Monograph solitude by Ash Moore

MONOGRAPH Solitude

Issue One, Vol .I

SOLITUDE Solitude sol·i·tude [sol-i-tood, -tyood] 1. the state of being or living alone; seclusion: to enjoy one’s solitude. 2. remoteness from habitations, as of a place; absence of human activity: the solitude of the mountains. 3. a lonely, unfrequented place: a solitude in the mountains. Oxford English Dictionary

Vol .1 Issue. 1

CONTENTS

MASTHEAD pg. V EDITORS LETTER pg. VI

JAKE “THE HILLSIDE HERMIT” WILLIAMS pg .VII THE LEATHALITY OF LONELINESS pg .XIII NORTH KOREA pg. XV SEEKING SILENCE PART I: THE HOH RAINFOREST pg. XXI MAXIMUM SECURITY pg .XXVII SEEKING SILENCE PART II: THE ANECHOIC CHAMBER pg .XXXIII TRAITS OF THE SUBCONSCIOUS MIND pg .XXXVIII BURNESHA pg .XLVIII HOW TO BE ALONE pg .LI ONLY OR LONLEY pg .LV

SOLITUDE

MASTHEAD

EDITORS LETTER

MONOGRAPH: SOLITUDE Vol I. Issue.1

EDITOR AND AUTHOR Adam Marc Steer

ART DIRECTION Ashley P. Moore

EDITORIAL DESIGN Drew Wills Ashley P. Moore

CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER(S) Sam Price (Illustration)

CONTRIBUTING WRITER(S) Tanya Davis Yvette Parsons

Special thanks to The British Library, Ben Rivers, the San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives, Kim Kwang and the United Nations, Amnesty International, the Orfield Laboratories, Jill Peters and Anne Marie Richards.

The pace of our lives has become so fast in contemporary times, rarely do we grant ourselves time to reflect and be alone. There are over seven billion people in our world making it difficult to be by oneself and take pursuit of personal fulfilment. In the endless quest for self-awareness, the path of solitude is a passage many favour for a duration of time. Retreating from the demands of modern life make it possible to reconnect with core beliefs and primal nature. The principles of loneliness should never dilute solitude. Also, distancing one’s self from communication and relationship is not a denial of humanity. It can be a journey for personal inquisition; a search for insight and unrestrained imagination. In times of withdrawal, solutions to issues can be found; answers to questions long unasked may be discovered. By detaching ourselves from the opinions of others, we are able to reveal our organic self. We may expose our true values, and from this we are able to relate them to the values of society, culture and our surrounding equals. The fear of being alone and the branding of “lonely” acts as an overpowering barrier for some. A definitive boundary between experiencing the elusive prosperity of solitude. For those who have never been out of touch with others for long periods of time; it is difficult for them to see solitudes dual meaning.

Because of this, they cling to their dependence. It must be stated that too much seclusion and time away from society is not a good thing. The tainted second blade of solitude reminds us we are by nature social creatures. The need to communicate is instilled within us through millennia and the remote are often considered lost in our world. Excessive seclusion can lead to loneliness. When there is no one to share a smile with, no laughter, no music, no human to turn to for humble advice, solitude can feel every part equal to a prison sentence. Living around others encourages us to interact and maintain social relationships. In others, we find capacity for compassion and love, friendship, generosity and trust. All are strong emotions that cannot be explored alone.

Having the courage to exit these norms on occasion is a priceless attribute. Removing the influences of family and friends, media and community, requires a great independent spirit. It is in these times of solitude where the opportunity to be spontaneous and free is abundant. No one will judge actions taken alone, other than ones self.

Adam Marc Steer Editor

MONOGRAPH

VII JAKE “THE HILLSIDE HERMIT” WILLIAMS

Who amongst us is to judge whether a solitary existence is a reality of loneliness, or a self generated continuation of bliss? Critics may critique and the optimists may pass comment, but few are in a position of clarity to assess the lives of those who choose to live in near perfect seclusion. A compendium of tales and life events shape the identities that sit within us, and the reflection of our identity is portrayed in the way we choose to live our lives. With each and every story different we still opt to choose the path of familiarity, one where ease of application and simplicity can be attained for a small fee. This however is far from reality in the case of the insular minority. Those we call the hermits, the recluses, the simple naturalistic folk that apply unconventional living strategies to every day survival, through choice. Exemplifying themselves from the stress and tribulations of common reality, these people enjoy withdrawn experiences with a timeless constraint; pioneers of their own freedom. Many not considered homeless often owning property as a base, or vast amounts of land to nurture in confidence that it will, some day, return the humble favour. More habitants of earth and structure, opposed to the typical homeowner. One man in particular fits the above description, akin to the ideologies most would struggle to comprehend. Sixty-three year old Jake Williams, or ‘Jake the Hermit’ as he is known, has partnered with the Scottish highlands for over thirty years claiming the valleys of the Cairngorms his partially fixed abode. Over 4500 square kilometres of vast grasslands and mountainous hill-scape is the area in which Jake roams. Broad lochs and picturesque scenery roll endlessly into his daily sunset. Great altitudes tower stoically above land on the horizon as the peak of Ben Macdhui stands 1309 meters above the seas

SOLITUDE

MONOGRAPH

natural level; a place he calls home. With such idyllic surroundings in place it should be noted that a life in the Scottish wilderness is not a decision to be taken by the faint hearted. As average winter lows shatter thermometers at -6°C, the long dark nights of December are enough to question the strength of even the warmest of souls. Why? Why would anyone choose a solitary environment of such challenge? It was by choice that this was to be the life for Jake, and his ambition to recede into a life of obscurity was fulfilled by 1980 as he purchased what is still currently his home. Miles from the nearest road and populated settlement, he owns a ramshackled bungalow in which he has lived entirely alone since the day keys exchanged hands. Or not, as the previous owner moved out twenty years before, and there wasn’t a front door for keys to provide a function. The majority of the roof needed to be reworked, there was no hot water or usable electricity and it was inhabited by two decades worth of inquisitive Scottish wildlife. Jake was aware of the struggle ahead as he knew the foreseeable future would be a rocky existence full of working progress. He is a man of self sustainability and often passes comment on never missing the opportunity to get something for nothing; or next to nothing, as the entirety of the finance for his abode was gained from working at sea north of Canada. Two years is all it took to gather enough to begin his new stand against the norm. With tasks to be done, he immediately began work on improving his living quarters and as a keen handyman, the glare of the northern twilight seeping in through the roof above was quickly pacified. Thirty-four years later however the refurbishment still remains quaintly unfinished, partly due to self admittedly being victim of something he calls the Peter Principle. In essence, its the act of taking on copious amounts of

personal projects or working assignments until you end up not doing very well at any of them. A true Jack-of-all-trades and master of none. Jake didn’t always aspire to become a hillside hermit. As an educated man he studied advanced science at the University of Aberdeen and was born and brought up in Inverness. He taught for a while after graduation and continued his work in Boston, Massachusetts for a couple of years in his late twenties. It was around this period of life where he started to become “scunnered with landlords”, and soon after working on a property with friends to create their perfect dwelling they were turfed out without notice, left financially defunct and effectively homeless. At this point he began the 24 month intensive period working at sea which allowed him to achieve his simple goal; a life in the woods, one where he would no longer be answerable to crampers of freedom and more importantly, immunity from landlords. An average day would perhaps begin with a shower, a beginning granted by a contraption of his own unconventional plumbing skills. A maze of copper pipes and standard garden hose hang freely above the sink in the area he mostly considers his kitchen. Wonderful views are part and parcel of Jakes unorthodox morning ritual as what would be considered the only kitchen window doubles up as a mirror. Some may argue this feature is a privacy-free washing routine, though Jake is assured by knowing the only living eyes to witness would be those of a house spider or passing sparrow. Sunny mornings would indicate breakfast outside, and central to what he likes to call his courtyard is a rustic cooking area. A cooking pot the size of a small barn sits atop a mound of logs; not too dissimilar to a witches cauldron constructed of nothing but cast iron. You could cook up an entire stag in it, though Jake prefers his body weight in ‘tatties’ to

