WARNING! SPOILERS: This post contains spoilers and speculation for the Doctor Who series eight episode Listen. When we are children we survive in the only way children know how. We hide. We wrap ourselves in bed sheets and crawl into closets and close our eyes. We twist harsh words and violent actions inside our heads until we turn them into things we can live with. The world is so much bigger than we are it is beyond comprehension. We are dependent on beings that are infinitely more powerful than us and they are not always kind. Our voices are not heard. We do as we are told. Until one day we dont. Steven Moffat remembers what its like to be afraid of the dark. His story Listen is about the terror of the mind and how we hold ourselves hostage. We cannot conquer fear we can only acknowledge it. Fear is a familiar companion and it is useful. It is a good thing except when its the only thing. Growing up means learning to temper panic with reason. Listen is an intricate journey through time, the mind and the heart. Lets see where it leads us.
Mary Ogle is the author and illustrator of “Orangeroof Zoo” a whimsical tale of magical realism told through the pages of a coloring book for adults. Working as a professional artist in the digital medium, Mary’s commissions have included everything from fine art to fan art, book cover design, illustration and book layout. Find more of Mary’s work at www.maryogle.com. Mary currently finds inspiration in the Ojai Valley, residing in a snug little cottage with a recalcitrant cat.
