Introduction to Contemporary Visions II

“THE DESCENT”

This time around, instead of gleaning from my past catalogue of poems like I did for Contemporary Visions I, I chose to apply a new method to the madness. While studying theatre in college I became fascinated with the Greek concept of the fallen hero. This is the classic protagonist who goes from a position of power and wealth to one of loss and despair. I wanted to take this ancient ideal of storytelling and present it to a new audience in the 21^st century. What would churn in the mind of a present-day tragic hero? How would they face the challenges of our time? And finally, what role would the polis play in shaping the perception of these events? I hope to offer some insight to these questions, as well as raise many more, in my second installment of Contemporary Visions.

It is a quintessential existential belief, best described by Jean-Paul Sartre, that “only in the self can truth occur.” So I embarked upon studying the ideas of Sartre, Albert Camus and Franz Kafka in order to better understand the fallen hero within myself. What I discovered was something I had known for years but had only hinted at in my first book. I discovered the phenomenon that deep within our souls we all have a void, an unexplainable emptiness and I finally found it articulated in the works of these great philosophers. I have dubbed this universal enigma the Great Big Nothing. It’s the unique human experience of facing this mysterious Nothing that shapes how we learn and how we grow.

In researching the Nothing I was also guided to the writings of a few modern-day depressionists such as Caroline Knapp, William Styron and Elizabeth Wurztel. Their books on overcoming addiction and depression served as excellent resources. It’s the combination of these depressionist tales, existential philosophies and Greek mythology from which I’ve derived my latest incarnation of Contemporary Visions. And just as the ancient fallen hero has survived throughout the ages, I have emerged as the present-day link to the future. I intend to fill the gap between the classic myths and Generation Now.

I’m not content with inventing a new type of poetry, as much as I am in presenting to the world a great work of art. Whatever you do please don’t read my writings like dreary, monotonous, assigned schoolwork. In a sacred environment, it’s possible for the ritual poetic magic to be released from this book and dance on mystical air. Invite the words to leap off the page, to overcome you, and to haunt you as they did me when I wrote them. Hopefully my collection of words will leave you fulfilled, that you have experienced something great, something dangerous and something ultimately rewarding. Jean-Paul Sartre wrote, “Genius is what a man invents when he is looking for a way out.”
So here it is…my way out, my genius.Welcome to Contemporary Visions II.
Welcome to “THE DESCENT” let the downfall begin!
~RICK TRAGIC