• P.O.V
  • By Emma Brain
  • Commune

Joseph London on Commune

In each edition of our journal*, we ask a handful of people to reflect on our chosen theme. This is Joseph London, the filmmaker behind the extraordinary documentary 'The Beloved'**, on commune: ⁠

I remember as a kid visiting a friend on a commune and being fascinated by what they had built themselves, the healthy living and access to nature. But staying overnight, with the sound of dingoes in the evening and roosters at dawn, the silent stoicism of the family at first light, I felt the cold dread of homesickness in the pit of my stomach.

Selfie 2021

To me, the commune represents the promise of being relieved of the grinding effort to get big things up on your own, of joining forces and to be ambitious.

It’s an exciting and nourishing experience to share a vision and a passion, to collaborate and to find consensus.

But it is also quietly exhilarating to finally fall back on your own resources and return to yourself. To not be constantly thinking of or encountering others or to be seeking opinions or permission. To feel independent again.

 

*Copies of our journal are available to purchase through our webshop, the fulcrum.press. They’d make a great stocking stuffer/holiday read!⁠

** You can find out more about Joseph’s film here. Don’t be put off by the length – it’s a dream to watch, particularly for anyone with a connection to Fremantle or the Sannyasin community. ⁠

 

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