Noise #165: Forty Greek wildfires (feat. artwork by The New Yorker cartoonist Jason Chatfield)

Political flames aren't the only ones of note.

Jun 30, 2024

I’m thrilled that today’s Noise features custom artwork by Jason Chatfield. Jason is a brilliant artist and fellow Substacker who cartoons for The New Yorker, MAD, Wired, and more. Please check out his wonderful newsletter: New York Cartoons.

Now on to the noise…

It’s easy to focus on the slow combustion of democratic structures around the world, their subtle or obvious rendering into authoritarian ash.

But literal flames need our attention, too.

India’s Firstpost reports that dozens of wildfires are threatening Athens and nearby areas:

Wildfires are common in Greece but they have become more devastating in recent years amid hotter and drier summers that scientists link to climate change. A wildfire near Athens last week forced dozens to flee their homes, which authorities said they believed was the result of arson as well as the hot, dry conditions.

I haven’t recorded Noise #165 as I’m writing this, but I expect my musical choices will be inspired by obvious themes of fire and displacement—as well as my love for Greece, and wishes for its wellbeing.

I also imagine Noise #165 will include soaring and incongruously chipper melodic lines. Because the imagery of Nero fiddling atop a burning Rome…

…is smacking pretty hard right now.

Thanks so much for checking out Noise #165:

Wishing you peace,

Michael

Current Dissonance

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