The Ephemera Series

[przed]

A week ago I saw an absolutely extraordinary documentary, Rivers and Tides. Its subject is an English artist, Andy Goldsworthy, who works almost entirely with found natural materials, like leaves and thorns and ice, and creates utterly beautiful pieces, some of which only last for hours or even minutes.

The film got me thinking about what a fascinating word ephemeral is and our assumptions about the worth of ephemera. And then I had the possibly addled idea to do a series of seven drabbles centred around the idea of the ephemeral. As i've now finished all but the last of these drabbles, I'll be posting one a day for the next week, in a variety of different fandoms. (Even Blake's 7, my first fandom, and one in which I have not written for close to ten years.)

All of the resulting drabbles are about the ephemeral in some way, though none use the actual word.

The first child of this experiment is behind the cut, and is in LotR, focussing on Boromir, of course.

faramir_boromir, this one's for you.


Title: Ephemera 1
Author P.R. Zed
Fandom: LotR

The crisp crack of the banner makes Boromir look up from his brother's concerned eyes to see the White Tree, symbol of Gondor's heritage, buffeted by the unruly air.

It seems he has always been thus, poised between family and duty. And yet he does not grudge his position.

Gondor's fall draws ever nearer and he will do what he must to preserve his people's way of life, to preserve his brother's very being, even embark on this mad quest for Imladris.

Clutching the hope that he will see his city and brother again, he sets off on his search.

Comments

[faramir-boromir.livejournal.com]

Wow, what great work to be be associated with...thank you!

This is the tense element for me: he has always been thus, poised between family and duty. And yet he does not grudge his position.

Protesting too much? Saying, positively, that he doesn't begrudge something...when maybe there is a touch of resentment of what would take him off on this mad quest? Nice.

And hey, you used the word "begrudge." Gotta love it. Thanks and can't wait to see where you take this series....

[przed.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. :)

Perhaps Boromir does protest too much, but he's too much the good soldier to admit it, possibly even to himself. (That's why I love him, strength wrapped around vulnerability.)

[sooguy.livejournal.com]

That's interesting you mention this documentary, an lj friend haunted_lady just created a community called theoracle which she describes as "a community for sharing the physical manifetations of the sensitive/intuitive/empathic person's creativity." I'll have to tell her about it.

It's always good to find something inspirational to motivate you. I am trying to bottle up my creativity for the next 30 days until I get this move done.

I enjoyed your drabble. I am always amazed at how well you can convey so much in so few words.

[przed.livejournal.com]

I'll have to check out that comm.

Thanks for the kind words. I have to say, I'm really enjoying the drabble form lately. Makes a break from the 10,000 word monsters I usually write for zines.

[seleneheart]

Very nice, and I like the whole idea for the drabble series.

I like the parallels between the banner being buffeted by the wind and Boromir being buffeted by his duties and his loves.

[przed.livejournal.com]

The image of the banner is what set this drabble off, so I'm so noticed that detail.

[fileg.livejournal.com]

A lovely work. And I am a *huge* fan of goldsworthy, I have three of his books. I am especially fascinated by the things he does with ice.

This captured well that sense that overwhelms me about his work - the strength all balanced on fragility, the snap of a twig, a degree of temperature, and the center will not hold -

and yet, the work is visible proof that they can, and do hold - if all work together.

[przed.livejournal.com]

I'd never heard of Goldsworthy before, but now my partner and I are both keen to seek out his books. And yes, the ice sculpture he made in the doc is just utterly wonderful, the way it loops around the rock, and the sun hits it, turning it into gold. I also love the stone sentinels he builds.

Your description of his work could also be said about the Fellowship, couldn't it?

[fileg.livejournal.com]

Your description of his work could also be said about the Fellowship, couldn't it?

Absolutely. Every one a ringbearer, even Bill.


I discovered Goldsworthy some years ago, quite by accident. I have a bad back, and when we are standing aroound in Borders, sooner or later I have to go find a quite corner and sit. My favorite spot is art / photography, because I can keep myself amused for however long it takes until I can stand up and go back to roaming. I pulled out his books and fell in. I have Wood, Stone and the one that is subtitled A Collaboration With Nature. The last is my favorite.

I am hoping the documentary will be available, I would love to see it.

[fileg.livejournal.com]

I just found this listing (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002JL9N6/qid=1092173559/sr=8-2/ref=pd_ka_2/103-7974287-9448663?v=glance&s=dvd&n=507846) for pre-order at Amazon. Does that look like the one?

[przed.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's the film. I can't recommend it too highly. It's easily one of the best I've seen all year. And I see a lot of films.

[przed.livejournal.com]

BTW, and completely OT, I just made your icon of the Horn of Gondor and Anduril my default icon. Because why use a generic sword, when you can use that sword and make slash innnuendo? Plus, it's beautiful.

[fileg.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Where did you see it?

I just used it recently as my entry for an otp challenge, and wasn't sure anyone got it!

[przed.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure where I saw it, but I'm pretty sure faramir_boromir had linked to the place I got it from.

And yeah, I definitely got it. ;)

[fileg.livejournal.com]

There is a link to my shared icons in the sidebar of my journal, in case that wasn't where she sent you.

*G* I expected you lot to get the innuendo, but the "Spuffy" crowd doesn't seem inclined to symbolism.