1,000 Journals

Posted on November 2, 2007 by C Johnson
Art, Culture, Design

While our perception of connectivity is increasingly defined by advancements in Bluetooth technology, 2.0 social networking and other handy dandy gadgets aimed at keeping the world connected … a San Francisco based graphic designer has spent the last seven years advancing connectivity in a markedly visceral way. Going by the pseudonym “Someguy,” he started the “1,000 Journal Project” (http://www.1000journals.com) in the year 2000 by sending out 1,000 blank journals into the world, and they have been hopping from person to person, continent to continent ever since: each person making their acutely personal contribution to the book. It is a tangible, living, breathing experiment that challenges individual creativity and forces often-emotional self-introspection.

“I [wanted to] encourage readers to become contributors and join a conversation by writing in actual books,” says Someguy, “especially one that travelled around [and] gathered a variety of thoughts and opinions.”

The project has gained unprecedented momentum and thousands of people in over 53 countries have had their lives affected and their minds broadened by the experience … a fact that exposes our yearning to express the repressed.

“We tend to keep our creativity to ourselves,” says Someguy. “Many people keep [writing or sketching] journals but not many people share them with others. [This project] is for you. For everyone.”

Filmmaker Andrea Kreuzhage has documented a handful of personal experiences in his thoughtful new documentary 1,000 Journals exploring the provocation, rage and inspiration stirred up by the journal entries. This audacious project is, in many ways, a necessity as it advocates social tolerance and understanding—something sorely lacking in our often-polarized world—as well as the fundamental human need for creative expression.

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