I'm doing a reading as part of theSpare Room Reading Series on July 25th in Portland with Sara Mangold and Jennifer Bartlett.
Huzzah!
I will also be visiting my hometown, Olympia. Let me know if you'd like me to bring you back some coffee or peanut sauce.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Homage or Bust
Okay, can we talk about appropriation and homage for a second, fashion aside? Familiar territory, right, but I need some reminders.
I'll come right out and say it and probably feel embarrassed later. Is it possible to write anything OTHER than homages to our heroes? I want to, badly. I think in the past, my influences were more vague. They were vague and hidden even to me and by hidden I mean ignored. I don't think I was writing better stuff then but maybe it would have been harder to call me out. I'm wondering to what extent each of you is aware of your influences and how you play or don't play with them. Should we attempt to disguise our heroes? Should we admit from the get-go? Should we just hope that no one gets the reference or should we hinge the work on the reference? Transparency?
A friend's writing could be reduced to Woolf + Wilde + Theory Curveballs + Artworld Curveballs + Friend. Totally brilliant.
Another friend could be Proust + Foster Wallace + Wittgenstein + Multiple theory curveballs + Friend. I think it's genius but I haven't read much Proust or Foster Wallace and don't know the theory well so I'm blown away.
As someone's influences become more clear what affect does that have on the reading experience or on your perception of the writer? Does it ruin it for you? Does it enhance your appreciation? Does it MATTER?
I could offer other algorithms but I am completely afraid of pissing one of you friends off. Of course, everyone's algorithm is a perpetually shifting, mutating thing with parenthetical subtractions and additions: a + b + 2c(d-e) = f. I wonder if there is a mathematical symbol for "sometimes". Maybe it's the mixture (alchemy, duh) that is exciting. Synthesis, yeah. Maybe it's when we're stuck on just one that we get into trouble.
I can't stand those music reviews that do the A is like if B and C had a lost weekend in Maui, drinking Mai Tai's spiked with acid and came back to their hotel and puked in the same bag and then froze it and smashed it into a million pieces with a sledgehammer and then gave you the dust to snort and this new record out from X label is like the dream you had after you came down and fell asleep. I can't stand that as a framework for critique but it is maybe inescapable on some level.
Now I'm rambling. Can someone help me with this? I'm already embarassed.
p.s. I've been reading a lot of psychoanalytic theory and want to share with you some titles of self-help books that I would like to write, just to be cheeky. They are:
If You're Angry and You Sorta-Kinda-Maybe Know it, Clap Your Hands"
If You Don't Have Anything Nice to Say, Don't Say Anything at All: Repression for Dummies/Children
I'll come right out and say it and probably feel embarrassed later. Is it possible to write anything OTHER than homages to our heroes? I want to, badly. I think in the past, my influences were more vague. They were vague and hidden even to me and by hidden I mean ignored. I don't think I was writing better stuff then but maybe it would have been harder to call me out. I'm wondering to what extent each of you is aware of your influences and how you play or don't play with them. Should we attempt to disguise our heroes? Should we admit from the get-go? Should we just hope that no one gets the reference or should we hinge the work on the reference? Transparency?
A friend's writing could be reduced to Woolf + Wilde + Theory Curveballs + Artworld Curveballs + Friend. Totally brilliant.
Another friend could be Proust + Foster Wallace + Wittgenstein + Multiple theory curveballs + Friend. I think it's genius but I haven't read much Proust or Foster Wallace and don't know the theory well so I'm blown away.
As someone's influences become more clear what affect does that have on the reading experience or on your perception of the writer? Does it ruin it for you? Does it enhance your appreciation? Does it MATTER?
I could offer other algorithms but I am completely afraid of pissing one of you friends off. Of course, everyone's algorithm is a perpetually shifting, mutating thing with parenthetical subtractions and additions: a + b + 2c(d-e) = f. I wonder if there is a mathematical symbol for "sometimes". Maybe it's the mixture (alchemy, duh) that is exciting. Synthesis, yeah. Maybe it's when we're stuck on just one that we get into trouble.
