My influences
A work in progress.
Approx. 1000 words; five minutes read time
"What are your influences?" Creators are often asked this question.
Here's an answer:
When I was a young adult, I read a lot of Hemmingway and Hunter S. Thompson. Too much, really. Same with Hermann Hesse. An earlier (and arguably better) influence was Jack London, who long ago instilled in me a sense of adventure. Author Martin Amis demonstrated for me how piercing words could be. And the filmmakers Carpenter, Lucas, Scott, Spielberg, and Zemeckis fueled my fantasies via film. The graphic artist William Stout more than any other illustrator, shaped how I draw and imagine dinosaurs, monsters, and aliens. And in my readings on philosophy and religion – the "Big Picture" stuff – the Buddhist scholar Thich Nhat Hanh introduced me to mindfulness, a skill I seldom demonstrate but always admire.
This account is the "trying to sound smart" answer. But the reality for me: there's a lot more pop culture and random people involved. It ain't all highbrow stuff, either. And it’s also not a past-tense experience. Influences continue throughout our creative lives.
The important part, I’ve learned, is what we do because of the influences.
Coming of age in the eighties, television shaped a big part of my thinking. TV was often on in the background, and when off, it was still there, fueling my imagination. As for the most influential, PBS played heavily throughout. Mind you, this was before dedicated kids channels on cable TV. PBS felt like a place that was always for me, no matter the time of day.
Classic shows like Mr. Roger's Neighborhood and Sesame Street were there. And documentaries like Nature and NOVA made public television a go-to favorite. I particularly enjoyed watching This Old House and The Woodwright's Shop with my dad.
Network TV was often on too. I remember most the action-adventure and sci-fi shows. Series like The A-Team, McGyver, Star Trek, and...yes...The Dukes of Hazzard fashioned my fantasies.
We hear a lot about the destructive influence of screen time these days. The same was true when I was a kid. Granted, the "screen" was usually one or (rarely) two TV sets in our parents' homes. That's it. But the concern - that we didn't get enough time outside, or reading books, or with real people - was the same. And while true, a lot of good came from that screen time as well. My inspiration for making comes in part from watching creative TV shows in the 1980s.
My friends and I didn't just watch, though. It was always fun to see the latest episode of whatever and then recap events with my buddies the next day. We'd then go and act out what we saw, often building odd contraptions and risking daring stunts. Many close calls happened after watching "too much TV." But the fact was we were doing. That turned out to be an excellent thing for us.
I was lucky and had the right balance between the competing forces of TV and real life. We grew up in rural Ohio, so outside time was always available and often outcompeted the "draw of the tube." My siblings, cousins, and I were all active outdoor kids. We played non-stop in the fields, woods, and creeks around our home.
I'd say of all my influences, nature was one of the biggest.
The 2000s were an influential time in my life too. As a young adult, I had freedom, and [modest] means, so I could do and see more.
Bill Nye (the Science Guy) and Adam Savage & Jamie Hyneman (of Mythbusters), all celebrity geeks, helped me embrace my nerdiness. Travel celebrities like Anthony Bourdain motivated me to see the world.
I also got to know a few characters during this time, mostly old-school explorer-scientist. These real-life Indiana Jones-types fueled my burgeoning sense of adventure. The fact that I chose my then career - a tropical research botanist - was no coincidence. I took this path, in large part, to get in on the adventure myself.
Today, my views and passions continue to evolve. But I look back fondly on the creators, teachers, family, and friends who’ve influenced me.
My parents deserve a lot of credit, and I try and share this in my writing and action. So it goes for my high school science teachers, Mr. Brown and Mr. C, and Dr. Snider, a favorite college professor. All were terrific guides as I learned and matured.
And my friends - a few have stuck with me through the years. And a handful of new ones have come along in recent times. I most appreciate the ones who help me be more than I could otherwise. I hope I return the favor in some small way.
As of late, I have also engaged in online social worlds. But I am wary. Too much screen time is bad, and much time at all on social media is the worst of it. Cautious, I have joined a few communities, learning about this vast part of modern life. I even have a few virtual friends and colleagues now.
YouTube is a staple of mine, and I enjoy watching reviews, how-to's, and other related stuff. I try and get to know some of these creators, not just watch what they do. That's the beauty of online communities; we can connect with others who share our interests.
There's a lot of good stuff and good people online. If you can sort through the mindless chatter and nasty stuff, that is.
Influences, it turns out, are not a static, immutable part of our past. And they aren't always highfalutin either. Hand-in-hand with learning, we are influenced throughout our lives, by good and bad - and often neutral - experiences. Hopefully, we continually grow as a result.
I am always looking for new connections in books, television, film, online, and real life. There's something unique to see and do in almost every corner of our world. It doesn't have to be a Pulitzer-winning novel to be good; influences come in all forms. The best thing is to keep looking and keep engaging. Influences and our lives - work in progress.
Until next time. Science. Fiction. Create.
JRC