Jan Valnoha

 

Hi, my name is Jan and I will be your narrator for next few minutes. I might not be the best, but I don't see anyone else up to this task, so deal with it please.

What was going through you head when you first heard about the task you're going to do? I mean I do not know how about you, but filling up the page with "your impressions" and "ideas" seems like pretty straightforward way to some kind of stream of consciousness. So let's have a bit of that. You will also experience some rhetorical questions, I mean lots of them, because if I will leave some question hanging unanswered in the air, it will look philosophically and deeply.

I can imagine presenting a stream of consciousness of the protagonist of this short minute. But that would be too easy, wouldn't it? I mean who cares what the fictional character thinks? Why doesn't anyone care what I think? I am more interesting that most fictional characters, I have so much character flaws and deviations that it could fill a novel. That was a bit egoistic, I know. Sorry...

But back to my first question - what was going through your head? I guess you won't answer it, that is the point of rhetorical question. Instead, I can tell you what was going through my head. It is the choice of form, of genre. Not really the topic. If you know how you want to write it, if you have clearly defined borders, you can write anything you want, just keep up to the rules and do not cross the borders. It does not matter much with what will you fill the page, the inspiration will come anyway.

Genre idea is pivotal for us today. I don't mean in general, I mean now. Because it can narrow the number of options pretty easily. If you chose a topic first, you would still be challenged with the hardships of the form. But it is pretty easy if you go the other way.

I could be describing the picture. Or pictures? All the pictures, moving pictures. For example "what is the guy thinking?" "Does he have any sense of fear whatsoever? A vertigo?". I have that! Yeah, you laugh, but it's true! Just keep me away from any heights and everything will be fine. So this is a no-go area. Too easy anyway. Let's scrap the idea, shall we?

What about make a story about him? He must have some background, if not the character, the actor for sure. Some family waiting for him at home, waiting until his job is done. Waiting when he will come down from work. From the ladder. Ahh, bollocks. Anyone can come up with something like this. Too obvious! To the hell with you, you evil idea!

Does this image trigger some hidden childhood memories, suppressed aspirations or secret wishes? Ehhh, no, not really.

Instead of the guy on the screen, let's make this a stream of consciousness of the guy who is watching the screen. Isn't that too simple solution? Another rhetorical question, damn!