I can't stand those music reviews that do the A is like if B and C had a lost weekend in Maui, drinking Mai Tai's spiked with acid and came back to their hotel and puked in the same bag and then froze it and smashed it into a million pieces with a sledgehammer and then gave you the dust to snort and this new record out from X label is like the dream you had after you came down and fell asleep. I can't stand that as a framework for critique but it is maybe inescapable on some level.
Now I'm rambling. Can someone help me with this? I'm already embarassed.
p.s. I've been reading a lot of psychoanalytic theory and want to share with you some titles of self-help books that I would like to write, just to be cheeky. They are:
If You're Angry and You Sorta-Kinda-Maybe Know it, Clap Your Hands"
If You Don't Have Anything Nice to Say, Don't Say Anything at All: Repression for Dummies/Children
Saturday, July 11, 2009
On Foof...(from last week)
Foof, froof, frou-frou la-la. Accoutrements.
I don't usually wear a lot of foof. I do however have a redundant nasal piercing, made redundant by the fact that I only ever wear the retainer so you can't see the dang thing. After suffering the discomfort and humbling embarrassment of one too many colds and sinus infections this winter, I put my dainty bull ring away. It's dumb, I know. Maybe I should let the piercing heal up but the retainer isn't doing any harm in there; it just hangs out (not literally) and sometimes I touch the sides of my nose and can feel it's little U shaped arch and I feel a little tough, maybe a little bit hard core. I paid $30 bucks to have someone pierce my septum and then re-pierce it when I blew the ring out in a gob snot early on so, I know the value of a dollar. I'm not going to toss my piercing aside until it becomes fully necessary to do so. It may come in handy someday.
That bit of foof in my life didn't pan out but my next idea is to get a silver cap for one of my canines. My only concern beyond the dental hygiene is whether it would be cultural appropriation. Granted piercing your septum and wearing a silver ring through it is blatant cultural appropriation and I'm ashamed to admit that I'm not even sure from which culture I appropriated it. Maybe I should be more concerned with the cow community (wacka-wacka). Honestly, that is part of the reason I don't wear the ring. I feel like a ponce when I wear it. I would probably feel like a ponce wearing a silver cap on my tooth too. I just haven't seen a lot of that in hipster culture yet and I think it would be funny. I'm not interested in getting a grill. I don't want rhinestones. Just one silver tooth.
The inspiration behind it was really a child at the after-school program where I taught this year. He was probably about seven and every time he smiled up at me from his four foot height, he revealed a bright and shiny silver cap on his left front tooth. It was so incongruous, the combination of that cherubic, rosy-cheeked face and that tough little silver tooth. I know that he needed that cap and I do not. Maybe I should be worried about class appropriation rather than cultural appropriation. Some dentist out in The Sunset District of San Francisco is still using metal caps on small children but that is not my territory and he is not my dentist. Maybe I'll need a cap someday and that will be my chance. "No thank you, I would not like the white enamel cap. I'd prefer the silver." I'll say. Still, I know that a silver cap on one of my canines would be hilarious and that I'll probably stop by "Mr. Bling Bling" on Geary St. one of these days just to see.
Thirdly, I'm considering dying my hair white blonde. Nothing more to say there. I think it's a great idea.
So, foof. I support it. Further, I would like to submit glasses as a possible example of foof. Yes, for most of us it is a practicality but I'm sure you all have noticed the advances in glasses fashion over the past year or so and would offer that many a fashion icon was made by his/her glasses. I would also like to submit to you a question: Is it okay to wear glasses solely as a fashion accessory? I've heard a lot of complaints from the 20/20 vision community lately and am wondering how people feel about their desire to get in on our, the poor-visioned community's, single proprietary fashion item.
Next time: poetry maybe. Maybe poetry. Okay, Jen? I hear you. I do.
I don't usually wear a lot of foof. I do however have a redundant nasal piercing, made redundant by the fact that I only ever wear the retainer so you can't see the dang thing. After suffering the discomfort and humbling embarrassment of one too many colds and sinus infections this winter, I put my dainty bull ring away. It's dumb, I know. Maybe I should let the piercing heal up but the retainer isn't doing any harm in there; it just hangs out (not literally) and sometimes I touch the sides of my nose and can feel it's little U shaped arch and I feel a little tough, maybe a little bit hard core. I paid $30 bucks to have someone pierce my septum and then re-pierce it when I blew the ring out in a gob snot early on so, I know the value of a dollar. I'm not going to toss my piercing aside until it becomes fully necessary to do so. It may come in handy someday.
