Creative Codex

Where language breaks, art begins. Language routinely fails us in conversations about art and creativity. In the following essay, I elaborate on the reason for this problem and offer three terms which can help give more depth and clarity to our discussions of art.

The three primary experiential aspects of art:

Art-making: verb, a creative act that results in an art-object.

Art-object: noun, a material or immaterial byproduct of art-making.

Artessence: noun, the state of mind of an art experience.

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Read the essay in its original written form here: https://mjdorian.com/language/

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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.

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Video of the McQueen's Eclect Dissect (1997) collection: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiJH8B2HxGU&t=136s

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All creative geniuses have visions throughout their lives which guide their work. What does it mean to have a vision? How does a vision differ from a goal? How do you discover your own vision? Let's talk about it.

This insight developed from recent studies and reflections I've been engaged in, it is part of my current attempt to define creative genius through several traits which all creative geniuses seem to share. In searching through all of the insights gathered over five years of doing this show, I've noticed that all of the figures we have covered have a vision which, in some way, guides their creativity.

I hope you find this minisode inspiring.

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Here are the questions mentioned in the episode. I recommend getting a journal or opening up a notepad on your computer and answering them to compel a vision of your own. Feel free to be as prosaic and lengthy as you like. 

Even if the process of answering these doesn’t lead to a new vision immediately, the act of dialogue with your inner world will jumpstart something which will.

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Support Creative Codex on my Patreon and gain access to exclusive episodes, including the Kurt Cobain series, the RED BOOK READING series, and all the Episode Exclusives: 

More than anything else in the world, Alexander McQueen at 21 years old wants to be a fashion designer. He embarks on a bold journey to flip the fashion industry on its head. But what makes his early collections so revolutionary and controversial? And what leads to him being 'discovered'?

A transcript is available of this episode on my site: ⁠https://mjdorian.com/transcripts/⁠

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How does a boy from a working class London background with no connections to the fashion industry go on to become one of the greatest fashion designers of all time? This is the story of Lee Alexander McQueen. Join me as we dive into the life and work of one of the most celebrated and controversial designers of the 21st century.

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Support Creative Codex on my Patreon and get access to exclusive episodes, including the Kurt Cobain series, 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

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A transcript is available of this episode on my site: https://mjdorian.com/transcripts/

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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)

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Audio Editor: D. Martin Sound

All Music by MJDorian

Written & Produced by MJDorian

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Thank you to my Dream Maker tier!

Executive Producer: Mike Hill

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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!

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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

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Creative Codex is written & produced by MJDorian.

All rights reserved.

Ever feel like life is too busy to explore your creativity? Ever feel like you don't have enough time?

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):

Creative Codex Soundtrack Vol.1: https://mjdorian.bandcamp.com

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Produced by MJDorian

What is your relationship to matter? On this episode–the fourth and final episode in the Jung & Alchemy series–we journey to the heart of alchemy. Through studying examples in alchemy we answer these questions: What are archetypes? What is the collective unconscious? What is individuation?

And the question to end all questions on the matter: What happens when you practice alchemy? Does it confirm Jung's theories? Let's find out.

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View my Splendor Solis gallery here: ⁠https://mjdorian.com/alchemy/⁠

Join the Creative Codex mailing list: ⁠https://mjdorian.com/mail/⁠

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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

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

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Find the free alchemy and esoteric knowledge courses of Jean Dubuis here: http://www.portaelucis.fr/GB/html/publications/alchimie.htm

View a transcript of this episode here: ⁠https://mjdorian.com/transcripts/⁠

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Lustr Bustr Brand Supplements ad read by: Glen Vivaris (Follow Glen's escapades here: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/glenmakes/⁠ )

Cover art: artwork from Rosarium Philosophorum (1550)

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Research Sources:

• The Red Book by Carl Jung

• Psychology and Alchemy by Carl Jung

• Alchemical Studies by Carl Jung

• Mysterium Coniunctionis by Carl Jung

• Alchemical Active Imagination by Marie Louise von Franz

• Alchemical Imagination by Jeffrey Raff

• Atalanta Fugies by Michael Maier

• The Black Sun by Stanton Marlan

• Spagyrics by Jean Dubuis

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Audio Editor: D. Martin Sound

All Music by MJDorian

Written & Produced by MJDorian

————

Thank you to my Dream Maker tier!

Executive Producer: Mike Hill

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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!

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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

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Creative Codex is written & produced by MJDorian.

All rights reserved.

This is a preview of my new Red Book Reading series, which is now available on my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mjdorian

Each month I read the next chapter of Dr. Carl Jung's visionary masterpiece, The Red Book (also known as Liber Novus). Each reading is complete with original music and sound design.

Whether you've already read it once and hope to gain new insights, or you have it but haven't cracked it open yet–this series is for you.

Thank you in advance for your support!

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All Music by MJDorian

Written & Produced by MJDorian

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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

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Creative Codex is written & produced by MJDorian.

All rights reserved.

Join me for a journey back to a time when alchemy was revered by Kings & Queens and practiced in the courts of nobles. A time when Prague was the alchemical capital of the world–drawing occultists to it from all of Europe, and ruled by a King who supported esoteric spiritual practices. Along the way we will find direct parallels between Jung's Red Book and the work of the alchemists, leading us to Jung's most misunderstood psychotherapeutic method: active imagination.

We will also explore these questions: What can a two hundred year old Grimm's fairy tale teach us about alchemy? What value did Dr. Carl Jung see in fairy tales? Why is a scholarly mind one of alchemy's virtues? Is Hermes-Mercurius the God of Alchemy? 

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View my Atalanta Fugiens gallery (containing all 50 artworks) here: https://mjdorian.com/alchemy/

Join the Creative Codex mailing list: https://mjdorian.com/mail/

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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

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

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View a transcript of this episode here: https://mjdorian.com/transcripts/

Prague's historic alchemical laboratory, Speculum Alchimiae: http://www.alchemiae.cz/en

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Cover art: detail of a Ripley Scroll (1600's)

Christies auction house video about a Ripley Scroll: https://www.christies.com/features/The-fantastic-world-of-the-Ripley-Scroll-8760-3.aspx

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Research Sources:

• The Red Book by Carl Jung

• Psychology and Alchemy by Carl Jung

• Alchemical Studies by Carl Jung

• Mysterium Coniunctionis by Carl Jung

• Alchemical Active Imagination by Marie Louise von Franz

• Alchemical Imagination by Jeffrey Raff

• Atalanta Fugies by Michael Maier

• Spagyrics by Jean Dubuis

————

Audio Editor: Donald Martin

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!

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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

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Creative Codex is written & produced by MJDorian.

All rights reserved.