SOLITUDE

Vol .1 Issue. 1

last out the week, or a barrel full of whatever he can harvest in the surrounding land. Kale roots naturally all around, a sort of primitive cabbage and an abundance of redberries can be found for miles, though not everything takes kindly to the high altitude. Not even the standard carrot can sprout in the rare mountain soil, or maybe instead we should be questioning the skills of gardener. Although a life entirely alone might be the expectation of the outsiders looking in, it isn’t always the case. Jake has a daughter who lives just ten miles away and visits regularly, he also writes freelance articles for a national magazine expressing views on the great outdoors. He went as far as stating in an interview that he was “a kind of half-arsed hermit; I’ve always had an open house and people visit me. I’ve been in Scottish dance bands, I write letters and freelance articles for The Leopard [a magazine on sustainable living] and I was even standing for the Green Party this month in the elections – I got 6 per cent of the votes, which they told me is quite good”.

tic winds that often ravage Eastern Europe. Skiing is a common pastime this time of year, snowfall generally reaches 3-4 feet which makes ordinary walking somewhat of an impossible challenge. Jake and his new-found friend of the east would ski into the hills to collect wood and the evening fires would roar with multiplied ferocity as the efforts of two collectors doubled the usual capacity of warmth. A winter he still considers “a wonderful party”, perhaps a second outdoors-man would make the perfect lodger. One of the greatest challenges for hermit Jake over his three decades of solitude was the winter of 2011, as bad weather fronts and minus temperatures threatened his world. Though, it wasn’t nature alone serving up a course of hard life, troubles from the existence he so desperately wished to leave behind began to creep up on him as a lengthy battle with Aberdeen court unfolded. Not disclosing exactly what the core of the drama involved, he simplifies that somebody had tried to sue him, and he “had to go to Aberdeen to the court. I had to ski six miles in and then ski six miles back home regularly for about five months”. The fires he would light in the morning would have long been diminished embers and every item of clothing would have been frozen stiff to his bare skin on home arrival, a true nightmare. He takes positive reflection by knowing things don’t usually get that difficult and that winter was but a rare problematic experience. But he survived, and is free and living to tell the tale.

It seems clear that the option to expand out to the outside world is still an important commodity, but it is reiterated soon after that the often long days are spent mostly alone. It was never Jakes intention to live entirely alone however, he always thought that after he bought the place at the start of the 80’s people would eventually come and live with him. Apparently not the case and this was an unfulfilled expectation, but should there be an offer of a housemate, the door would be open as he adds “it’s not me that’s impossible to live with, I’m very friendly – but it just hasn’t happened yet”. Bare that in mind, and feel free to send your applications to a PO box somewhere-in-the-Scottish-Highlands.

An eccentric unconventional to most and a brilliant genius to others, Jake Williams has created a self sustainable life model he simply couldn’t live without. Unable to grasp the monotonous lives most of us unemotionally embrace, he forgot about the so called “rat-race” decades ago and restates his loathing towards the average living sequence quite commonly.

Three winters ago he even had a Latvian stay with him for the majority of the festive period and thereafter, the cold was nothing to him and barely an eyelid was batted in comparison to the brutal Arc-

Fig: Screen shots from ‘Two Years at Sea’ by Ben Rivers (2011)

MONOGRAPH

XIII LETHAL LONELINESS

The focus of solitude and productive loneliness can sway toward a positive tone. It would be ignorant without regard to its opposing equal however. At a second glance, deeper are the chasms of loneliness. And it is not just the psychological abnormalities of isolation that pose a distant threat. Through modern studies, Social Psychologist John Cacioppo of the University of Chicago has revealed many psychical hazards on direct biological links between loneliness and ill health. Cacioppo, who specialises in biology with relation to human nature, first exposed his research amongst a Social Psychology conference in San Diego earlier this year. Claims were made that the actively lonesome were much more likely to suffer from strokes and heart attacks in comparison to the socially active. At first, it would seem, the scientists amongst the room would doubt the credentials of the statement, and rightly so. It would have been when the logistics of science struck debate that eyelids began to flicker and pencils began scratching notes of the groundbreaking evidence that followed. People that live alone or choose to become exempt from common social activity have raised levels of cortisol in their system. Cortisol is the active circulating hormone that denotes stress in humans and results in the hardening of core arteries and dangerous blood pressure levels. Undermining the regulation of the circulatory system, the heart muscle beats more vigorously under its influence and blood vessels are subject to damage by the turbulent blood flow. Heightened presence of the stress and anxiety hormone can also destroy the quality of sleep. A troubled mind can often result in a restless night, but an extra concern is that calculated sleep may become less restorative, both in physical and psychological manner.

In a joint study concluded with Steve Cole of UCLA, Cacioppo closely examined genetics and the way human genes evolve to deal with our exterior lifestyles. Immune systems have the ability to alter themselves quite diversely overtime, and the socially isolated were observed to judge their internal expressions. “What we see is a consistant pattern where it looks like human immune cells are programmed with a defensive strategy that gets activated in lonley people.” The most reclusive participants had over active genes involved in the human immune system. Interestingly, the same individuals held several key gene sets that linked to the production of antibodies and antiviral response. As result, the body of the human excels at the function of common immunity, whilst dropping its defences greatly to viral infection. “What we see is a consistent pattern where it looks like human immune cells are programmed with a defensive strategy that gets activated in lonely people,” claims Cole via LiveScience. The immune system has a fixed capability, thus having to make decisions between banishing viral threats and protecting against bacterial intrusion. With biological immunity favouring the lock-down on bacteria, antiviral protection lacks strength and antibodies designed to protect serious illness form less freely. Intriguing how the internal system of the human begins to mimic that of our exterior self. How can an introverted social nature seem to control our inner system? As human rejects basic society, system rejects basic bacterial infection. Yet, immune system fails against strengthened viral threat, much like the anti-social struggle to overcome their innermost demons alone.

SOLITUDE

Fig 1: San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives

MONOGRAPH

Vol .1 Issue. 1

What if we were born into a world saturated with lies. The rules that arc over us are impounded into our existence by fictitious government. A world where we as humans have little control, treated as property of the hierarchy that dominate our nation. Fed propaganda by our media, arrested for contacting the outer world and rejected by society should we ever stray outside the gated lands. A place where people are barely knowing of the existing world outside their shores, leading them to believe this is the pinnacle of living. This is nothing short of an Orwellian dystopia. Imagine a country forced into national solitude for a possible eternity and where an entire population is refused the right to have an opinion.

Attempting to document their world of neglect, they often try to reach western news fronts with scenes of injustice and extreme governmental betrayal. These independent freedom fighters are required to risk not only their lives, but also the lives of their entire families. Kim Jong-un is currently the driving force behind this practice of denial. Formally renowned as “Supreme Leader” by his countrymen, Kim Jong-un is currently the spearhead of every dictatorial view the country has. All being massively corrupt and unethical to anyone having the misfortune to be born there, his regime casts poverty and death upon millions. Controlling supply lines and often only catering for himself and his grandest of sidekicks, The Independent recently suggested his annual cognac bill tallies higher than the country’s human aid fund. While the ruling classes have unrestrained access to food and premium living conditions, they are no safer with respect to Kim’s unreasonable purges.