That bit of foof in my life didn't pan out but my next idea is to get a silver cap for one of my canines. My only concern beyond the dental hygiene is whether it would be cultural appropriation. Granted piercing your septum and wearing a silver ring through it is blatant cultural appropriation and I'm ashamed to admit that I'm not even sure from which culture I appropriated it. Maybe I should be more concerned with the cow community (wacka-wacka). Honestly, that is part of the reason I don't wear the ring. I feel like a ponce when I wear it. I would probably feel like a ponce wearing a silver cap on my tooth too. I just haven't seen a lot of that in hipster culture yet and I think it would be funny. I'm not interested in getting a grill. I don't want rhinestones. Just one silver tooth.
The inspiration behind it was really a child at the after-school program where I taught this year. He was probably about seven and every time he smiled up at me from his four foot height, he revealed a bright and shiny silver cap on his left front tooth. It was so incongruous, the combination of that cherubic, rosy-cheeked face and that tough little silver tooth. I know that he needed that cap and I do not. Maybe I should be worried about class appropriation rather than cultural appropriation. Some dentist out in The Sunset District of San Francisco is still using metal caps on small children but that is not my territory and he is not my dentist. Maybe I'll need a cap someday and that will be my chance. "No thank you, I would not like the white enamel cap. I'd prefer the silver." I'll say. Still, I know that a silver cap on one of my canines would be hilarious and that I'll probably stop by "Mr. Bling Bling" on Geary St. one of these days just to see.
Thirdly, I'm considering dying my hair white blonde. Nothing more to say there. I think it's a great idea.
So, foof. I support it. Further, I would like to submit glasses as a possible example of foof. Yes, for most of us it is a practicality but I'm sure you all have noticed the advances in glasses fashion over the past year or so and would offer that many a fashion icon was made by his/her glasses. I would also like to submit to you a question: Is it okay to wear glasses solely as a fashion accessory? I've heard a lot of complaints from the 20/20 vision community lately and am wondering how people feel about their desire to get in on our, the poor-visioned community's, single proprietary fashion item.
Next time: poetry maybe. Maybe poetry. Okay, Jen? I hear you. I do.
Friday, July 10, 2009
BB
5/21/09
cacklepark
textbook case
mine very own mind things
up the rafters, sweeping for (dust) bunnies
have been moted, faced
de-moted: brush the D off your shoulders
knock the dust off your gambol and swagger
and the clods shall be kicked
shit-kicking boots that kick shit
out of ____ out of airs
and rally and rally and rally (now darling)
we'll have tea
time to sup
AW
5/21/09
Bring you now heavy
to the game (here we are) it is here
step here now and please now: this height is for jumping
and for plunge
LB
6/3/09
Extra tenderized by the making of tender
12 long hours garnering, waging, bringing in the D
and loving my fellow man
Make money and repeat, and repeat
Son, we'll turn that gold into hay
and roll in it
All I want is love
legally, tenderly, Jesus is calling
I make money
I'm like the mint
Go on, check my pockets
they're all full with lint
5/21/09
cacklepark
textbook case
mine very own mind things
up the rafters, sweeping for (dust) bunnies
have been moted, faced
de-moted: brush the D off your shoulders
knock the dust off your gambol and swagger
and the clods shall be kicked
shit-kicking boots that kick shit
out of ____ out of airs
and rally and rally and rally (now darling)
we'll have tea
time to sup
AW
5/21/09
Bring you now heavy
to the game (here we are) it is here
step here now and please now: this height is for jumping
and for plunge
LB
6/3/09
Extra tenderized by the making of tender
12 long hours garnering, waging, bringing in the D
and loving my fellow man
Make money and repeat, and repeat
Son, we'll turn that gold into hay
and roll in it
All I want is love
legally, tenderly, Jesus is calling
I make money
I'm like the mint
Go on, check my pockets
they're all full with lint
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Fashion
I want to speak to the great discussion of fashion that has emerged in blog-land this week but don't really know where to start. Laura Moriarty started it, Nada Gordon totally picked up the ball and rolled it like one half of a chinese medicine ball set and Brandon Brown grabbed that ball (the one he had in fact dropped originally) and punted it right into Barthes territory.
