I had started this post with the intent on posting about a week ago. I had written a good couple paragraphs and sat my computer down, hopeful that I’d pick it up the following day. Unfortunately, my brain had other plans; namely, I hit a fog of depression so dense I have yet to quite find my way out of it.

It will pass though, in time.

More importantly, I have a website to archive the work I do and a load of work that I have done since I last posted that I’d like to talk about.

Why?

Because I like having the outlet and am hopeful someone might read my ravings and get some enjoyment from it. Or it may at least fill up the time while they’re on the loo. Either way, it helps me reflect and process my life properly in a way that I don’t often get to, so here we go…

First and foremost, I began 2020 with something I mentioned in my most previous update: a production of a play of my own composition: If Only; Last Words. I was very proud of this occasion for a number of reasons. It was, in fact, the first play I had ever fully written and, while I know it is not perfect, I received heaps of positive feedback (and a healthy dose of constructive criticism) that made me feel incredibly good about both the writing and production processes. Additionally, from the experience came the foundation of a new theatre group local to the Boonsboro-Sharpsburg-Keedysville area: Red Hill Theatre Group (redhilltheatregroup.org). The team from If Only continued to meet and plan through my second semester of my master as well as the COVID-19 pandemic in order to build a theatrical/performing arts group with the intent of growing a new and connected artistic scene in the southern Washington County, Maryland area. We have a few exciting projects on the horizon with one in the midst of development and cannot wait to share it with everyone! (Though some waiting will be required, the pandemic makes things incredibly difficult to produce safely, though not at all impossible).

Additionally, I have become involved with a number of other local theatre groups, mostly native to Hagerstown, by means of scenic and lighting design. These include, mainly, Authentic Community Theatre, for whom I have already designed the set for Elf: The Musical, and Maryland Entertainment Group, with whom I have worked before and for whom I have been tapped to design lights for a (hopefully) upcoming show. I do not know of any future work with MEG after said show, though I know many people involved in their shows and would love to continue to work with them; however, I have plans to continue designing and building for ACT as Elf went over quite well and they seemed happy to have me back, at least, when their shows get moving again. I love being able to work on theatre but I especially love having such a hand in the theatre scene of my community.

Which brings me to my penultimate topic:

I finished my Masters in Drama and Theatre Studies! I worked as I could on my dissertation, turned it in, and managed to pass everything in order to complete my course at the National University of Ireland, Galway. I am incredibly happy because I have dreamed for years of receiving some sort of theatre education and now I have! Also, I wrote about two things that are of enormous importance to my own work as an artist: expressionism and the importance and use of local and community driven art. I am so happy to have achieved this and even more happy for the incredible people I met and experiences I had through the process. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

And finally, a quick note:

I don’t like social media. I don’t like politics or politicians. And I really don’t like the way I’ve seen people get treated and the way people have been treating others. This has been, to my knowledge and experience, an ongoing problems, perhaps since the dawn of man; however, I have definitely noticed an uptick in hateful behavior in the recent political climate. I suppose when the president of the United States says whatever he wants about whomever he wants, people are a bit less hesitant to aggressively share their prejudices (particularly online, but often in person as well). As such, I would like to be very clear about myself in the hopes that a) people may understand where I’m coming from when I don’t enjoy particular “jokes” or instances of them trying to play devil’s advocate or expressions of dissenting opinions worded in particularly angry or hateful ways, b) I don’t have to beat around the bush when talking to people; i.e. if someone has a problem with me, my views, or my lifestyle, they can either say so to my face, drop it, or go away, and c) I may help others who look to me as a peer feel comfortable being themselves around me or around those I associate with, allowing them a friendlier world in which to exist if they so wish, or, simply, the knowledge that they are not alone.

As such, I am, in no particular order:

A) Non-binary; meaning, I don’t see myself as exclusively attached to being a man or woman, in terms of gender. I, personally, have no attachment to any set of pronouns (though many non-binary people do), but if I talk about myself, I usually use they/them or avoid the fiasco entirely. It means no particular change to my personality, who I am, or what I do; I have always been this way and any perceived change is either due to my level of comfort with this fact of my existence, or something someone chose to perceive with new knowledge.

B) Pansexual; meaning, I am attracted to people regardless of gender. I also see myself as on the asexual scale to some degree, or perhaps demisexual to some degree. In reality, I don’t care to explain this much further because it doesn’t matter to you. That’s right! Anyone who may be reading this? Anyone at all? This has absolutely no effect on anything. It only effects me. If you think otherwise, please walk our your back door, plant your feet firmly on the ground, and shout any complaints loud enough for me to hear. When your neighbors begin pelting you with over-ripe fruit, you may stop and resume trolling the internet for anything else you see as divergent that you may insert your bottomless pit of angry opinions on.

C) Socialist; meaning, it is my firm belief that what is best for society is best for the individual and any greatness achieved by the individual should be a greatness felt by all society. In short, we are all humans and should be treated as such. Additionally, the government should be in service to society exclusively, not itself, not the military, not industry or capitalism or the economy. Again, complaints, yelling, bottomless pit, etc.

D) Mentally ill. Like. Incredibly. I have been diagnosed, since my return to the United States, with general anxiety and severe depression. It sucks. It makes life difficult. I do my best and try not to let it affect me. And, though I’ve been fairly PG to this point, I would like to say that if you think being mentally ill affects the validity of my opinions, kindly fuck off.

That’s it! That’s all I wish to share. I am happier having it all on public record so I don’t have to keep explaining basic aspects of my personality. Moreover, if you have any questions about these aspects of me, my opinions, or my viewpoints, please ask! Just do so kindly. If you can’t be kind then either I can’t be bothered to respond, or I can’t be bothered to be kind either.

Know this though, I love everyone, every animal, every plant, and everything in existence very much and I intend to continue updates like this, albeit more frequently to reduce the amount I need to type.

I hope everyone stays safe and responsible through the pandemic and has a very wonderful holiday season!

Peace and love!

-Cody