The state of North Korea fits exactly this description. Exposed in recent months with more media coverage than any other time in living history, the Western world is steadily learning of the atrocities within the country. It’s not shocking to learn why we do not hear much about this sealed nation when the consequence of being caught for sharing information is often death – or worse.

The outside world was recently treated to a preview of Kim Joong-Un’s insatiable appetite for power. His uncle Jang Song-Thaek was publically executed on command after visiting South Korea on terms of becoming an “outsider”, and senior propagandist.

Inside the solitary kingdom, North Korean journalists and filmmakers are amongst the illustrious few daring enough to question the outer boundaries.

XV NORTH KOREA Brainwashed by authority

SOLITUDE

Many North Korean’s do not have the same grasp on reality as these fearless news spreaders. For every one journalist who has knowledge from the outside there may be perhaps one hundred thousand totally unaware of the world as we see it. As a former leading figure in the government of North Korea, Jang was abruptly accused of being a counter-revolutionary and immediately stripped of all positions upon his return. Two acquaintances were shot dead immediately, and after unreasonable questioning, Jang Song-Thaek was also executed by a of machine-gun firing squad. There have been external reports that his entire extended family have also been killed since his public execution. Amongst the chaos that unfolded surrounding his detainment, he was able to expel a few wise words to a documentary maker in the south. “In North Korea they promote the leader to be the sun. If you go too close, you burn. If you go too far, you freeze to death.” It is not clear from a western perspective if there is anything at all in between. The death of thousands unfortunately seems to come second nature to the people living here. Equality isn’t something the government seem eager to implement either. Department stores display the latest wares and vital consumable goods for display, but these are not for sale.

MONOGRAPH

This allows the standard-class citizen the ability to dream, whilst reminding them they will never attain the power to achieve. It is estimated that one in each one-hundred North Koreans are now considered political prisoners, confined within city-scale detention centres. These are gulags, a name taken from the Soviet forced labour camps between the decades 1930-1950. These centres are Soviet in nature, created to house thousands of convicts mostly of a political fashion. Often petty crimes or even breaching internet filters can result in forced life labour or death in the modern North Korean variations. Gulags the size of Los Angeles can be seen visibly by satellite on Google Earth and Google Maps. Despite the brutality of the leadership, outside information does occasionally get smuggled across the borders with China to the north and the more developed south. Insiders state rare DVD or USB drives will make an appearance every now and then, containing perhaps a short film or television show. In these instances, one can only imagine the excitement of cramping densely into a small room to watch them whilst continuously conscious of the peril that could follow. Small leaks like this have enabled braver North Koreans to attempt to export their own experiences. Whilst aware of the penalties that await, some are still willing to film their lifestyles and surroundings. By doing this they hope that one day, a lifeline from outside will see the catastrophic conditions and intervene. Japanese journalist Jiro Ishimaru works internally within North Korea coordinating film makers whilst helping them siphon footage out of the country. In a place where filming everyday life is considered an act of political treason, the attempts are not without risk. People caught filming would be captured and locked away within labour camps until they worked themselves to death, in the most literal sense.

Vol .1 Issue. 1

Only five years ago mobile phone ownership re-legalised, this has helped spread a little more light into the case of the helpless citizens contained within. The phones for sale can call only within North Korea, but can be illegally adapted to allow international calls and basic media sharing. Doing so would almost defiantly result in leader Kim’s call for execution or imprisonment under crimes of political injustice.

Exporting scenes Kim Jong-un doesn’t want the world to see, the fate of Jiro Ishimaru would surely follow suite to match that of the supreme leaders uncle; a brutal execution to be concluded in full public view, followed by a manhunt for the entire family. One of the independent filmers working along-side Jiro spoke briefly with a Japanese reporter about the importance of his duty. “This is dangerous, and if I get caught I know I would immediately be executed as a traitor to the Korean people. But I have got to do this. I have got to do this no matter what. I am just one person. Even if I have to sacrifice my life, someday something is going to change”.

Although many outsiders feel these leaks are the beginning of a revolutionary change, some remain more optimistic than others. Andrei Lankov, a Russian expert on North Korea stated within the Palgrave Journals, “If a government is willing to kill as many people as necessary to stay in power, it usually stays in power for a very long time.”

It isn’t just the West that is indifferent to the fate of North Korea. Their own neighbours to the South are indifferent at best and hostile at worst to the North Korean defectors and the prospect of unification. The two countries have been in dispute over the controversial tendencies of the north for decades. South Koreans often fear for their own safety over the irrational choices of the neighbouring crooked government, and recent video leaks have exposed the barbarity.

Minus the visual exports, it had always been difficult to get an insight of life inside the totalitarian state. With a strict few-in-few-out policy, anyone is welcome to visit, providing you are already in the country. The daring reports are but few sources that exist of this inner torture and it does not stop at gruesome labour camps and electrically charged razor fences.

The United Nations has also accused North Korea of selling illegal weapons and nuclear technology to the highest bidder. Their list of warfare clients would commonly involve radical African countries and the Middle East. For example, in 2012, the UN seized a shipment from North Korea heading to Syria, presumably to fuel their battle on civilians and defiance against intervention. The cargo vessel contained nearly 450 graphite cylinders prepared for use in ballistic missiles. Three years prior to this, shipments to both Iran and the Republic of Congo were caught in transit. One holding 35 tons of explosives and missile components, and the other containing Soviet-era tanks.

the majority of the finance goes to Kim’s personal stash rather than feeding the starving millions of his nation. With so many citizens of North Korea attempting to flee, surrounding countries are struggling to cater for the influx. Official policy of China to the north is to send them back across the border immediately. Miserably for the Korean’s, on return they are either executed or consigned to a labour camp for endless work. The second method usually turns out to be equally as effective as the death penalty.

According to sanctions established by the UN, they had been banned from selling or trading missile technology long ago. Kim Jong-un and his propaganda machine however, responded by stating that it was actually the sanctions that were illegal and he was free to do whatever he pleased. It seems not a surprise that the North Korean arms trade isn’t steadying its momentum, and is likely a much needed source of revenue for the government. Blaine Harden at the Washington Post claims that

SOLITUDE

Only South Korea holds a policy of near absolute clemency: All North Korean defectors (providing non-criminal) are able to gain immediate citizenship. In a gold-hearted act of humanity they are also

MONOGRAPH

Vol .1 Issue. 1

provided job training, and for the many that often require it, psychological counselling. They are also given shelter, $800 a month living allowance and South Korean Government offers a $1,800 bonus to anyone whom will employ a refugee. Those wishing to embark for the north to China often succumb to the elemental conditions during their thousand-mile treks. Chinese government estimate that there are up to 200,000 North Koreans hiding in the mountains and rural provinces illegally. Possibly the most shocking of horrors still remains to be stated. Between 1994 and 1998, a crippling famine struck North Korea as floods reduced farmland to unusable sewage lakes. Combining that with a viciously escalating debt to the Soviet Union, they were prevented from importing food. Entire cities drifted into deathly realities. Within these years it is estimated around three and a half million people died of starvation, equating to over ten percent of the entire population. What little food they had was regularly confiscated by military in compliance with previous leader Kim Jong-Il, father of the current supreme leader. Reluctantly they turned first to their pets for the sustenance needed for survival, followed by crickets and the bark of trees. Finally, children became targets of now starved cannibalistic adults. The term “Don’t buy meat if you don’t know where it came from” was founded as a national term, much different to the sustainable meat slogans of today. Defectors of the famine say the starved would search for the vagrant children, often found begging outside train stations. Here they would drug them with a prim-

itive type of chloroform, carry them home and butcher them. First hand horror stories and a small number of official accounts have been noted, enough to accredit legitimacy to their words. Tales of woe plague our internet searches when requesting any information relative to North Korea. It is only for the secret heroes risking life and more that we as outsiders can learn anything at all. The North Korean system keeps going by implementing evasive security apparatus

and fear tactics. How are we able to declare “Never Again” every year on Holocaust Remembrance Day, knowing that children are still being born into concentration camps in this modern age. Journalists on the inside will continue to repeat perhaps their final assignments, in hope that the revolution will continue. Their stories deserve to be told, but they fall on deliberately deaf ears.

