About...

...me.

Me. I'm so emo.

I, James Gillespie Gilmore V, was born many years ago on the last day of the 70's, in Cincinnati, Ohio. I grew up, learning things along the way. Somewhere betwixt all the school and moving from place to place I figured out that I would like to go to college, so away I went, to Calvin College, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. There I majored in English and Theatre. I then went to Bowling Green State University in Middle Of Nowhere, Ohio, where I got a master's degree in theatre as well as some lovely parting gifts. I'm now in Los Angeles, California, where I just got another master's degree in Theology, and I'm still trying to figure out what I'm going to do when I grow up. That's all boring biographical information. You don't care about that. Don't pretend you do; I can see that glazed-over look in your eyes. You're bored to tears, and for that, I'm truly sorry. Can you find it in your heart to someday forgive me?

...my work.

As if it wasn't obvious from my influences, education, and history, I'm going into political science, or maybe culture studies or communication (depending on what they'll give me money to study). Ultimately, my goal is to found a think tank for Christian progressives/liberals - bringing theologians and political scientists together to communicate the Christian theological roots of political progressivism and to bring people of faith together in working for the progress of the whole society.

I also have other interests - most notably, culture and the arts. Culturally, I'm very interested in the continuing impact of postmodernism as constructive and deconstructive system on the culture at large, and the impact of the first generations to rise up after the death of modernity - Generations X and beyond - on the order and institutions of society.

My current and recent fascination has been with the Burning Man phenomenon, and specifically with how the Burning Man subculture operates as a religious subculture of sorts centered around the Burning Man event, but with fully realized practices serving the functions of religion in the lives of its members. My ultimate goal is to find ways in which emerging churches can meaningfully and fruitfully engage with the Burning Man subculture and have a dialogic relationship, with each group gaining something meaningful from the other without proselytization, hostility, or emotional damage.

As an artistic critic, I'm honestly sick of Christian art. Not Christians in the arts - I'm all about that - but Christian art. Christianity is no excuse for crappy art - and I'm sick of people hiding behind the cross to defend their unwillingness to approach subjects with honesty and integrity, to delve deep into a subject, to put at risk even the flimsiest of their beliefs. I also believe that all art done truthfully and well is glorifying to God. A Miles Davis solo, an Andy Warhol print, or a David Mamet play, all give glory to God - the good thing done well.

...my friends and family.

Family: Dad, Mom, Charlie, Danny, and Nuts the Cat.

My friends and colleagues have had a great deal of influence on me as a person and as a follower of Christ. I would be negligent if I made this entire page about who I am without discussing a lot of the people who made me who I am.

First off, my family. My mother Anne and my father James ("the Wiser," as he terms himself) have been quite possibly the most positive influences on me as a person. Sure, we had our difficulties growing up, but it was their goodness and wisdom that helped whatever good there is in me to come out. I couldn't have asked for better parents. I have two brothers: Charlie, who's just graduated from Calvin College trying to prove that you can grow up in our house and live a normal life; and Danny, who's at Calvin trying to prove the exact opposite.

Best. Cat. Ever.

This is my cat Simon, who has objectively been proven to be the best cat in the history of the world. I got him in May 2004 from the shelter when he was just over a year old - and he's just as spry and energetic, and his claws just as sharp, now as when he came to live with me.

I have a significant other Bethany - you may know her from her prominent place on my blogroll - who's a grad student at University of Georgia and is incredibly smart. We read each other's papers. It's either cute or sappy, depending on who you ask.

I also have two roommates - Annette and Eric. I know them from Tribe (which I'll get to in a minute). We share a 3-bedroom apartment in Koreatown/Hancock Park with Simon. They're both incredible cooks - which is good because I'm really not. Hopefully I make up for it by building stuff for them.

I also have a drinking buddy Nirvana. She's awesome. She's also an incredible script supervisor and screenwriter, so if you're a famous producer who happens to be reading this... you really probably have better things to do, like produce movies or whatever it is you do. You should get her involved in that, though. She's really good.

My friend Kevin does art... good art. Really good art. I'm working on a documentary about his art, actually, that'll be done... well, sometime before June 2006. Here's a link to his website... though you should be warned that some of his work involves nudes, so if you're offended by artfully-rendered nekkid people, you probably shouldn't click the link.

His former roommate is Cameron, who occasionally goes out into nature with me, because we both love nature.

My church is called Tribe of Los Angeles. We're about 25-30 people generally, drumming in a circle together and being all cool and stuff. Seriously, they're like my family out here... they're my people. The pastor, Rev. Rebecca, has been a spiritual beacon and mentor in my life. Her husband, Dave (Hambone) Raven, is an incredible musician and has drummed with just about every awesome musician that can be drummed with, and has his own band called Mojo Monkey.

I work at the Academic Technology Center at Fuller, with some really great people, who are friends (and surfing buddies) as well as coworkers. I don't hang out up in Pasadena as much as I used to when I lived there, but it isn't because there aren't interesting people up there. It's that blasted architecture, and all that new-fangled development, and the fact that I wanted to be closer to my church.

My ex-girlfriend Alisa felt bad that she wasn't mentioned on here, and I don't blame her. That was an oversight on my part, and I'm terribly sorry about it. She's really quite a lovely girl, and impacted my life more than I think she'll ever realize.

I have a panoply of people who have been part of my life in all the places I've lived. At Calvin it was the guys at the Duplex, the house I lived in for a year and a half. These guys were closer than brothers to me; even when I was at the end of my rope, they were there. I'll never forget the time I spent there. Karl, Morgan, Ryan, Tim, Brad, Hop, Rizzo, Roubos, Jon, Damon, Joshwall, Chris, JJ, and all the other various refugees and roomers - you'ze like family.

And of course, who could forget my other Calvin friends - Melinda, who always has been a breath of fresh air in my life; Becky, the "infamous ex," who has proven to me that I probably take myself far too seriously; Noah and Alphie, my electrix posse; Jamey, my roommate junior year, who taught me that jalapenos go in everything; Jessie, Nick, Beth, Terry, Lise, and all the others who went into grad school for theatre, thus making me feel more secure about my own choice to do the same; and all the theatre profs who told me I could do things, which I did, and continue to do to this day.

...this site.

There are some who would consider the very act of weblogging an exercise in supreme self-indulgence; as if the World of the Internets(tm) really cares about what's going on in my life. As a thinking person, I've debated long and hard with myself as to whether or not blogging is something I should do. But then I think about all my far-flung friends and family, and the sheer mechanics of trying to keep in touch with them and tell them all about what's happening in my life, and I realize that blogging is much easier (and much less expensive) than talking to all them individually - not that I don't want to talk to, or email, with all of them, but they should email me first (hint, hint.)

I also use this site as a soapbox for my religious, political, social, and cultural views. While I realize that these views are often controversial, the beauty of life in these United States is that I'm allowed to state them without fear of government persecution, at least until USA PATRIOT III is passed. I get rather peeved about what I perceive as injustice, and I feel that I have a responsibility to give the injustices I see that little bit of extra exposure that comes from being listed on this site. I'm rather transparently a Democratic/liberal type; I make no apologies for this. It's who I am and what I believe. And posting things that I believe to be of general benefit and importance is another way I think this site is helping the world and not just me.

Other than that, there's really nothing else you need to know. Maybe there is. Tell you what... if you email me we can get to talking and learn more about one another, whoever the heck you are. My email address is jimmy@mistersite.net. You can email me there if you're someone I've never met, someone I know, or a long-lost love who wishes to be reunited with me. (Priority will be given to those in the last category.) You can also reach me via AIM; my screen name is now mistersitenet.