Creative Codex

William Blake, regarded as one of the finest artists and poets in the English language, discusses his life and struggles, living in poverty despite his genius. He delves into his visionary duality, challenging traditional ideas of good and evil through 'The Marriage of Heaven and Hell.' Blake's complex relationship with morality and his critiques of contemporary beliefs, especially those influenced by Swedenborg, are explored. The discussion also highlights the intricate balance between artistic independence and the societal pressures he faced, inviting listeners into his profound spiritual and creative journey.

Dive into the captivating world of Dr. Carl Jung's apocalyptic visions from 1913. As he grapples with insights that may have predicted World War I, discover how his dreams and meditations shaped his revolutionary psychological theories. Explore the significance of the Red and Black Books, unravel the haunting archetypes of a slain hero, and ponder whether Jung's experiences were personal revelations or warnings from the collective unconscious. This psychological journey into one of history's pivotal moments offers a unique blend of history and introspection.

This discussion dives into the complexities of defining art. It highlights how language often falls short in capturing the essence of creative experiences. Three pivotal concepts are introduced: the act of art-making, the resulting art-object, and the elusive artessence. These terms aim to enrich dialogues about artistic expression and deepen our understanding of creativity. The exploration emphasizes the transformative power of engaging with art, inviting listeners to reflect on their own experiences.

What happens to Alexander McQueen when he achieves his life's dream? Is he able to continue creating inspired collections in spite of the intense pressures of global fame? What are the personal meanings behind his most iconic collections? And what leads to his tragic end? We will explore all of those questions and much more on this finale to the McQueen series. ∞∞∞∞∞ View the companion gallery for this episode here: ⁠⁠https://mjdorian.com/mcqueen/⁠⁠ ∞∞∞∞∞ Video of the McQueen's Eclect Dissect (1997) collection: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiJH8B2HxGU&t=136s ∞∞∞∞∞ Support Creative Codex on my Patreon and get access to exclusive episodes, including the LIMITED RELEASE SERIES (Kurt Cobain & Jim Morrison), the Red Book Reading series, and all the Episode Exclusives:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/mjdorian⁠⁠⁠⁠ Buy me a coffee or add to my fancy books fund on Venmo: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://venmo.com/code?user_id=3235189073379328069&created=1681912456.228596&printed=1⁠⁠⁠⁠ ----------- Research Sources: • Alexander McQueen: Blood Beneath the Skin by Andrew Wilson • Alexander McQueen: The Life and the Legacy by Judith Watt • McDowell's Directory of Twentieth Century Fashion • Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty • McQueen (Documentary, 2018) • Cutting Up Rough: Alexander McQueen (Documentary, BBC, 1997) ———— Audio Editor: Erik Texter All Music by MJDorian Written & Produced by MJDorian ———— Thank you to my Dream Maker tier! Executive Producer: Mike Hill --------- Thank-you's & 'shout outs' to the Shadow Fam! Shadow-Fam: AKD, Anna Wolff, Aranea Push, Arturo Barrios, Barak Talker, Brandon Massengale, Cesar Roman, Chee Sing Kam, Clark Price, Clinton King, Dallas O’Kelly, Danny Olague, DVM, Elle, Ellis Morton, Gabriel Trudeau, Geo_H, Hamed Iranmehr, Jane Lopardo, Janet Roccanova, Jaskaran Purewal, Jasmine Carroll, Joe Boland, Kahlil Pyburn, Kawika, Kayla Dawson, Kristin Richard, Kristina Lamour Sansone, Maurus Fitze, Michael Lloyd, Nicole Wessel, Owen McAteer, Rach, Rachel Schultz, Rebecca, Ricky, Robert, Romina, Scott Wierzbicki, Sigitas Treciokas, Simon Bonanno, Sowmya Hariharan, Tamara, Terry W, Uppity Mantis, Venetia Nadin, Yadie Cisneros, Zarja Menart, and Zuzana. Thank you for your support! --------- Connect with me on social media for all the newest updates: YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/creativecodex⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/mjdorian/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/mjdorian⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@mjdorian⁠⁠⁠⁠ --------- Creative Codex is written & produced by MJDorian. All rights reserved.

Explore the importance of having a clear vision in creativity, drawing inspiration from creative icons like David Lynch. Dive into how artists like Hilma Afklinte and Picasso developed their unique visions. Learn how a vision shapes creative pursuits beyond goals, sparking creativity. Follow the intense journey of crafting an album with a powerful vision. Embrace the significance of having a clear vision to fuel creativity and identify personal strengths.

A 21-year-old aspiring fashion designer, Alexander McQueen, embarks on a journey to flip the fashion industry. His early collections are revolutionary and controversial, inspired by dark themes. His collaboration with Isabella Blow leads to iconic designs like the bumster pants and the Taxi Driver Collection. McQueen's avant-garde creations and personal struggles fuel his creative visions, making him a provocative and innovative designer.

