Unread books on dusty shelves tell a story of their own

[sovay]

Because I am more familiar with the operas than the film scores of Erich Wolfgang Korngold and tend to avoid even famous movies with Ronald Reagan in them, it took until tonight for me to hear the main theme for Kings Row (1942), at which point the entire career of John Williams flashed before my eyes. Other parts of the score sound more recognizably, symphonically of their era, but that fanfare is a blast from the future it directly shaped: the standard set by Korngold's tone-poem, leitmotiv-driven approach to film composing, principal photography as the libretto to an opera. I love finding these taproots, even when they were lying around in plain sight.

I don't think that what I feel for the sea is nostalgia, but I am intrigued by this study indicating that generally people do: "Searching for Ithaca: The geography and psychological benefits of nostalgic places" (2025). I am surprised that more people are not apparently bonded to deserts or mountains or woodlands. Holidays by the sea can't explain all of it. I used to spend a lot of my life in trees.

I napped for a couple of hours this afternoon, but my brain could return any time now. The rest of my week is not conducive to doing nothing. The rest of the world is not conducive to losing time.

Comments

[thisbluespirit]

it took until tonight for me to hear the main theme for Kings Row (1942), at which point the entire career of John Williams flashed before my eyes.

Ha, yes, that is fascinating!

*hugs* May your brain indeed come back from the wars! <3

[lauradi7dw]

Holy cow.

[theseatheseatheopensea]

I don't think that what I feel for the sea is nostalgia, but I am intrigued by this study indicating that generally people do

That's a really interesting study! I also not necessarily use the word nostalgia, because that makes me think of the past and that's not the whole thing--to me, it's more of a present longing. When I think about it, I go with saudade or morriña or anhelo or techaga'u, any of those words vibe/feel more accurate than just nostalgia... but I guess it's useful as a catch-all word! <3

[asakiyume]

There's an infinite unknowability about the sea, maybe. The mountains and deserts and woodlands are places we can live. The sea--we can live on it, and we can be in it. We can be very intimate with it. But only with the barest sliver of it, just the topmost skin of it, and we know it. I think that has something to do with it. The sea is a physical presence that makes us think of unknowable, beautiful, scary, infinite things.

[asakiyume]

I go with saudade or morriña or anhelo or techaga'u --these are beautiful words.

[scifirenegade]

*hugs*

Interesting study about the sea. Will read. I wouldn't use the word nostalgia (maybe "awe"? "Sublime"? That thing C.D. Friedrich has.)

[moon_custafer]

A trailer for The Odyssey ran before the showing of Superman on Saturday, and I can report that there were several dramatic shots of the sea. Sadly, the audience didn’t chant “Wine! Dark! Sea!” as in that post. Well, I did; under my breath, and then I had to explain to our friend Jason who was sitting next to me.

[selkie]

APROPOS THIS
I HAVE JUST SEEEN ACADIA NATIONAL PARK
WE NEED TO EITHER a) NEVER, NEVER LET ME SEE IT FOR REAL
or b)
WE NEED TO ALREADY BE THERE RIGHT NOW
*jump-jump-jump of fat seal excitement*

[sovay]

*jump-jump-jump of fat seal excitement*

MY GRANDPARENTS TOOK ME WHEN I WAS TWELVE OR SO
HAVEN'T BEEN SINCE
WE SHOULD BE THERE ALREADY

[selkie]

YOU KNOW WHERE I BET YOU COULD CATCH A DAMN NAP
I WON’T LET YOU DRIFT SUPER FAR

[sovay]

I also not necessarily use the word nostalgia, because that makes me think of the past and that's not the whole thing--to me, it's more of a present longing.

Right! I have history with the sea, but I don't think of my feeling for it as past-oriented any more than any other relationship built up over time. I am not missing the beaches of my childhood. I miss that I am not currently right there!

When I think about it, I go with saudade or morriña or anhelo or techaga'u, any of those words vibe/feel more accurate than just nostalgia... but I guess it's useful as a catch-all word!

I like techaga'u!

[sovay]

The sea is a physical presence that makes us think of unknowable, beautiful, scary, infinite things.

I don't disagree with any of that, but it doesn't make me feel nostalgia, except perhaps in the geologically ancient sort of way!

[asakiyume]

No, I don't feel nostalgia either, but maybe these qualities of the sea are what make some people feel it for the sea?

Though now that you mention it, there's nothing particular in the qualities I describe that really says nostalgia. ... I think I got distracted thinking about what's special about the sea, to the point that I lost the thread re: nostalgia!

[sovay]

I think I got distracted thinking about what's special about the sea, to the point that I lost the thread re: nostalgia!

Look, far be it from me to complain about someone's hymn to sea-awe!

[asakiyume]

I'm laughing. This is like when the essay topic is "talk about the interaction between Arachne and Athena," and the student submits an ode to one or the other of them.

(Except for the part where you aren't actually setting an essay topic, I know! And your own odes run so, so deep.)

[theseatheseatheopensea]

these are beautiful words.

They really are!

[theseatheseatheopensea]

I miss that I am not currently right there!

Exactly!

I like techaga'u!

Me too! I like that it means nostalgia, but also the desire to see someone/something.

[sovay]

Interesting study about the sea. Will read. I wouldn't use the word nostalgia (maybe "awe"? "Sublime"? That thing C.D. Friedrich has.)

Definitely the Caspar David Friedrich thing.

*hugs*

[sovay]

Sadly, the audience didn’t chant “Wine! Dark! Sea!” as in that post. Well, I did; under my breath, and then I had to explain to our friend Jason who was sitting next to me.

I am glad you did!

[edit] How was Superman?

[sovay]

Ha, yes, that is fascinating!

I was not expecting it, either! I played it experimentally because it was Korngold I didn't know and my mind was blown.

May your brain indeed come back from the wars!

*hugs*

[sovay]

Holy cow.

I sent an immediate e-mail to spatch saying something like "sounds more like John Williams than anything else except Holst."

[moon_custafer]

I’m getting a little bored with movies based on comics, but this was a pretty good one: well-constructed, every character had something to do in the story, and I enjoyed their take on Eve Teschmacher.