Theme - Waiting, Poking, Creating,Finding One

Sometimes a photo reaches out from my library as the One to use. This, of some years ago at the Del Coronado in San Diego. When I was last there, they were “renovating.” I so hope they kept the beach brollies on the walls. What is the theme here? Hallways? Stairwell? Palms in setting sun?

I don’t think I’ve addressed “theme” directly on The Unschool until this month, with looking at my picturebook recently. It’s on my mind! I’ve talked about it in passing. I’ve mentioned Arthur Miller’s words that if he knew his theme before he was halfway through a work, he would toss the project.

I understand these words.

If you know your theme…

…there’s a very high likelihood of writing TO the theme. That knowledge will permeate every decision you make about what should stay and what should go, and every bit of dialogue will be on point… or coy. Every detail will strive to be a symbol. Nothing will grow from the process. The whole will curl in on itself and wither; Miller’s decision to toss was just recognition of the inevitable. He knew to move on to something that he could create and build and discover.

I suspect that too many of the films we see, and books, and songs, and more, begin with theme. It’s an unsatisfying way to create. (This may be key to the hollow of AI.)

When you’ve reached page 260-something, as I have, and both cut and added, cut and added… and still with no clear theme emerging, it’s unnerving. I have a collection of threads, enough to braid, I’ve been thinking, but without that core piece. I know that I say we live by faith, as artists, but living by faith is not comfortable. Might be comforting, but not comfortable.