Footnotes Fig I: A drawing portrays torture inside North Korean prisons. The caption reads "Pigeon position interrogation." (Kim Kwang-Il/United Nations) Fig II: Prisoners catching mice in 4x2 ft solitary refinement, (Mr Kim Kwang-il/United Nations). Fig III: A drawing based on Kim Kwang-Il’s experiences. The captions read, “Crane, airplane, and car interrogation positions.” (United Nations) Fig IV: Prisoners carry dead bodies to a crematorium, according to the caption, in a drawing based on Kim Kwang-Il’s experiences. (United Nations

SOLITUDE

SEEKING SILENCE: HOH RAINFOREST Part I: Introduction The aged term “silence is golden” is barely an applicable phrase in today’s modern world. With ever emerging cities, increasing traffic, passing airplanes and the natural human tendency to expand until we run out of room, there are very few places remaining where one can enjoy true peace and quiet. With the exception of a few subtle refuges our lives are constantly filled with unwanted noise and penetrative undesired sounds. It is our insatiable appetite for transport, technology and convenience that is contributing to our ever decreasing calm as humans and the natural earth has no choice but to adapt to our evolving habits. This is exactly the reason why our increasingly rare silent havens are diminishing at rates we struggle to comprehend. There are still however places of both outstanding natural beauty and man-made technological mastery that present hushed tranquillity.

MONOGRAPH

Vol .1 Issue. 1

The Hoh Rainforest, Washington, United States. It is an unfortunate fate that the popularity of film franchise “Twilight” tends to overshadow the naturally occurring allure of Forks, Washington. But should visitors head barely one hour west they will learn that not only can they escape vampires, they can escape more or less everyone and everything else. It is here where you will find Olympic National Park, the largest area in the entire United States that caters for zero road transport. An entire segment of the land free from roads, which allows nature to dominate the landscape and cuts down greatly on mangenerated noise pollution. If you are able to fathom up to 14 feet of rainfall a year it’s considered a top spot for hiking and features a

SOLITUDE

12-month-a-year campground for passers-by. Formed by ancient glaciers thousands of years ago, fallen moss-covered trees, grazing elk and the unsettled Hoh River intertwine to forge an ecosystem that exhales life and stillness. Amateur and experienced backpacking routs are offered from the visitor centre ranging between one and twenty miles where glacial mountain trails can be explored at the greater distances. Although the surrounding scenery may sound close to natural perfection, a short walk onwards into the rain forest unveils an ambient world of even greater magnitudes.

MONOGRAPH

Vol .1 Issue. 1

One Square Inch

Just over three miles venture inside the Hoh Rainforest from the visitors centre lies a suspiciously poignant red rock placed atop a moss-covered log. It’s intentional placement

is to symbolise the beginning of what is commonly considered one of the United States’ most important natural research areas. ‘One Square Inch of Silence’ expands past this point and is officially the quietest area in North America. Designed on Earth Day 2005, the incentive behind the project was to manage and protect the natural soundscape of Olympic Park’s backcountry wilderness. The project was subtly named after its intentional destiny; to conserve an area covering one square inch of a local area map, allowing nothing but silent human witnesses to walk amongst its flawless natural heritage. The logic is simple; if a loud noise, such as the passing of an aircraft, can impact many square miles, then a natural place, if maintained in a 100% noisefree condition, will also impact many square miles around it. It is predicted that protecting a single square inch of land from noise pollution will benefit large areas of the park. Structured as an independent research project, One Square Inch works alongside The National Park Service to promote relationships with individ-

SOLITUDE

uals and organisations alike, to perform qualified and grass roots research on the evolving soundscape within the area. Whilst inside the perimeter of the square inch, everyone is prompted to be as quiet as possible and even speaking above a typical whisper will result in punishment. You will not be arrested, neither will you be reprimanded with will result in punishment. You will not be arrested, neither will you be reprimanded with lasting consequence should you over-step the preferred sound levels, you will simply be asked to voluntarily ‘quiet down’ by park patrol officers and prompted by staff at the visitors centre on exit. It is here where you will be handed an CD, one where countless minutes of nat-ural ambience are recorded upon to be decimated by abrupt, man-made noise intrusions. This audio CD hopes to highlight awareness of human negativity in relation to escalating sound levels and is a clear indication that officials wish to keep the zone silent.

urally occurring soundscape was already in place, and substantial periods of natural quiet in comparison to other national parks was all ready fact due to minimal over-head air transport. Containing one of the most pristine ecosystems in the northern hemesphere with over 1200 species of plant, 300 species of bird and 70 species of living mamal, it seemed the ideal choice. Eight species of plant and 18 animal species are only on the Olympic Peninsula, occurring nowhere else in the world. A national park of exceptional beauty, it stands as the largest and greatest example of virgin temperate rain forest in the western world. For most sharing an interest in nature and the desire to leave vast parts of our world entirely untouched, the One Square Mile project within the Hoh Rain Forest is the essential partnership between the wild and mankind. A partnership that needs to be reflected in other parts of our world if we wish to carve a steady equilibrium with nature.

Olympic national park was chosen as the prime location for the One Square Inch project based on an abundance of natural benefactors. A diverse nat-

End of Part I

MONOGRAPH

Vol .1 Issue. 1

XXVII

MAXIMUM SECURITY Solitary Confinement

Although equally documented as a jewelled transcendence of the self, solitude has an ancient dark history. Long before archaic writing materials were created to etch its presence, seclusion was used as a primary method of punishment across all cultures. Formalised to set one aside following an act of unreasonable conduct, solitary confinement was portrayed as one of the grandest convictions – often considered equal to death and physical torture. In primal form, humans are not designed nor have we evolved to fathom the challenges of life alone. We thrive in numbers as one of many; a pack, a tribe, a community to be networked with more of our own kind. Human segregation denies us of our instinctive pathology. The diagnosis of who we are and what we are to become, becomes vague candlelight in an endless tunnel of purgatory. It was a punishment to be feared, one capable of inducing self-harm, suicide and unrestrained madness. Today, every prison in the United Kingdom has a segregation unit. Hundreds of inmates on our own shores are challenged by the most solitary environments on a daily basis. There are around 100,000 convicts serving sentences in prisons amongst Great Britain alone, one of the highest incarceration rates in Western Europe. Ranging from petty theft to murder, each of the felons stand unprotected against the imminent risk of solitary confinement based on their behaviour on the inside. Exactly how they end up in these cells confined to ancient discipline often remains unstated. The legal system of our country intercepts and disallows inside knowledge from reaching our misinformed media. In addition, working contracts for prison staff do not allow internal stories the privilege of breaching the barbed walls.

Because of the sanctions against inner speak, only on rare occasion do we hear of tales from the inside. Even rarer is it that we hear of situations from solitary confinement or the appearance of an officer talking to a formal publication. A custody officer from one of the countries most notorious prisons has done exactly that however, risking reputation and career to shed some light on this otherwise darkened world of secrecy. For legal reasons and utmost respect to the interviewee, they will remain anonymous. The only addition being that the subject is a female in an otherwise male-dominated hostile environment. In her own words, “Prison is a ticking time bomb”, and in defence of her own security she will from this point on be referred to as Officer E.

