How to Make Things
0.1 INTRODUCTION This document provides instructions for the process of creation. This process involves several steps, from the stimulation of the production of Ideas, to their cultivation into fully developed Things. Please read instructions thoroughly before beginning. Please refer, as required, to Diagram 1.0: Yourself.
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To begin, please note that Diagram 1.0 is divided into two spaces: the Interior and the Exterior. In order to Make, use the Interior space as your starting point. If you begin with the Exterior, you will only make it partway through the process before becoming confused. In order to persist in the process of Making, you must be able to answer three equally important questions: a. b. c.
What How Why
As these answers can only come from the Interior space, you must begin there. The answers to these questions should be very vague at first, becoming more specific as you advance. If you find you are unable to answer any one of these three questions at any time, return to the previous section.
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1.0 ON NOTHING & THE INTERIOR Note that the core of the Interior is labeled “Nothing”. The following section provides some explanation as to the nature of the Nothing and its importance to Making. 1.1 What is Nothing like? Kind of like a black hole. Kind of like a wild animal—the man-eating kind. Kind of like an electrical outlet. Kind of like the sky, which only grows more interesting as the matter that composes it grows thinner. As you can see, it may be useful to find a meaningful visual metaphor in order to better imagine your own personal i Nothing 1.2 How do I access Nothing? If you’re struggling to get in touch with your own core of Nothing, try this exercise. Imagine someone has asked you to describe yourself. You are not allowed to answer using descriptions of your physical appearance, your likes or dislikes, interests, activities or studies, or spiritual beliefs. You cannot describe events or experiences, other people (friends, family &cetera), places or sites. Consider, without these things, what you would be left with. i.I like to think of mine as the dark opening to a hive of honeybees- beautiful, magical, dangerous, producing sweet things.
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1.3 How do I relate to Nothing? (GENERATING IDEAS: Approach 1) The Nothing is very, very sensitive. Although it’s technically a part of you, inside you, it’s important to always monitor your own proximity to the Nothing. DO NOT get too close. Approach carefully. Don’t stare. If you ignore these instructions, you may end up stuck looking inside forever, without ever turning back towards the Exterior and to Making. It could swallow you whole. Again: Don’t get too close. Approach carefully. Don’t stare. Consider approaching from a sideways angle, and look only through the corner of your eye. Then, reach out and—very gently, more than gently-brush the surface of the Nothing.
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You should register a reaction along the surface of the Nothing. The darkness of it will shudder slightly, as small spores begin to bloom and spread from the point of contact. Although one would expect the speed and number of the spores to increase relative to the force of contact, in practice, it’s hard to predict the strength of the reaction. A very light touch may produce a wealth of Ideas. Although, quantity is not really the concern. For more information on cultivating good Ideas, see section 2.2: Cultivation and Management. The Ideas should develop in a rash-like patch, emerging from the Nothing and slowly releasing themselves into the Interior space as they grow into a state of independence.
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2.0 IDEAS 2.1 Description As the Ideas release from the Nothing, they should take a sort of roundish form, with a sort of smooth-ish texture. Their most defining quality might be their notable unremarkability, if not for the reflective nature of their surfaces. This mirror-like quality makes them nearly invisible, as they project more about the space surrounding them than about what they might contain.ii This camouflage is essential for the healthy development of an Idea. It prevents them from being over-handled before they are mature. The individual Ideas drift around the Interior space, bouncing around a bit, smacking into one another, and into the Nothing. These points of contact (between two or more Ideas, or between an independent Idea and the Nothing) may generate enough force to create a new Idea. Although the older Idea may continue to persist, it is generally recommended that you cultivate the newer Idea— especially if it is the result of the meeting of two previous Ideas.
ii. Remember: the space surrounding them is you.
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2.2 Cultivation and Management If you become adept at managing the Interior and the Exterior, and approaching the Nothing, and the Things, you may find yourself with an overgrowth of Ideas. It may become difficult to differentiate between promising and unpromising Ideas. This is where Time becomes a useful tool in your Idea management. No matter how intriguing an Idea may seem at first, the most successful Ideas are always the ones you spend the most Time with. This may mean neglecting some Ideas in order to provide more long-term attention to others. The trickiest step in managing your ideas is to correctly time their release from the Interior space to the Exterior. They should ideally be transferred just moments before the spheres dissolve, revealing their fully formed contents. This is more difficult than it sounds. You will be tempted to let them hatch on the Interior, so that they will be protected and you can get a better grasp on them before they become visible to the outside world. It does seem to be much less risky. But, this would be a mistake. It is nearly impossible to take an idea that has come to maturity in private and force it into the world.
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3.0 THE EXTERIOR 3.1 Description and Purpose We are now familiar with one approach to creating Ideas, through a process of interior reflection. There exists a second approach that relies on Exterior stimulation. The Exterior space is a much less controlled environment relative to the Interior. It is highly susceptible to sudden changes and new additions, which must be carefully navigated, or you risk puncturing your Interior/Exterior Filter and throwing yourself, and your space for Idea cultivation, completely off-balance. That being said, the detritus of the Exterior space can serve as an excellent stimulus for new Ideas, provided the Interior/Exterior Filter is well tuned.
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3.2 The Things (GENERATING IDEAS: Approach 2) Again, the Things that exist in the Exterior space will be numerous and possibly overwhelming. The key to working effectively with Exterior Things is to trust your own judgment. Only you know which Things are interesting or appropriate for you. And, much like approaching the Nothing, it is important to approach the Things cautiously and with patience, in order to allow adequate time to reflect on your own reactions. As you approach the Things, their sharp tips should begin to pierce the Interior/Exterior Filter and begin to enter Interior space. You should be especially attentive at this stage. What does this Thing feel like? Is it what you expected, based on its appearance? Are there multiple related Things entering around the same place and time? Do you want to continue to consume this Thing, or would you rather abandon it for something different? This last point is always an option. If you don’t like a Thing, try a new and different Thing. Try a Thing you’ve never tried before.
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If you decide to keep consuming a Thing, it will eventually become fully immersed in the Interior space, and its presence will eventually disturb the surface of the Nothing, causing an Idea-inducing reaction. Over time you will become more adept at judging which Things you should allow in, and which will cause the Nothing to overreact and possibly become destructive. You may find it useful to apply the three questions from the beginning of the text to your selection process: What, How, Why. That being said, it’s always a bit of a risk; that’s part of the joy of it. 4.0 CONCLUSIONS In this text we have explored various necessary elements for the process of Making. These include the structure of the self, the nature of Nothing, and the generation and cultivation of Ideas.
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The self is composed of a Filter, which allows or prevents Things from entering into the Interior space. This space is the gestation area for Ideas, which spring forth from the core of the self, which is Nothing. This Nothing is both very beautiful and very dangerous, and these conflicting natures make it a site of great creative potential. There are two main approaches to stimulating the Nothing in order to produce ideas. The first involves complete solitude and introspection, in order to draw as close to the Nothing as possible and make very gentle contact with it. This requires great patience and selfcontrol. The second involves the careful approach to exterior influences in order to gradually internalize them and allow them to stimulate the Nothing. Both approaches are acceptable, and they may be used interchangeably depending on circumstances and personal preference. We hope these instructions provide adequate guidance to working with your own personal Nothing in a way that avoids terror, and instead yields its full potential of tiny gems of Ideas. If you take nothing else from this text, please remember: you are the lab. What you are and what you have is enough to make something from Nothing. What a gift. 12
How to Make Things Francaise : Comment faire des choses © Rebecca Smyth, 2014 rebecca-smyth.com Originally published in HORS-ZONE, Complot 11 Traduction française par Emma le Pouesard