First off, I'm glad to see the pinball effect happening again in the blogs. That phenomenon always sets off a parallel of dings and thwacks in my head, which is usually a good thing.
Second, I love that the aforementioned all decided to articulate the compelling nature of the awry in fashion. There are so many corollations to draw: Brando's face before and after broken nose, uh, Adrian Brody's face with thrice broken nose, my love of men with fucked up teeth and color-blindness (pretty much any physical abnormality will do) to start. I was just rereading Dodie Bellamy's Barf Manifesto and she speaks to this very thing. I'll see if I can find the quote. Okay, so Dodie is speaking as Bridget Riley in one of Kevin Killian's plays in this quote,
"What we artists do [pause]-- what we great artists do is we work in mistakes to make a piece seem alive, to add energy. The tapestry makers of old Persia would put in a knot where it didn't belong, just to avoid competing with God. For only God is perfect. Except for myself naturally. I'm so glad you like my scarf, it was a present from [pause] Seurat. Love those dots."
Then Dodie goes on to describe her desire to encourage creative writing students to take risks in their writing compared with "Professor X". Dodie encouraged the "knots of mistake" while Professor X was full of "should nots". There are so many "should nots" in fashion that it can be difficult to distinguish them from the "knots" like Brandon's pearl necklace (still must see to believe), Laura's double scarf, my friend Persephone's dreaded (actually dread locked but also feared) Amy Whinehouse beehive, my hole-ridden everything, or Alli Warren's browns with blacks. Something goes awry and ushers the outfit into the sublime
[Also, I love the above quote because it reminds me of Laura Moriarty and her scarves. She really does wear two scarves sometimes and she totally rocks them both. I remember one day at SPD, Laura walked past me at my desk and stopped to show me how she had pegged her pants. I was sort of dumbstruck. Mostly I was just really impressed that she would take the time to do such a thing.]
But yeah, some times a thing is too pretty and you have to fuck it up or its too neat, or too composed. Maxwell Heller once said to me that I always include at least one thing (in my outfits) that will prevent me from being taken seriously. Substitute any aspect of my life into that parentheses and it works just as well.
Anyway, fashion. Let's hear about it. In the meantime, I have some recent ridiculous outfits to share. You're lucky I'm vain. Sorry no photo of yesterday's, Laura!
This was my birthday outfit this year. You can't tell in the photo but that tie is bright purple and it is a clip-on.
I don't know, this is just a good example of the ratty scarf and beenie phenomenon.
I call this look "The Mission Hipster" and no, I haven't worn those glasses out of the house and it is important to know that the sweater features goats with udders.
First off, I'm glad to see the pinball effect happening again in the blogs. That phenomenon always sets off a parallel of dings and thwacks in my head, which is usually a good thing.
Second, I love that the aforementioned all decided to articulate the compelling nature of the awry in fashion. There are so many corollations to draw: Brando's face before and after broken nose, uh, Adrian Brody's face with thrice broken nose, my love of men with fucked up teeth and color-blindness (pretty much any physical abnormality will do) to start. I was just rereading Dodie Bellamy's Barf Manifesto and she speaks to this very thing. I'll see if I can find the quote. Okay, so Dodie is speaking as Bridget Riley in one of Kevin Killian's plays in this quote,
"What we artists do [pause]-- what we great artists do is we work in mistakes to make a piece seem alive, to add energy. The tapestry makers of old Persia would put in a knot where it didn't belong, just to avoid competing with God. For only God is perfect. Except for myself naturally. I'm so glad you like my scarf, it was a present from [pause] Seurat. Love those dots."