Having worked inside for what is now just over six years, the position initially became an option of necessity rather than desirability. The leap of careers can often shock the foundations of life itself, and risks are often taken towards the direction of financial stability and general interest. Not always would you expect a shift so vast though, one that catapults you into the realms of the unknown. A realm that is also filled with imminent danger; murderous criminals roam these wings and the job of a custody officer involves the detailed processing of each and every convict. Officer E precisely files the documentation of people entering and leaving the jail. The well-being of the inmates appears paramount to the officers as duties are to ensure regime and log any essential requirements. Each inmate is assigned a specific officer

who discusses ongoing realities, from daily life to attaining that rewarded call home. Generally, the keeping of the jail is the task of most of these work types, but chores also include undertaking cell searches, which can often result in the unveiling of drugs and lethal weapons.

SOLITUDE

Needless to say, revealing such crafted items and toxic paraphernalia does not go without great risk. When questioned whether workers are confronted with situations of danger, Officer E responded immediately with “daily”. After the previous comparison between a prison and a timed explosive, she spoke openly when asked to expand on the interior threat.

MONOGRAPH

Vol .1 Issue. 1

SOLITUDE

MONOGRAPH

Vol .1 Issue. 1

With so many prisoners serving life sentences, attitudes and behaviour become increasingly strained. Some of the actions above can be the result of stress from their lengthy stays, and this unstated prison in particular has an abundance of so called “lifers”. Any person found guilty of murder has a mandatory sentence of 21 years minimum. “The judge can give no less”, Officer E dictates.

pany and idle chatter there would be equal counterparts craving nothing more than spatial proximity. Ever poignant, Officer E clarifies, “Some like the solitude. Some don’t like being on wings with 90 other inmates. Sometimes people will do whatever it takes to be moved; self harm, suicide attempts, become refractory, become abusive. Generally doing anything to get their own way. Most of these cope quite well.”

The British Isles are vastly over populated in general with respects to the size of our land. This in turn, has a direct effect on the number of prisoners within our jails and detention centres. In 2006, it was revealed 148 out of every 100,000 people were behind bars. Although this may not seem like a considerable amount, it’s enough to bring our detainment capacity to its knees as the numbers being processed in continue to surge. With cells commonly designed to cater for two inmates a time, living conditions are cramped and privacy seems an impossible distant pleasure. Others, thrive with their criminal counterparts and form great friendships that help steer them through their time of punishment.

Psychologically, one would assume sustained periods of absolute silence and solitude may become a little unsettling. Again we must be reminded that this is a far evolved format of restraint when compared to the restriction chambers of ages gone by. They are still offered basic excessive on occasion, reading material and stationary to keep their troubled minds from temporary hysteria.

Some of the insiders have no such choice as to whether they remain socially active or become quite the introvert. Segregation units or solitary confinement wings remain a constant feature amongst every country currently practising criminal detainment. Officer E confirms that however old this aged sanction may be, people will continue to be placed in these halls of minimal existence on a daily basis.

“Inmates can only be places in the care and separation unit under certain circumstances with correct paperwork of course. Any prisoner threatening the good order or discipline of the jail, any prisoner under threat of their life”. From our lengthy talk, it was quite apparent that the fear of prisoner suicide was a frequent and very real consequence. The repetitive theme of self hurt seemed to follow alongside the backbone of our interview from beginning to end. These segregation units begin to sound more like time-out cells and spaces of recuperation than areas of explicit discipline. She continued, “Each ‘seg’ has a “special cell”, this is a completely empty cell with nothing in but a hole in the floor. They will only be put into this cell under extreme circumstance. Basically if someone won’t stop hurting themselves. For example, head butting the wall, suicide attempts. If they do they are stripped naked and only given a special blanket.” The common stigma surrounding these maximum security units seem not to be correct in nature. Many may assume the harshest of environments inside would be reserved for those committing only merciless crimes. This turns out not to be the case and by admission, Officer E states that every prison is different. Solitary confinement is to be considered based on a set of psychological variables; the mentality, the initial crime, the extent of crime, lifestyle, past environment, family life and childhood trauma. The vast majority within segre

“Most of them are there because they want to be... they know the consequences of their actions. Surprisingly, they do better than you think. Not all obviously. Anybody in prison can be refereed to the mental health team, this happens quite often.” Prisoners with mental health issues seem to be the few that struggle to cope with the innards of solitary confinement. It should be noted as Officer E states, everyone on the inside is offered the highest quality mental health care required to repent their anxieties. It seems quite an abstract thought that maximum segregation is seen as an escape from the crowded wings by the convicts inside. A boundless shift from the torturous visions many of us imagine. Even more in contrast to the images depicting the truth of their nature in the past

gations will have done something on purpose to be placed within the confined halls. “Nobody is put into segregation because of their offence”, meaning no single prisoner is circumscribed to solitary confinement on initial enrolment.

Human rights and relaxed grasp over detainment laws have moved our prisons forward in terms of hospitality. This doesn’t mean life on the inside is getting any easier for the thousands serving sentences within our nation.

And what exactly must you do to be placed inside the confines of the most lonesome places? Providing you don’t fit the usual psycho-analysis, an array of varied actions will result in mandatory banishment. Fighting, assaulting staff or prisoners, refusing order, mutiny, reconstructing your residence are amongst many controversial acts that would place you under extended restraint. Others may attempt to secrete items inside their bodies to transport consumables around the prison, or general possession of unauthorised articles such as drugs or weapons. Once in the segregation unit, weeks or even months may pass depending on the severity of the subject at hand. Continuous refractory behaviour can occasionally result in ejection, where the offender will be transferred to an entirely different prison.

Data journalist Jacopo Ottaviani, compiles statistics on death and suicide rates within England and Wales. Recently published as a public document via The Guardian, Ottaviani revealed there were 833 suicides in prison between 2001 and 2011. These figures peaked between 2002 and 2004 with nearly one-hundred self inflicted deaths per annum. Suicides will forever be a sad occurrence, but self-inflicted harm and death remain a second priority in comparison to the safety of officers. Assault on staff

On the contrary, the dissection of time alone and general solitude can of course be perceived as a tale of two halves. Surely for every couple relishing com-

SOLITUDE

is a continuous threat to the hard worked authorities that strive night and day to keep our system in charge. Officer E is one of many blank faces we rarely get the opportunity to thank for service. The unlivable past of solitary confinement and the gravity of its punishment is beginning to get lost in translation as years pass by. But still, it will always remain just one construct of legal framework helping keep our Isle secure. One of many, in a system that remains one of the most successful detention routines on earth. Away from convicted dangers we remain, away from fear, and away from the imminent threat of those clutching onto violence and bloodshed.

Photographs by Amnesty International (interior and exterior of a solitary confinement cell, Pelican Bay.)

SEEKING SILENCE: ANECHOIC CHAMBER Part II: Introduction The vast expanses of nature can only stretch so far in terms of achieving absolute silence. Rivers will continue to meander, trees will continue to blow in the wind and bird song will remain the dominant sound-wave amongst the boundless naturalistic earth. Mother Nature will continue to hum along to its own tune and will do so predictably until the curtain closes on the human species; we will not silence her. But it is man that has evolved over millennia to develop our own environments that cater for personalised methods of existence. It is through trial and error, research and perseverance that we use our crafted habitats to allow further intellectual evolution, and in this extreme instance we have created something quite otherworldly.

