Wednesday, November 4, 2009

For anyone who doesn't know, my Netflix is almost all TV shows. It's part of my curriculum that informs my personal growth and informs my writing. I use television shows to reflect what creative people are thinking and streaming, and what viewers are connecting with. It helps me get a feel for where the currents are shifting our collective awareness. I also observe the people, both as characters and actors. Most of the shows, especially the crime procedurals, I don't even remember the storyline. I'm watching for the sparks of new ideas, knowledge, who the people are and how they interact. I'm watching the actors relating to their roles, evolving them. In the space between the actor and his projection, is a mirror into a human being. The richest glimpses into humanness are provided by either a complex person behind a role, or a complex role leading an open actor. It's in the space between.

I love the Mentalist because the world needs to see that sometimes being mindfucked ain't so bad if the person with the power is charming and has good intentions...

I'm only in your head because you invited me in.

Also, it's melting away the stigma around the concept of "psychic," showing that it's not about knowing the future as much as about a general knowing sometimes. This is very positive.

And Lie to Me. I love that there's a show pointing out how transparent lying is.

People are easy to read. And people lie a lot. Most of it's harmless because they don't even know they're doing it. Or it's about stuff that they need for themselves to get to where they're going. That's understandable. But then there are lies they know are wrong, but they commit to it anyway. And those are the lies that always betray themselves.

If you don't know, then you don't know. But if you do, then you do.

This is a universal law, guys. You can't unfuck a chicken. And you can't not know what you do know.

At least for me, I usually don't catch the lie. I catch the liar, as he betrays himself. Then I make him tell me his lie as though I already know what it is.

Really, you're better off not lying about things you know you shouldn't lie about. You may lose some dignity, but you come out with courage and character.

But if you plan to lie, be ready to sell your soul for it, because you will have to be damn sure you keep those things buried for a very long time.