Hmm. Here we are again. Here's a little attempt at a list. As always, do let John know if you're getting something off this to avoid duplication! (7 December: Made a little update to the CD section below...)
First up there's quite a few books that would be useful, given that I don't currently have access to a university library and may not now until my thesis is finished. Last order date for the UK from Book Depository is 16 December.
William Kentridge: Six Drawing Lessons - I've been watching these awesome Norton Lectures by Kentridge on YouTube and will almost definitely be referring to this in my thesis, but it would be a lot easier to be able to worth through the written text rather than try to find time references in the YouTube videos: https://www.bookdepository.com/Six-Drawing-Lessons/9780674365803
The Studio by Jens Hoffmann (Whitechapel Documents of Contemporary Art series) - this is a great book, which I borrowed at the start of the PhD and have referred to bits from it ever since, so it would be great to have my own copy and re-read this material from the perspective of this end of the research: https://www.bookdepository.com/The-Studio-Jens-Hoffmann/9780262517614
How To Fix Your Academic Writing Trouble, by the fabulous Inger Mewburn who runs the Thesis Whisperer blog. Not because I have actual trouble with my academic writing but because I just feel it could do with some polishing and the chapters on Making a Case, Writing Critically and Structuring Your Writing look especially useful. https://www.bookdepository.com/How-Fix-Your-Academic-Writing-Trouble-Practical-Guide-Inger-Mewburn/9780335243327?ref=grid-view&qid=1638735912243&sr=1-1
Timothy Morton: Hyperobjects: Philosophy and Ecology after the End of the World - this one is relevant for work I'm developing with my Porthleven friends and it's come up in a few different places, so feels like it would be a good one to read soon: https://www.bookdepository.com/Hyperobjects-Timothy-Morton/9780816689231?ref=grid-view&qid=1638736313657&sr=1-1
Tim Ingold: Lines, a brief history - this looks a fascinating book which looks at the use of line across many different disciplines, including music, writing, drawing and walking. This one's probably not for the thesis, but it feels very relevant to my work in general - https://www.bookdepository.com/Lines-Tim-Ingold/9781138640399?ref=grid-view&qid=1638736604480&sr=1-1
I do need a new backpack, which I think will probably cost about £70, but I don't know for sure which model I'd want - I'd need to go out and look in the actual shops, so this would need to be a money present.
A teapot would be nice. My acupuncturist has started me on drinking many many cups of herbal tea each day, and often I'm reusing teabags, but it would be much nicer in a teapot which could hold 2 cups' worth of water, and which would also be useful for 2-hour Zoom meetings which don't have a tea break built in. I don't have any specific teapot in mind, but one that comes with an infuser basket would be really nice and would let me use loose-leaf tea or make my own infusions. e.g. something like this one: https://teapeople.co.uk/shop/forlife-stump-teapot-530ml.html . It would probably be best if it could be dishwasher-safe for when the dishwasher gets fixed. If you go for the one in the link, then probably black or white would be best, given all the good colours are out of stock (and apparently are everywhere. Teapot madness).
I bought some masks from Seasalt just before I went to Cornwall, and they've been great, but it feels a bit of an indulgence to buy more even though they'd be useful. https://www.seasaltcornwall.com/shaped-organic-cotton-face-coverings-nose-bridge-pack-of-3
On the more extravagant end of the scale (£65), I've been thinking about this tilting stool from Ikea. I can't sit on a regular chair in my studio because of the slope on the floor - even 10 minutes triggers the muscle spasms, so I can only stand up there now which is making it pretty useless for work. This is a variable-height stool which is designed to be able to be used as extra support for when working at a standing desk and it's for 'active sitting', so while the feet will be solid on the floor, the seat itself tilts (there's a video on the page which shows the tilt), so I'll be able to sit with my hips level regardless of what the floor is doing. That's the theory anyway - hard to say if it'll work in practice but this was the best of the stools I tried when we were last there. It's at https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/lidkullen-active-sit-stand-support-gunnared-dark-grey-70445786/ (although currently saying it's sold out...)
It's been in the news recently that Spotify's owner is investing in high-tech weapons technology, so I've decided to cancel my subscription. Which means I'm going to lose access to some favourite albums that I've not bought yet, so any of these would be welcome. All the links are to Amazon because I'm not sure where else would sell them all. Contact John if you're nervous about the Prime trap and he'll be happy to order for you.
Abrahamsen Schnee https://www.amazon.co.uk/Schnee-Ensemble-Recherche/dp/B002CRJWTY/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=abrahamsen+schnee&qid=1638739084&sr=8-3 - UPDATE - this is the only album in this list that I haven't found in Apple Music, so while I can access versions of the other ones listed here (although they'd still be welcome and I plan to buy my own copies to support these artists properly at some point), this one I can't until I get my own copy...
Any album by The Divine Comedy, but at the moment I'm obsessing over Fin De Siècle - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fin-Si%C3%A8cle-Reissue-Divine-Comedy/dp/B085PJ62P5/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=the+divine+comedy&qid=1638739256&s=music&sr=1-6
and Office Politics - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Office-Politics-Divine-Comedy/dp/B07PWXMM6W/ref=sr_1_15?keywords=the+divine+comedy&qid=1638739256&s=music&sr=1-15
Francisco Lopez's Through the Looking Glass - this box set has become my go to soundtrack for writing - Lopez is a sound artist who makes fantastic field recordings that he uses to create amazing soundscapes. It's a beautiful collection (not just for writing!) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Through-Looking-Glass-F-Lopez/dp/B0026IZ68K/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=lopez+through+the+looking+glass&qid=1638739785&s=music&sr=1-1
Gwen Stefani's You Make It Feel Like Christmas - this is a great cheesy Christmas album that I've really enjoyed over the past few years - https://www.amazon.co.uk/You-Make-Feel-Like-Christmas/dp/B07HGTP3FD/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=stefani+christmas&qid=1638739977&s=music&sr=1-1
OK Go - Oh No - this has been a favourite album for years now. So many great tracks! https://www.amazon.co.uk/Oh-No-Bonus-DVD-Ok/dp/B000JLSZ16/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=ok+go&qid=1638740113&s=music&sr=1-3
Blur The Magic Whip - likewise - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Magic-Whip-Blur/dp/B00THHH9W4/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=blur+magic+whip&qid=1638740424&s=music&sr=1-1
Alternatively, I think I'm about to replace Spotify with a subscription to Apple Music, which should be £5/month for a student account, so a money contribution could go towards that.
Heigh ho. Hopefully some possibilities in here!
xoxo. C/POT
Recent Comments