MONOGRAPH

Vol .1 Issue. 1

The Orfield Laboratories Amongst the hustle and bustle of Minneapolis, Minnesota, stands a research facility certified by the Guinness Book of Records as the quietest place on the face of planet earth; The Orfield Laboratories. Imagine a world of pure darkness and unmitigated silence where the pulse of your own heart sounds as powerful as a thundering drum within your body’s core. A place so quiet you can hear the muscles of your lungs expand with each breath and your stomach growl seemingly louder than the usual passing aircraft under the confusion of unfathomable silence. This is no description of a Hollywood nightmare or scene from outer space; it is working research unit used around the clock to test common appliances as well as the parameters of human sanity.

Deep inside the labs at the Orfield facility you will find the bizarre and quite ghostly anechoic chamber. As a brief dissection, anechoic translated to zero echo and the chamber itself is able to absorb 99.99% of sound from all forms of noise output. Technical analysis within the chamber shows sound levels measured at a record-breaking -9.4dBA (decibels), meaning the space is entirely devoid of sound and beyond. The human ear as an equivalent can process zerodBA, so not only does the anechoic chamber portray an environment more silent than living man can comprehend, it goes past natural creating a location atmospherically dead. Comparable to the experience of a space simulation perhaps, as soundwaves are not able to freely travel and rebound to produce the noises we commonly acknowledge.

Creating such an inhumane setting for research was no easy task. Cut slightly into the earth and built with millions of dollars worth of hardware and materials, it creates its super silence with monstrous three and a half foot fibreglass wedges, double layered walls of high density insulated steel and one solid foot of concrete to nit it tightly together. Built in foundations of bruit force and heavy composition, the structure was then jewelled with decades worth of sonic engineering and every angle within the chamber was crafted to be as non-reflective as humanly (or in-humanly) possible.) So what’s the purpose of it’s creation? Well, potentially it has an endless array of functions as it is considered a multi purpose facility. Mostly though, to test sound emissions of various appliances both small and large. Ranging from the near-silent flicker of liquid crystals within mobile phone displays to the engines of the latest Harley-Davidson motor cycles for company research and consumer boasting statistics. Household names like Whirlpool also check the sound levels of their washing machines in attempt to make our kitchens and laundry rooms hospitable areas once more. It goes without saying endless brands of speaker, hi-fi and musical instrument amplification systems are equally as rigorously tested here to maximise output capabilities. Whilst this specific section of the building is dedicated to product testing and performance benchmarks, a short walk under the same roof will lead

Fig 1: Founder Steven J. Orfield in an ancehoic chamber Fig 2: Interior wall of anechoic chamber

you to the recording studio where Funkytown and Bob Dylan recorded “Blood on the Tracks”; quite a dynamic setting. It isn’t just hardware and audio devices that are pushed to their limits in the Minnesota facility however. The chamber is so unnaturally exempt of real-world physics it is able to challenge the boundaries of living human physiology. The room minimises the reflection of sound to a point of mass disorientation should you wish to stay in there for longer periods of time. And what is considered a lengthy period is only around twenty minutes, as company founder Steven Orfield confidently advises that people wishing to be contained within for any longer will need a seat as the humans natural compass and balance systems begin to fail.

“How you orient yourself is through sounds you hear when you walk. In the anechnoic chamber, you don’t have any cues. You take away the perceptual cues that allow you to balance and manoeuvre. If you’re in there for half an hour, you have to be in a chair.”

SOLITUDE

Establishing that enduring the chamber for durations of half an hour appears quite a physiological battle, it’s creator has began launching fearsome challenges to the public to see who can withstand the ultimate blackout for the longest period of time. The standing record is currently held by a travelling journalist who made a visit to the facility. Managing to stay in the void of complete silence

and pure darkness for 45 minutes, his attempt was called off when he began experiencing vivid hallucinations. A darkened and totally silent space might be considered a soothing experience within the parameters of a common environment. But here, the presence of your inner self becoming the only viable soundscape has been known to twist the minds of chamber challengers.

“When it’s quiet, ears will adapt. The quieter the room, the more things you hear. You’ll hear your heart beating, sometimes you can hear your lungs, hear your stomach gurgling loudly.” “In the anechoic chamber, you become the sound”.

End of Part II

Vol .1 Issue. 1

XXXVIII TRAITS OF THE CREATIVE MIND

Illustrations by Sam Price Introduction Whilst creative individuals hold the capacity to expel their vision of the world in a variety of manors, they stumble upon common hurdles typical humans pass in their stride. As the right brain cortex fires into illustrious form, creative individuals are able to surpass the norms of imagination and intuition whilst additionally excelling at non-verbal communication, rhythmic expression and holistic thinking. Far from the expanses of left-cortex thinkers and their stability through logic, analysis and linear sequence; the creative mind bathes in chaos. Many of the artistic are quick enough to admit their anarchic habits and lawless regime of dayto-day life. They are often disorganised and turbulent, but thrive in a world of uncertainty and are able to flourish through the adversities of unknown turmoil. A helter-skelter existence of continuous turning motion, creatives will usually be meandering towards a hazy and unpredictable goal which to themselves will be nothing short of a personal nirvana. As the walls of normality often tower along the horizons of the innovative, complications arise. But no sooner are the barricades in place, the instinct of the creative will already be negotiating diversions around the obstacles ahead. Unorthodox as always, yet brilliantly effective. How do they develop the mechanisms needed to succeed in their hectic worlds? Being alone is often credited as a prerequisite for creativity; time is needed to reflect and develop thoughts of the future. There are many personal attributes and psychological traits creatives carry with them along the journey, and many more that are rarely explored.

MONOGRAPH

Vol .1 Issue. 1

Taking time for Solitude “In order to be open to creativity, one must have the capacity for constructive use of solitude. One must overcome the fear of being alone”. This extract from American existential psychologist Rollo May, perfectly exemplifies the importance of being able to use solitude as a catalyst for creativity. Heavily creative individuals and professional artists often carry the stereotype of being loners. Whilst this is not always the case, it’s a stigma passed down by generations as writers crave their space, painters opt for freedom and musicians improve only through solo repetition. Solitude acts as a balanced stepping-stone between current ability and future improvement whilst providing the territory to grant the creation of fine works. Time alone allows our minds to wander with unrivalled freedom. Many creative psychologists link solitary moments to our most heightened stances of creative output. “You need to get in touch with that inner monologue to be able to express it. It’s hard to find that in a creative voice if you’re not getting in touch with yourself and reflecting on yourself.” - James Kaufman

SOLITUDE

MONOGRAPH

Vol .1 Issue. 1

Absence of the Mind

Glorious Failure

Despite what any educational teacher has preached about this topic, creative types will know that common daydreaming is anything but a waste of time.

Resilience Perhaps the most accurate selection of words to digest when applied to the realms of the creative. is an undeniable prerequisite for creative success and the ability to learn from previously unsuccessful attempts must be etched deep within ones character.

Neuroscientists have found with recent examinations that daydreaming mirrors brain activities associated with invention, creativity and imagination. Bound tightly with the above principle of creative empowerment through solitude, the mind is able to generate streams of insight more frequently when left to its own devices. Mentally detaching ourselves from linear chains of thought has been proven to aid creative incubation. Rebecca McMillan, professor of psychology and author of “Ode To Positive Constructive Daydreaming”, has published her findings on this subject and believes that one can only maximise creative reflection when the mind is elsewhere. The theory that our best ideas come out of the blue might not be as random as we expect. Mindless although daydreaming may seem, studies conducted in 2012 suggest we begin engagement with a greater involved brain state. Neurological connections when mind-wandering relate to insight, and our capacity to recall distant information in the state of distraction.