Then Dodie goes on to describe her desire to encourage creative writing students to take risks in their writing compared with "Professor X". Dodie encouraged the "knots of mistake" while Professor X was full of "should nots". There are so many "should nots" in fashion that it can be difficult to distinguish them from the "knots" like Brandon's pearl necklace (still must see to believe), Laura's double scarf, my friend Persephone's dreaded (actually dread locked but also feared) Amy Whinehouse beehive, my hole-ridden everything, or Alli Warren's browns with blacks. Something goes awry and ushers the outfit into the sublime
[Also, I love the above quote because it reminds me of Laura Moriarty and her scarves. She really does wear two scarves sometimes and she totally rocks them both. I remember one day at SPD, Laura walked past me at my desk and stopped to show me how she had pegged her pants. I was sort of dumbstruck. Mostly I was just really impressed that she would take the time to do such a thing.]
But yeah, some times a thing is too pretty and you have to fuck it up or its too neat, or too composed. Maxwell Heller once said to me that I always include at least one thing (in my outfits) that will prevent me from being taken seriously. Substitute any aspect of my life into that parentheses and it works just as well.
Anyway, fashion. Let's hear about it. In the meantime, I have some recent ridiculous outfits to share. You're lucky I'm vain. Sorry no photo of yesterday's, Laura!
This was my birthday outfit this year. You can't tell in the photo but that tie is bright purple and it is a clip-on. 
I don't know, this is just a good example of the ratty scarf and beenie phenomenon.
I call this look "The Mission Hipster" and no, I haven't worn those glasses out of the house and it is important to know that the sweater features goats with udders.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
I'm Bloggin' That
This past Friday I went to San Franciso's own Funland brought to you by Cycle-Cide and brought to me by Cat or I was brought to it by Cat along with John and Matthew. You should check it out and go yourself. Here's some info. It's basically a punk theme park setup in a parking lot in Bayshore full of miniature golf holes made from scavenged bits and rides made from bike parts plus hotdogs and bands.
What is important, or at least most important to me, is that while visiting FunLand, we met the Mythical King of Scotland. His name is Kenny. Apparently the first Mythical King of Scotland's name was Kenneth and since the man we met is the second Mythical King of Scotland, that makes him Kenneth the 2nd or, Kenny.
Upon entering FunLand, this large bearded man with pig tails told John that he would like to socialize with him later. He approached us later, told John that it was time and introduced himself as The Mythical King of Scotland. A conversation about D&D between the male members of the group followed. Cat and I looked on until Kenny turned to me and asked, "What does D&D mean to you?"
To which I responded, " I like talking about how many charisma points people have."
Then The Mythical King of Scotland, speaking slowly and deliberately asked, "How many points does it take to score?"
and I said, "I don't know. I'll have to think about that."
"17?" he asked.
"Out of how many?" I wondered.
"Out of 20."
"Sure." I said.
"17 to score. 9 to flirt. If you only have 4 points you should probably stay home."
I concluded that this was a pretty good rubric. Then it got awkward and he eventually left.
What is important, or at least most important to me, is that while visiting FunLand, we met the Mythical King of Scotland. His name is Kenny. Apparently the first Mythical King of Scotland's name was Kenneth and since the man we met is the second Mythical King of Scotland, that makes him Kenneth the 2nd or, Kenny.
Upon entering FunLand, this large bearded man with pig tails told John that he would like to socialize with him later. He approached us later, told John that it was time and introduced himself as The Mythical King of Scotland. A conversation about D&D between the male members of the group followed. Cat and I looked on until Kenny turned to me and asked, "What does D&D mean to you?"
To which I responded, " I like talking about how many charisma points people have."
Then The Mythical King of Scotland, speaking slowly and deliberately asked, "How many points does it take to score?"
and I said, "I don't know. I'll have to think about that."
"17?" he asked.
"Out of how many?" I wondered.
"Out of 20."
"Sure." I said.
"17 to score. 9 to flirt. If you only have 4 points you should probably stay home."
I concluded that this was a pretty good rubric. Then it got awkward and he eventually left.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Two Country Songs
1.
I surely love you
wish that you loved me to
I just cain't help but do
which that you couldn't help it too
But wishes are for makin' on things that cain't come true
and hearts are for breakin' so I broke mine on you
I'm too tired too tired to fight
watch me sigh. I'll sigh all night
Wish I may and wish I might
have the wish I wish tonight
(repeat chorus)
(repeat first verse)
2.
