Fernweh, Sinister Stickers, and Art or Content?

I was talking to a German friend recently, and we hit on the topic of traveling and moving. I was describing the feeling of needing to move and how there wasn't a word for it in English; the closest English word we have for it is "wanderlust"—but that's not quite right.

As it turns out, there is a German word that perfectly fits: Fernweh. My friend described it as "This is the opposite of being homesick. It's that feeling you get when you want to be somewhere else."

Yep. That's the feeling.

Wanderlust: From German, meaning "a strong desire to travel and explore," driven by excitement and adventure. How to pronounce Wanderlust in German.

‍Fernweh: A German word meaning "distance pain" or "far-sickness," describing a deep, melancholic longing for distant places. How to pronounce Fernweh in German.

Oh-ho! Both of those words are of German origin. We don't use the word Fernweh in English, but "wanderlust" is fairly common. So, next time you say it, remember to thank the Germans.

While thinking about where the next stop might be in the seemingly neverending Fernweh, I grabbed the mail and discovered a magical black envelope full of awesome, sinister stickers from Dark Harvest Wearables in Colorado.

I'm a fan of their art, so I thought I'd share. They make some great shirts, too. This isn't a promo or paid endorsement or whatever; I just like their stuff.

That same German friend I mentioned above also got me thinking a bit about art vs. content. There are a lot of people out there who produce things and put them on the Internet. But where is the line between art and content?

Is there one?

Maybe it's creating to express yourself vs. creating for others to consume. Intrinsic motivation vs. extrinsic motivation.

In this context, here's what I mean...

‍Intrinsic Motivation: Driven by internal rewards (joy, satisfaction, curiosity, personal growth, etc.)

‍Extrinsic Motivation: Driven by external rewards (money, praise, recognition, followers, etc.)

I think the world could use more artists.

What's New?

• I've been working on the next Phonographic Visions. It's been a while because, you know, stuff happens.
• I'm also working on more original art, like the piece I did for The Ghost of Miss Jane Vernelt of George Street in Edinburgh, Scotland. In fact, there's a new one for this week's newsletter!
• Upcoming Into Horror History: A classic fairy tale full of candy and questionable life choices.