‘Tis a lesson you should heed: try, try, try again” “If at first you don’t succeed; try, try, try again.” -William Edward Hickson Achieving at creative ventures is often a process of repeatedly failing until you find a prosperous method. Being able to re-adapt quickly after failure is part and parcel of moving forward, and holding the mentality that numerous losses will eventually equate to a win is a must for progression. Strength of character is needed to understand failure should not be taken seriously or absorbed as a negative. The most successful creative minds will usually be the ones that have battled through defeat and repetition more than their peers. “Creatives fail and the really good ones fail often” - Steven Kotler, Forbes contributor.

SOLITUDE

Vol .1 Issue. 1

Conquering Life’s Obstacles Following the philosophy that every cloud has a silver lining, most of the greatest musical compositions and iconic stories of our time are inspired by unimaginable pain and heartbreak. The silver lining of such tragic events lies in the knowledge that they acted as a direct catalyst for what became great art. Kaufman speaks once again on the area by stating: “A lot of people are able to use that as the fuel they need to come up with a different perspective on reality,” Newer fields of emerging psychology, ‘post-traumatic growth’, are beginning to suggest that many people are able to use the negativity of early-life trauma to substantially benefit their expressive ways. Researchers have unveiled, trauma can aid later growth areas of spirituality, personal strength, interpersonal relationships, appreciation of life and more importantly, creativity. The ability to see new possibilities in life after harsh pitfalls.

“What’s happened is that their view of the world as a safe place, or as a certain type of place, has been shattered at some point in their life, causing them to go on the periphery and see things in a new, fresh light, and that’s very conducive to creativity.” .

MONOGRAPH

Vol .1 Issue. 1

The Pursuit of Dreams Occasionally, creative people will fall short of being categorised as excessively driven with subjects that lack taste and intellectual depth. This could often be considered a direct assistance in aiding the chase of life’s true passions and elaborate dreams. Inventive personalities tend to be intrinsically motivated; meaning their motivation is fuelled by internal desire, rather than a desire for external reward or recognition. Studies of recent psychology have shown that creatives are charged and synergised by activities of challenge, a sign of intrinsic motivation. Research explains that openly thinking of intrinsic reasons to complete common activities is enough to kick-start the alternative thought engine, greatly boosting creativity. “Eminent creators choose and become passionately involved in challenging, risky problems that provide a powerful sense of power from the ability to use their talents” - M.A. Collins, The Handbook of Creativity.

SOLITUDE

MONOGRAPH

XLVII BURNESHA

BURNESHA The Albania Sworn Virgins

In the 15th century, prince Leke Dukagjini, commander of the region, coded a set of lasting rules to implement traditions within the isolated land he claimed his own. The Kanun, or so the laws were called, a secular set of regulations which applied to both Christian and Muslim religions as an overarching enforcement. They were drawn to set standards for interpersonal conduct in the area, albeit it a corrupt and hugely demoralising conduct.

Society and communion was forcefully solitary by these rules, households worked as independent ALBANIAN SWORN VIRGINS Seclusion on a variety of levels is one of the unavoid- units under the dominion of men. The women livable truths of solitude. Whilst submerged within it, ing in these households were considered little more the choices of life we favor may redefine our entire than property of men, traded between father and existence, perhaps forever husband when times see fit. The patriarch governed even the aspect of marriage, scenes which will not Not always are our own decisions applicable. We seem excessively shocking to most. It’s well documust consider those with minimal options based mented that females have not always been holders on their surroundings. of equality; this was not unique to either Kanun law or Albania. What’s definitively obscure in this inThink of the vast expanses of nature, even in this stance is that rule of Kanun offers women age they dominate our world. Commanding whole a way out. nations, it dictates the lives of those that live within it. The deserts and savannas of Africa, mountain- They may undertake the transformation from ous plateaus of The Far East and the Amazon rain- woman to Burrnesha. To do so, they pledge their forest are amongst the remotest areas on earth. It lives to celibacy, change their appearance till the is the enforced solitude of the people within these end of their days, and assume the liberties and burthat continuously provokes further research by the dens of man, forever. developed world. In today’s age these sworn virgins live on, but their Sixty miles across the Adriatic Sea from Italy, numbers have dwindled. The modern world has alamongst the central core of Eastern Europe, stands tered to facilitate basic human rights, and so tales a controversy a little closer to home. Sharing board- of the Burrnesha may cease to be written in years ers with Kosovo, Montenegro, Greece and Macedo- to come. Many native Albanians seem not to even nia is Albania. A nation of just over three million, know of their existence. and an elusive few that still follow a defiled 500 year old regime. What happens when the society that created you no longer needs you? And how do you live in the Throughout history and human culture, its a re- meantime? grettable fact that women have often been considered second class citizens. The property of men in Western journalists have compared the search for many accounts, informal slaves to father and hus- the lost Burrnesha nothing short of a hunt for uniband alike. History is plagued with examples but corns. Only, when searching for mythical creatures a secluded region of northernmost Albania con- you are safe in the knowledge that, in fact, you will tinues to follow suit. High amongst the mountain never find them. With the Burrnesha, you are contops within the outlandish settlements, extreme sciously aware that they do exist but comparably, versions still persist. you will (in all likelihood), never find them.

SOLITUDE

Vol .1 Issue. 1

It wasn’t solely the reason of discrimination making this life passage optional. If families had a number of female children and zero males, no natural namesake heir or patriarchal figure was established to pilot the family throne. When the reigning masculine character died or was killed in battle, wealth and property could no longer be passed in patrilineal fashion. In such occasion, the allowance could be made. If a virgin daughter remained, she could assume the role of patriach by swearing in front of a dozen village elders that she would remain celibate for the rest of her life. By this deceleration, the Burrnesha was able to secure the family estate, and withhold its honour. The decision was often forced upon only-children and young females whilst choice was still an uneducated formality. Additionally this would often confirm virginity still remained. Observers from a nearby settle-

‘What happens when the society that created you no longer needs you? And how do you Survive? ment told a journalist from The Guardian it was “a choice of force, not of happiness,” A selfless social construct and act to protect the family. After the status was formalised, the Burrnesha were then welcome to socialise with other men who would perceive and respect them as biological equals. This gave the newly associated capacity to drink and smoke as males, carry firearms and own property – all privileges deemed unsuited to that of the female kind.

All of the accountable remaining Burrnesha seem very old. Sixty being around the youngest figure documented in recent findings and some of the oldest not able to remember how many winters have passed. It is thought that no more than a few dozen of the fading Burnesha still exist. Archaic rule systems such as The Kanun seem less applicable in our world today than any other time in history. Even in the remotest Albanian Alps society appears to be moving forward. Words have spread; people have travelled and began to evolve socially, learning of humane morals and equality.

As a literal translation, Burrnesha stands for “heshe”, a term that would be nothing short of derogatory in our current time. Denouncing the former female self in public ceremony, they dress as men from here on and dare to fashion a hairstyle anything more extrovert than a crew cut. Those that have managed to seek out these near extinguished kind have noted of them dressing exclusively as aged men. Dirt-soaked check shirts, tattered leather work boots and flat cap. Only but an air of sensitivity around a set of hard-worked eyes and a sombre yet sensitive vocal tone denotes their birth right. The only signal admitting they were ever female at all.

Women still have the right to choose whether to be housekeepers or outside breadwinners. They have the right to decipher between a life of fictitious gender and their natural femininity. The latter options are now demonstrated throughout the region, but the Kanun oath still lingeries in those whom pledged to death that they would forever hold their status as Burrnesha.

