What is Cloud Studies?
The ephemeral and fleeting nature of clouds has captured the imaginations of writers for centuries. And it’s easy to see why. They are, in their essence, shapeshifters; where one cloud ends and another begins is uncertain. They are limitless and changeable, much like the human mind, and yet, a constant feature of our skies. It’s this duality, I think, that charms us.
Clouds fascinate everyone from scientists to artists to philosophers. But they can be hard to grasp - literally and conceptually. Their instability challenges our understanding of the visible whilst simultaneously sustaining associations with feeling and the mind. The English language is full of cloud idioms that are a testament to the innate connection that we make between clouds and our emotions. You can be ‘on cloud nine’, in ‘cloud-cuckoo land’, ‘under a cloud’, and of course, we all know about ‘silver linings’. I, therefore, ask you, what is human experience without clouds?
This newsletter celebrates the wonder of clouds in all their forms. As featured in literature and art; philosophy and science; and my own everyday musings. It will be a journey of personal enlightenment, upwards into an otherworldly realm, and I’d be delighted if you could join me:
Who’s writing?
Hi, I’m Kate. I’ve always loved staring at the sky. As a child, I remember spending long summer evenings in the field at the bottom of our garden watching the evening magic show, during which the blue of the day transformed into a mystical tincture of pinks, oranges and purples. Growing up in the English countryside (and being a bit of a loner), I spent most of my time reading, walking in the fields, or staring at the sky. Growing up in England also meant that clouds were a near-permanent feature so I got to know them pretty well.
Fast forward to 2019 and I began my Masters in Eighteenth-Century Studies in London, which was soon interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. As frustrating as this was, it was during all those days cooped up in my little North London flat that my interest in clouds was stirred once again. Essays aside, there wasn’t much else to do but walk and - you guessed it - stare at the sky, mostly contemplating what the hell was going on in this mad world of ours.
2020 ended with me writing my final dissertation about clouds. And as it turns out, there is a lot of cool stuff out there about them. A lot of which didn’t make it into my final essay. So I created Cloud Studies. From Wordsworth's lonely cumulus to the metaphorical mistiness of life as an uncertain millennial - if you too are in love with the shapeshifting multitudinous of the sky, then you're in the right place.
Where do I get it?
If you love clouds and art and conversations about humanity, then you’ll love this newsletter. Every week, I’ll send you a “cloud study” straight to your inbox FOR FREE. Just hit subscribe and you’ll be part of the gang.
Tell everyone
Don’t forget to spread the word! I’d love for Cloud Studies to be a place for discussion as much as a receptacle for knowledge. Remember, clouds are universal so everyone is welcome.