Discover the extraordinary journey of Alexander McQueen from a working-class London boy to a legendary fashion designer. Explore his wild animal-inspired fashion shows, dark shadows from his past, and early passion for creativity. Uncover his rebellious nature, unique design approach, and controversial collections. Join the exploration of McQueen's captivating life and work in this intriguing podcast episode.

Discover the power of utilizing small pockets of time for creativity and how it can contribute to achieving long-term goals. Explore the concept of time as a limited resource and the value of facing challenges in pursuing success. Find inspiration for music during short breaks and learn from successful individuals who have made use of these creative time slots.

All of the questions in this episode were sent in by listeners via Instagram, Patreon messages, or Spotify responses. Support Creative Codex on my Patreon and get access to exclusive episodes, including the RED BOOK READING series and all the Episode Exclusives:  ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/mjdorian⁠⁠ Questions (in order of appearance, with timestamps): Do you think sadness / heartache / trauma is the secret ingredient to making great art? - Nikita ( 3:33 ) Of all the artists featured so far in Creative Codex, who would you most like to spend a day with – perhaps even working alongside or collaborating on a project? And what question would you most like to ask them? - Tamara ( 6:24 ) Will you ever do an autobiography? - X ( 9:03 ) What is the relation between Alchemy and Christianity, I know Jung wrote some pieces on it? - Tim Susss ( 10:16 ) How the hell do you do it? Is this your full time job? How do you read and dive into so many heads and worlds and then share it in this rich and atmospheric podcast? - Vika ( 11:48 ) What’s something you learned about a creator that caught you off guard and made you laugh? - Nolo ( 13:54 ) In episode 39: Carl Jung and Alchemy Part 1, 15 minutes and 17 seconds in, I would love to know the name of that beautiful piece of music. - Daniel ( 16:41 ) Do you think AI could ever independently tap into individual, animal or human collective consciousness? How will we know what art (say something done by hand like a painting or sculpture) is authentically from that artist anymore? Will imagination become an unused skill through laziness? - Sue Ryan ( 22:05 ) I have started a YouTube channel but I get discouraged very quickly. How do I stop getting discouraged? - Priyanka ( 34:27 ) What are your thoughts on the subject of channelling? - Diana Grigorieva ( 37:22 ) Sylvia Browne clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yzz8vaZgE8 I’d love to know about your writing process, I enjoy your work. Where do you start? - Thomas Widner & Vida013 ( 42:50 ) Do you think the Collective experience of archetypes (to articulate beliefs and ideas) has contributed to the rise of fantasy / collaborative storytelling games and entertainment in the recent years? - Nathan Grabosch ( 45:20 ) I have been reading Jacques Sadoul's “Alchemy and Gold”, and it states that alchemists wrote their discoveries in metaphors, since true knowledge has to remain occult. Why do you think this is? - Romina ( 47:10 ) How do you reconcile the tension between the desire to create something absolutely original with the idea that creativity seems to be the revealing of a truth? Is there anything new under the sun and should we strive for that if there is? - J Kent ( 48:39 ) Do you consider that genius is someone fixated in the stage of the albedo? This stage is the closest point between the ego and the collective unconscious. It’s a fascinating yet perilous stage (psychosis). - Trudy ( 52:45 ) How does Jung remember all these dreams and poignant symbolism so clearly? How could we follow his genius processes of the internal if our dream memories are not nearly as clear, if even present? - Mulnah ( 54:26 ) I’m curious what your feelings are about drugs and creativity? Are drugs a crutch, a useful tool, or something else? - Ben Thurnhoffer ( 56:00 ) I’m curious about how symbolism works in alchemy as well as in Jung’s work, the origin of symbols and such. - Chris DeHaven ( 59:25 ) Do you think that knowledge that Jung left behind was for the creatives and perhaps neurotypicals of today to be re-discovered to heal from modern madness and unlock potential? - Talos_draws ( 01:00:46 ) What is the relationship between art and value? What is the value of art? To elicit an experience? To convey a message? To transform the subjective into the objective? - Al Spaulding ( 01:02:34 ) How has this podcast changed your life? - Clinton King ( 01:05:30 ) Creative Codex Soundtrack Vol.1: https://mjdorian.bandcamp.com --- Produced by MJDorian

Explore the heart of alchemy as the podcast delves into archetypes, the collective unconscious, and individuation. Discover what happens when you practice alchemy and how it relates to Jung's theories. Uncover the symbolism of the Black Sun and its role in the alchemical process. The podcast also discusses the benefits of Luster Buster Brand Supplements and reflects on the teachings of Carl Jung. Gratitude is expressed to Patreon supporters and a Q&A special is announced.