MONOGRAPH

Vol .1 Issue. 1

Photograph by: Jill Peters

SOLITUDE

MONOGRAPH

Vol .1 Issue. 1

LI HOW TO BE ALONE

If you are at first lonely, be patient. If you’ve not been alone much, or if when you were, you weren’t okay with it, then just wait. You’ll find it’s fine to be alone once you’re embracing it. We can start with the acceptable places, the bathroom, the coffee shop, the library, where you can stall and read the paper, where you can get your caffeine fix and sit and stay there. Where you can browse the stacks and smell the books; you’re not supposed to talk much anyway so it’s safe there. There is also the gym, if you’re shy, you can hang out with yourself and mirrors, you can put headphones in. Then there’s public transportation, because we all gotta go places. And there’s prayer and mediation, no one will think less if your hanging with your breath seeking peace and salvation. Start simple. Things you may have previously avoided based on your avoid being alone principles. The lunch counter, where you will be surrounded by chow-downers, employees who only have an hour and their spouses work across town, and they, like you, will be alone. Resist the urge to hang out with your cell phone.

In fact, some people at full tables will wish they were where you were. Go to the movies. Where it’s dark and soothing, alone in your seat amidst a fleeting community. And then take yourself out dancing, to a club where no one knows you, stand on the outside of the floor until the lights convince you more and more and the music shows you. Dance like no one’s watching because they’re probably not. And if they are, assume it is with best human intentions. The way bodies move genuinely to beats, is after all, gorgeous and affecting. Dance until you’re sweating. And beads of perspiration remind you of life’s best things, down your back, like a book of blessings. Go to the woods alone, and the trees and squirrels will watch for you. Go to an unfamiliar city, roam the streets, they are always statues to talk to, and benches made for sitting gives strangers a shared existence if only for a minute, and these moments can be so uplifting and the conversation you get in by sitting alone on benches, might have never happened had you not been there by yourself. Society is afraid of alone though. Like lonely hearts are wasting away in basements. Like people must have problems if after a while nobody is dating them. But lonely is a freedom that breathes easy and weightless, and lonely is healing if you make it.

When you are comfortable with eat lunch and run, take yourself out for dinner; a restaurant with linen and Silverware. You’re no less an intriguing a person when you are eating solo dessert and cleaning the whipped cream from the dish with your finger.

You can stand swathed by groups and mobs or hands with your partner, look both further and farther in the endless quest for company.

SOLITUDE

But no one is in your head. And by the time you

MONOGRAPH

translate your thoughts an essence of them may be lost or perhaps it is just kept. Perhaps in the interest of loving oneself, perhaps all those “sappy slogans” from pre-school over to high school groaning, we’re tokens for holding the lonely at bay. Cause if you’re happy in your head, then solitude is blessed, and alone is okay. It’s okay if no one believes like you, all experience is unique, no one has the same synapses, can’t think like you, for this be relieved, keeps things interesting, life’s magic things in reach, and it doesn’t mean you aren’t connected, and the community is not present, just take the perspective you get from being one person in one head and feel the effects of it. Take silence and respect it. If you have an art that needs a practice, stop neglecting it, if your family doesn’t get you or a religious sect is not meant for you, don’t obsess about it. You could be in an instant surrounded if you need it. If your heart is bleeding, make the best of it. There is heat in freezing, be a testament.

Written by Tanya Davis

SOLITUDE

Fig 1: Hansel by Anne Marie Richards

MONOGRAPH

Vol .1 Issue. 1

LV ONLY OR LONLEY Words and Images by Yvette Parson

Born in 1960, I was an only child of only children. I never considered myself lonely or different. Don't forget in those days families were still quite large consisting of normally 3, 4, 5 or more children; it was the norm not the exception. So although now it is more common to have an only child in the family unit, back in the '60's it was more of a rarity. That in itself was not unheard of though. What was a little different was the fact that I was an only child of only children. Being an only child naturally meant I had no siblings. Not a massive deal, but when you then throw into the equation both of my parents were only children you then think about what this really means. No brothers or sisters for my Mom and Dad. Hence no Aunties and no Uncles for me. This in turn meant no cousins either and no nieces or nephews for my parents. People seem to take all this extended family as a given. Not me and my family. Many people have questioned what my childhood was like without any surrounding family, I tell them this. I loved my childhood and way of life. Ok, there may have been times when I was younger I would have loved a baby sister to hold and cuddle and love but a doll soon took my mind off the real thing. Some people may think I had a lonely and insular childhood, but actually I had a far more outgoing one than a lot of my friends did. We had a car, we had a telephone, we had holidays. These things are taken for granted now but back in the early 1960's it was certainly not typical. Sometimes other children would say I was spoilt. I was never spoilt, but If having these things in my

life made me look that way then what could I say to that. So my childhood was never emotionally stunted like some would think. It was quiet yes, due to the fact I had no siblings to fall out with and squabble over or vying for attention with Mom and Dad. I can honestly say I never felt lonely though. I embraced the quietness and serenity that being an only child brought. Being an only child gives you many attributes to cope better with life when you are an adult. For instance, I never see being on your own as being lonely. I see it as solace. I love peace, quiet and solitude. I don’t see these things as a disadvantage, I see them as an advantage. When I was young I had to make my own pleasure. I didn’t have brothers and sisters to play with. It made me independent, resourceful, articulate as my conversations were always with adults. Always happy and content in my own company. So many people these days just don’t know what their own company is like. They have to surround themselves with others. They crave for the attention that being in a group brings. Not to say this is wrong but pointing out that I see it as such a crutch to them, that they never really enjoy themselves. So, back to the topic of only or lonely. Well, give me ‘only’ any time. As for lonely, I think the only people that can answer that are the ones that have to surround themselves with so many other people they actually loose sight of themselves as an individual.

SOLITUDE

MONOGRAPH

TO CONCLUDE...

Like a dice with many sides, solitude will remain a subject of interchangeable focus. To enjoy alongside solace, to use as inspirational force or to dominate nations with its power. The perception of solitude and how we as humans decipher its presence will forever be a tale of two halves. In a world of escalating complexities, we are either reaching out or receding into our evermore insular experiences. Exactly how we choose to indulge or reject the solitary addition of life is our personal challenge. The Monograph project of solitude was evoked by escalating curiosity and the common misrepresentation of itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s subject nature. When asking peers and passers by exactly what their impression of solitude was, no two answers balanced on the same horizon. From boredom to empowerment, torturous conviction to self sustainable freedom. The parameters of study and exploration were set vast and wide, nearly endless. And so the test to create a near timeless compendium solitary in character began. Many of us are solitary by nature whether we choose to admit or embrace it. Some choose to reject society altogether, whilst others thrive as one singular link in the boundless chain of humanity. The growing expectation of the world requires us to collate our efforts in seek of solution. Yet, we must not loose sight of our individual spirit and hold enough guile to continue unguided.

Expectations for Monograph: Solitude, were set with unrestrained imagination. A collision of personal interest, external inquisition and life-long enthusiasm structured the strongest of foundations. To be seen as both light and dark, freedom and confinement; ignorance would be to deny its aspect of multiple importance. The task of formalising this dual capacity began at idea conception. Crafting work designed to challenge the pre-developed image of what solitude is, was paramount to the creative process. Intended to provoke thought and change, re-mould stereotypes whilst attempting to allow free-thought. In completion, an insight into the depths of solitude as a grand entity was gained. What was once a word of simple stature now stands a four-dimensional construct of interest. The fourth, being real emotion and the abstract chains of thought required to fathom the subjects at hand. Obtained also was the realisation of new knowledge; a new way of thinking, that not everything should be perceived with static intention. As this monograph compiles as a philosophical inquiry, we can digest its presence as we see fit. The possibility to explore abstruse realms of living remains open to our existential selves. All of life is made up not of one, but of one million separate monographs.

Fig 1: Double Star, British Library

SOLITUDE

FIN

MONOGRAPH SOLITUDE Issue One, Vol .I