He reminds me of me and I like myself
so I-like-him
He's a lot like me and I like myself
so I-like-him
Narcissists are just my kind and I can't get us off my mind
Some say love is hard to do but not when you are loving you
He's sweet and kind
has a dirty mouth
got a real high mind
but can think down south
and
He's got issues with his mom
and I got issues with my dad
Hell, I got issues with my mom
and he's got issues...with everyone
He reminds me of me
and I like myself
so I-like-him
Problem is he don't like himself
so he don't like me
Someone get this boy some self-esteem
cuz I think I could make a real good team
Someday he and I'll be sittin' in a tree
kissin' on eachother incestuously (co-dependently?)
I surely love you
wish that you loved me to
I just cain't help but do
which that you couldn't help it too
But wishes are for makin' on things that cain't come true
and hearts are for breakin' so I broke mine on you
I'm too tired too tired to fight
watch me sigh. I'll sigh all night
Wish I may and wish I might
have the wish I wish tonight
(repeat chorus)
(repeat first verse)
2.
He reminds me of me and I like myself
so I-like-him
He's a lot like me and I like myself
so I-like-him
Narcissists are just my kind and I can't get us off my mind
Some say love is hard to do but not when you are loving you
He's sweet and kind
has a dirty mouth
got a real high mind
but can think down south
and
He's got issues with his mom
and I got issues with my dad
Hell, I got issues with my mom
and he's got issues...with everyone
He reminds me of me
and I like myself
so I-like-him
Problem is he don't like himself
so he don't like me
Someone get this boy some self-esteem
cuz I think I could make a real good team
Someday he and I'll be sittin' in a tree
kissin' on eachother incestuously (co-dependently?)
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Slippery Bits
1. singles counseling
2. start chumping your change
3. bummer near-bone
4. i love everyone but maybe i don't love you.
is that going to be a problem?
5. tender fuckup. fender fuckup. tender bender.
6. "Hitler didn't kill himself; he had someone else do it because if you kill yourself then you can't go to Valhalla and I had no idea that Hitler was an Odinist."
7. Woman: Lickout below!
Man: Thar she blows!
8. "We should have a baby and name it Lolita."
9. jokes come from prison. they don't have anything better to do there. they make them there like license plates.
10. "You're just somebody that I used to know."
11. whoa-dang
12. Yo no soy marinero, soy capitan, soy capitan.
13. He reminds me of me/and I like myself/so I-like-him/problem is he don't like himself/so he don't-like-me
14. oh hey, how's it going?
15. "It sort of has that Mark by Mark look to it."
16. play catch up. play catsup. fake ketchup. play blood.
17. stuff n' things. stuff n' stuff. stuffin' things. stuffin' stuff.
18. rock n' roll is here to stay/well come on in now it's okay/ and i'll shake you
19. autoeratoharpist
20. i have loved to be featured on your internet
2. start chumping your change
3. bummer near-bone
4. i love everyone but maybe i don't love you.
is that going to be a problem?
5. tender fuckup. fender fuckup. tender bender.
6. "Hitler didn't kill himself; he had someone else do it because if you kill yourself then you can't go to Valhalla and I had no idea that Hitler was an Odinist."
7. Woman: Lickout below!
Man: Thar she blows!
8. "We should have a baby and name it Lolita."
9. jokes come from prison. they don't have anything better to do there. they make them there like license plates.
10. "You're just somebody that I used to know."
11. whoa-dang
12. Yo no soy marinero, soy capitan, soy capitan.
13. He reminds me of me/and I like myself/so I-like-him/problem is he don't like himself/so he don't-like-me
14. oh hey, how's it going?
15. "It sort of has that Mark by Mark look to it."
16. play catch up. play catsup. fake ketchup. play blood.
17. stuff n' things. stuff n' stuff. stuffin' things. stuffin' stuff.
18. rock n' roll is here to stay/well come on in now it's okay/ and i'll shake you
19. autoeratoharpist
20. i have loved to be featured on your internet
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