1) Invent an Artist. This Artist can be a he, she, or it,OK, I'll call him General LonGears. I prefer to work 1st person ... let's me get in touch with my work. And yes, I *am* a Devilbunny.
... working with any materials, in any medium, with an unlimited virtual budget.(salivate) Very well! My medium is ... the psycho-sociodynamics of a select, yet random, subset of Internetters! This is the richest, most dynamic, and yet most complex medium I've encountered. At times infinitely malleable. At other times, stubborn and resistant.
Only a true Master can effectively work this medium to achieve ... Art -- in it's most pure form.
The Art is the ongoing story in my newsgroup. The original premise is weird and impractical ... along the lines of killer rabbits attempting to take over the world. Who has time for such foolishness in the rough-and-tumble world of Real Life (tm)? Unless it can be evolved to something ... more.
The Artist skillfully manipulates his tools -- the imaginations, creativity, and expository skills of whatever other writers he can enveingle into the web of fantasy -- to paint layer upon layer of characterization, plot, history, and lore -- slowly building and adding to the fantasy world.
In only a matter of time, the Art takes on a life of its own -- independent of its creator(s). Capable of luring fresh talent in to replace that which leaves for one reason or another. The fantasy world evolves and grows rich and complex. Newcomers learn there is a history and mythology to discover and add to.
The Art ... *lives*. And perpetuates through time -- waiting to be discovered by future generations. Immortality.
The beret does not have temporal existence. It exists only in the world of alt.devilbunnies. However, whenever the Artist enters his creation -- the World he has helped create -- he always stops to don this beret. It is his symbol of belonging. His badge of honour. His passport through the gates of the Art which is no longer (if it ever was) only his.