Ricardo Montalban was My father and Julia Child was My Mother

I am the product of the television. Just as millennials are the product of the internet.  It was not uncommon for my generation to be placed in front of the TV daily and told to stay there. The TV was a babysitter for many of us. A time when parents could walk away and have a few moments of peace thanks to the radiation box. 

I drove the helm of channels to watch since none else was around. There weren't that many to choose from unless you swiped the neighbors cable. I was oddly attracted to the odd channels and PBS. I enjoyed watching Julia Child and Wan Can Cook. There was also the Electric Company and Great Plays. I was first introduced to my favorite writer not from books but from the reenactments on public broadcasting. 

I had a set schedule (this was of course before the DVR). In the morning while getting ready for school it was old shows like Sea Hunt and Lone Ranger. When I came home form school it was Julia Child and Richard Simmons. Saturdays it was a barrage of tv. Starting the morning with cartoons rolling into the afternoon with Sherlock Holmes and Charlie Chan. Then late afternoon with some god awful 70’s flick. After dinner came prime time. When I was younger that meant Lawrence Welk and Hee Haw. When I was a little older it was a variety of sitcoms and dramas. But no matter what then it was finished off with a late night movie. Sunday was church and then some disney movie. 

I fully admit to my dark addiction. Often I have been observed as becoming a zombie. Some people even hate watching tv with me, especially if its a crime drama. I can often tell you who the killer is before they reveal it. Not because I am some super sleuth. It is because I know the formula they use in most shows. If you haven’t figured it out, television shows are for the most based on basic formulas to help the viewer move along the story line. So once you start seeing the pattern you can predict who is the murder or who will be eliminated next. 

Today with internet and the DVR it is easier to go down the rabbit hole. 

One Step Back and Two Steps Forward

Let me preference that I do not profess to be a great anything. I just use these writings to let out my thoughts. If you read this and like it, then I am happy. If not oh well.  With that said, this article is about my feelings for an individual I have encountered.  I am now going to list the offences to me. They may not be to you but then again you could see my side.

The Background: This individual is an important and talented individual in the community. They were around in the glory days of madmen. They work in a top corporate company and hailed by older individuals of one of the greats.  Here are some key points that I have a problem with. 

The Name Dropper: This individual’s persona seems to be wrapped up in name dropping of past greats. Every other sentence is peppered with this name and that name. How they broke the mold and who can compare to the great such and such.  I am all for the study of the past and who paved the road for creatives, but really. Let not talk about whom you know but who you are as an individual.

My Way is the True Way: I always find it hard that even in this day that people feel the only way is the past and computers are the end all of the creative.  I know there are some people that I know who can say “Hey Kettle!” due to my early days. You see I was a paint covered smock wearing artist who took up arms against computers. That is until I played with some software (which I will not name to reveal my age).  After that I began to reinvent my ideas about technology and art.  Don’t get me wrong this person has used a computer or it would seem, but he has little computer knowledge.  I think he feel due to his position that is not necessary to understand technology.  With an advent of the new creative that is a big mistake. You shouldn’t lose track of what the big picture is in the reinvention of creative problem solving.

Thou Shall Call Me Lord of All: Narcissism mentality is the biggest mistake a creative could make in this day of agile flow.  Back in the day of push pin and other iconic studios the key players were gods and goodness pulling the studio forward in their reputation. But today there are many creative studios with many different facets that the reputation is based on the team work. I hate to pull out the cliché “There is no I in team”, but it is what holds true in today’s modern workflow.  What makes a studio is there happy high client list and team work.  It is especially funny of this persons godlike complex because they are in-house. If there is one place that wields no power is corporate America where the only god like individuals are the C levels and even then it’s wrong.

So there you have it my rant on this person. Now I feel better. It’s no longer a fester in my thought and I can let it go.  Thank you for reading my simple rant.