From: “Brett Feinstein”Date: Wed, 9 Oct 2002 06:19:59To: “Roy H. Williams”Subject: Not sure how to track this down but…
My partner, Jamie, called me today to say he had been watching theToday Show yesterday (Wednesday) and saw an interview with composer Mike Post. Post, as you may know, writes music for TV shows like Hill Street Blues, L.A. Law, etc. Anyhow, Jamie thought it might be of interest to you since Post told the interviewer how he “builds” songs.
Different instrument groupings and sounds that create almost instant recall of an emotion or image – alto sax for sex, French horns for the regality of the law, a strong back-beat to feel the energy of LA, etc. I agreed with Jamie that it sounded like some of the things you have been talking about. I am trying to get a copy of the tape for you. Brett
From: “Roy H. Williams”Sent: Wednesday, October 09, 2002 6:37 AMTo: “Brett Feinstein”Subject: Music
Brett,
Thanks for going to the trouble. It sounds like an interesting interview.
Music, as you know, is an auditory language unto itself, one of the many vehicles of symbolic thought. (As opposed to abstract thought, analytical thought or verbal thought.) You will recall that in symbolic thought, ideas and feelings are represented metaphorically. My research indicates that PERCEPTION IS DEEPENED when all of the sensory Thought Particles are in harmony with one another. I call this technique 'particle stack.'
By 'Thought Particles,' I mean phonetic sounds (obstruents versus sonorants,) shades of color (adding white to make light-hearted pastels as opposed to adding black to make moody, stormy shades,) visual shapes, (sharp, tart angles versus smooth, creamy curves, etc.)
Conversely, INTEREST IS ELEVATED when particles are brought into deliberate contrast… such as changing the colors of an image so that the Nazi soldiers are now wearing pink uniforms with bright yellow jackboots. I call this technique 'particle conflict.'
Gifted painters, photographers, writers and other artists use these techniques unconsciously and instinctively.
As you can see, I'm currently refining my theory of Thought Particles. The whole thing is based on the duality of the universe and the inherent polarity of human experience.
Maybe I'll write a Monday Memo about this stuff.
Yours,
Roy H. Williams
From: “Brett Feinstein”Date: Wed, 9 Oct 2002 07:02:16To: “Roy H. Williams”Subject: Symbolic Thought
I believe this is very powerful stuff. Far more so than Chaos or Frosting or Seussing or such. I think you will have a hard time distilling it into a memo. Or at least I know I would. These are the building blocks of imagery and emotion and recall as burned into our brain through culture, experience and imagination. I believe this is a key door to be unlocked in persuasion science.
I think some of us are able to use this theory innately without having thought about it…but I also believe that it can be taught and that you're the guy to teach it. This is not a memo, Roy. This is a book that has the potential of being as influential and important as anything written by Ogilvy, Hopkins, Caples or Lewis. Just my view of the world.
Brett
From: Roy H. WilliamsSent: Wednesday, October 09, 2002 7:17 AMTo: Brett FeinsteinSubject: Another Book?
Brett,
Okay. I'll write it. But first I want to see Free the Beagle get the launch that it deserves. Have you seen her new website at www.FreetheBeagle.com? While you're browsing, take a look at the new www.WizardofAds.com and wizardacademy.org too. I'm relieved to finally get our web stuff right. Bryan and Jeff were hugely helpful.
How are the students responding to your/my/our new curriculum at George Washington University? I figure it will either change their lives forever or sail completely over their heads. Hopefully, it will be the former. Let me know.
Looking forward to seeing you in Austin. Let's see if we can get Tom Grimes and some of the others to join us. Good things are sure to happen.
Yours,
Roy H. Williams