAN things.

The point is, to help lift others up - help lift each other up in the times of despair. The point is, to keep going like others have done before us.

The point is, to hold on to our humanity - despite the best efforts of those in power that are trying to take it away from us.

So let's do that.

Together.

Antonina x

Things you may be interested in:

​The Soup: A small group mentoring programme without a curriculum, but with accountability, deadlines and feedback, starting 13th February. Two out of six spaces have been spoken for, four remaining. Hit reply if you'd like to chat and see if it's the right fit for you.

​Creative Anarchy: Save the date, the next Creative Anarchy session will be Friday 6th February at 2pm GMT / 9am EST. I've not set up the RSVP form yet but pop it in your diary for now.

​1:1 Mentoring: If you need help with a specific question, be it your pricing structure, feedback on your brand new website or portfolio, or need some thought partnership, 90 minute mentoring slots are available. There's also a solidarity rate for those who would not be able to access mentoring otherwise.

​Family Photography: This year might be the last I'm offering my signature Adventure Sessions, and my availability is limited. If you're overdue one for your family, it may be a good idea to pencil in a date now. Hit reply to this email and let's chat. Unconventional Family Portraits are also available for those local(ish) to me.

Antonina Mamzenko, Surrey, KT8
​Unsubscribe · Preferences​

Chaos Theory

with Antonina Mamzenko

In mathematics, chaos theory refers to the science of surprises. It deals with things that are impossible to predict or control, like turbulence, weather, our brain states, the stock market – or, dare I say it, human creativity and imagination. This newsletter is for lateral thinkers. It’s for creative souls. For storytellers. For multi-hyphenates. For chaos goblins. For those who refuse to follow a trodden path. Those who feel everything so, so deeply. For those who are still working things out. For those who refuse to contort their humanity into a predictable, likeable shape so that they, too, can win at capitalism.

Read more from Chaos Theory

chaos theory with Antonina Mamzenko Hey, Seth Godin in (I think) The Practice, writes that true learning (as opposed to schooling) is a voluntary experience that requires tension and discomfort. He calls this discomfort “the persistent feeling of incompetence” as we get better at a skill. Ira Glass calls this discomfort The Gap - the point at which you recognise what “great” in your chosen field looks like, but you also realise that you’re a long way from getting there, and it feels like...

about 4 hours ago • 4 min read

chaos theory with Antonina Mamzenko Hey, In internet culture, shitposting refers to creating any content whose humour derives from its surreal nature, lack of clear context, and an unexpected treatment of an existing form. Originating on underground internet forums like 4chan, shitposting evolved into its own form of content creation - and sometimes it even becomes art in itself. Before I continue, a quick reminder that Words+Pictures starts on 16th of April and I still have a couple of...

7 days ago • 4 min read

chaos theory with Antonina Mamzenko Hi friend, The first rule of improv comedy is that you never say no. “No” is a buzzkill. It robs you and your partner of an opportunity for forward motion. It’s a block, a dead-end of creative pursuit. A betrayal of trust. You can’t do anything with a “no”. “No” stops the creative process. There are no possibilities in a “no”, no new horizons to explore, no new stories to tell. It’s self-evident. Yet, how many times do we say “no” to ourselves in our own...

15 days ago • 2 min read