Violating the perpetual resolve to never write like this

[donferdinand]

There are two kinds of experiences relating to art and shit - one where you see something and it launches you into a series of interesting contemplations, and that thing (artwork, etc) is then forever associated with the interesting contemplations you have as a result of coming across it; and one where you see the artwork or whatever and you have

Comments

[helionaut]

Dude, I was just thinking of you and then you posted...

We really should get together and talk about this whole 'holding back' thing, because it's something I've been thinking about now for a while.

[donferdinand]

Agreed. I'll be in the bay area again on the weekend of August 6 to attend a wedding (!), and I have your number. It is fairly lame that I didn't contact you - or almost anyone outside the range of people I always talk to - last time I was there

This entry was cool

[wynand]

Wait, how is this artist's trick accomplished? I mean like Martin Amis is a compelling figure behind the art that I care about, right, but I don't think (at least in the earlier books) that that compulsion is a result of some artifice. The question of intent is hella relevant here.

Re: This entry was cool

[static]

It's not a trick of the artist, it's a trick of the viewer. The human mind loves a generalization (he generalized) and will especially take a lone, strong impression of a person/experience and place that as "static characteristic #1" of that person; this can be a perfect singing voice, a great shot with a rifle, or humongous knockers. Regardless, these impressions are always false. Talent, competency, and fun bags (on their own) do not a compelling figure make

Step up

[wynand]

What about Yukio Mishima, who, while writing his like fifteen novels and two hundred plays, also found time to develop a private army, became some kind of kendo/karate/bodybuilding master, at one point took over some sector of the Japanese government as an object lesson about the decline of samurai values in the twentieth century, and, having completed his self-proclaimed masterpiece, killed himself because life no longer had any purpose? I mean maybe he drove a Hyundai Sonata, but come on

Re: Step up

[static]

Right. I was tackling a number of subjects with my 4-inch garter snakes.

Mishima: his works weren't what made him compelling, his compelling nature made his works. This merely proves my point.

Saint-Germain: Exactly what I was talking about with the 'general ear slicing'. A man who knows he is not compelling, so he makes his servants lie like bastards. Of course, one can (and should) argue that this sort of behavior makes the man compelling, albeit 'historically'; I doubt any of the important people within earshot would have found his lying nature all that compelling.

Knockers: I have known many a knocker holder who was not at all fun to talk to. It's like the scent of a hearty steak dinner leading one to a cinder block. "Compelling" should be an ongoing process, not just a false front, no pun intended.