(incli)NATION

Reclaimed Lumber Bookshelf by Blankblank

Anything that makes me laugh out loud must be shared.

via Inhabitat

On Ugliness by Umberto Eco

Just read a great review of Eco's "On Ugliness" in the Telegraph. I confess a weakness for Eco's essays and fiction, but Brian Dillon pulls no punches in his attempt to put Eco into historical place. Worth the read, made me want ot read him again:

"By the Romantic period, the grotesque and the sublime were established as aesthetic categories, and the decadents of the late 19th century loved nothing more than a deathly consumptive countenance. In the wake of 20th-century avant-gardes, unadulterated beauty looks saccharine, immature or kitsch. We seduce only with our faults, wrote Baudrillard. Or as Johnny Rotten put it: there's nothing so boring as a pretty face."

read the rest after the jump HERE

Joan Didion and "Alienation from Self"

"If we do not respect ourselves … we are peculiarly in thrall to everyone we see, curiously determined to live out — since our self-image is untenable — their false notions of us. We flatter ourselves by thinking this compulsion to please others an attractive trait: a gist for imaginative empathy, evidence of our willingness to give. Of course I will play Francesca to your Paolo, Hellen Keller to anyone’s Annie Sullivan: no expectation is too misplaced, no role too ludicrous…

It is the phenomenon sometimes called “alienation from self.” In its advanced stages, we no longer answer the telephone, because someone might want something; that we could say no without drowning in self-reproach is an idea alien to this game. Every encounter demands too much, tears the nerves, drains the will, and the specter of something so small as an unanswered letter arouses such disproportionate guilt that answering it becomes out of the question. To assign unanswered letters their proper weight, to free us from the expectations of others, to give us back to ourselves — their lies the great, the singular power of self-respect. Without it, one eventually discovers the final turn of the screw: one runs away to find oneself, and finds no one at home."

--Joan Didion, Slouching Towards Bethlehem

via the excellent Maud Newton

Waiting; Roland Barthes

I am waiting for an arrival, a return, a promised sign. This can be futile, or immensely pathetic; in Erwartung (Waiting), a woman waits for her lover, at night, in the forest; I am waiting for no more than a telephone call, but the anxiety is the same. Everything is solemn; I have no sense of proportions.(...)
Waiting is enchantment: I have received orders not to move. Waiting for a telephone call is thereby woven out of tiny unavowable interdictions to infinity: I forbid myself to leave the room, to go to the toilet, even to telephone (to keep the line from being busy); I suffer torments if someone else telephones me (for the same reason); I madden myself by the thought that at a certain (imminent) hour I shall have to leave, thereby running the risk of missing the healing call, the return of the Mother. All these diversions which solicit me are so many wasted moments for waiting, so many impurities of anxiety. For the anxiety of waiting, in its pure state, requires that I be sitting in a chair within reach of the telephone, without doing anything.(...)

The being I am waiting for is not real. Like the mother's breast for the infant, "I create and re-create it over and over, starting from my capacity to love, starting from my need for it": the other comes here where I am waiting, here where I have already created him/her. And if the other does not come, I hallucinate the other: waiting is a delirium.... (more)

via the incomparable wood s lot

LA Times Fesitval of Books, 4/2007

This is the first time in 3 years I will not make it to the Festival of Books in LA. If you're in town don't miss it. My first year, I met George Plimpton at the Paris Reveiw booth who told me to, "keep writing." Wish I had had a picture phone at the time. He was as gracious and as kind as they said he would be. We miss you George:

"In the LA Times Festival of Books, the most read paper in town joins forces with the city's most respected school, bringing LA's bibliophiles together for a massive weekend of readings, signings, lectures, and sales. While there are plenty of serious discussions and A-list literary celebs for the high-minded, pop-culture junkies get their fix, as well, with an appearance by fashion icon and Project Runway superstar Tim Gunn, who shows up to sign his magnum opus, Tim Gunn: A Guide to Quality, Taste and Style, and answer questions for the fashionably challenged. (MEM)"

via Flavorpill.net

Join the NY Media Elite - FREE!

This is just so much dorky goodness that I have to post the full entry. From Kottke.com:

I might be shooting myself in the foot by posting this, but the table of contents for the newest issue of the New Yorker is usually available on Sunday on newyorker.com, the day before the issue hits the newsstands and arrives in subscriber mailboxes. All you need to do is hack the URL of the TOC from the previous Monday. Here's the URL for the April 23 TOC:

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/toc/2007/04/23/toc_20070416

"2007/04/23" is the date of the issue and "toc_20070416" refers to the date of the posting. This then is the URL for the April 30 issue:

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/toc/2007/04/30/toc_20070423

At right is the cover for tomorrow's issue, which includes Adam Gopnik's piece on the Virginia Tech shooting, a new piece by Atul Gawande, and Anthony Lane's review of Hot Fuzz. Monday's New Yorker on Sunday is usually only available to the select few of the Manhattan media elite who are sped their new issues hot off the presses. Now everyone can have a similar experience on the web.

Enjoy.

via kottke.org

No one belongs here more than you. Miranda July

Haven't read the book yet, but had to tell you about the website she put together. It is absolutely hilarious, and brilliant.

Check it out right now. Then go buy the book!

http://noonebelongsheremorethanyou.com/

Rare The Little Prince Drawing Discovered

"A rare, original illustration by The Little Prince author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry has been discovered in Japan. François d'Agey, the author's nephew, was among those at a media conference in Tokyo on Wednesday announcing the discovery.

"Seeing [the drawing] made me very happy," the 81-year-old d'Agey told the gathering of reporters.

The image depicts the businessman on the fourth star visited by the title character of Saint-Exupéry's beloved story. The man is so busy counting stars that he pays no attention to the philosophical little character.

The precious drawing is only the sixth discovered of the estimated 47 illustrations by Saint-Exupery (1900-1944). Most of the author's drawings are missing, officials said.

The drawing has been kept by Minoru Shibuya, head of the Ehon Museum Kiyosato in Hokuto, Yamanashi Prefecture, which displays the works of picture-book writers from around the world and who is said to not have realized the drawing's value (!).

via http://www.cbc.ca/arts/books/story/2007/04/04/little-prince-drawing.html

link http://maudnewton.com/

Bibliochaise for the Ultimate Reading List

You've finally settled on your ultimate reading list after culling through thousands of combinations and now you just need the time and place to read.

We can't help you with finding the time, but we've found the perfect place. The Bibliochaise by Nobody & Co. holds up to 5 linear meters of your favorite books. Just fill it up with the books on your list and start reading. When the shelves/chair are/is empty, repeat.

http://www.nobodyandco.it/

seen at http://www.rossanaorlandi.com/

Terry Eagleton on Raine's "TS Eliot"

Terry Eagleton flames Raine's new book, "TS Eliot". His review is a good primer on how history's custodians do their work.

TS Eliot by Craig Raine
(OUP, £12.99)

"For a good many decades, thick fumes of incense have been wafting from the English literary establishment in the general direction of TS Eliot. The latest offering by the acolytes to the high priest is this study by Craig Raine, which admits that some of Eliot's drama isn't up to much but otherwise won't hear a cross word about the great man. "There is no evidence," Raine piously remarks, "that Eliot was either a fornicator or a homosexual," as though being homosexual was a trespass to be vigorously rebutted. Eliot was not, he rashly maintains, a misogynist either, even though the poetry is shot through from end to end with a fear and loathing of women. He even seeks to face down the charge that this ascetic ex-bank clerk was a bit of a dry old stick, although Eliot himself admitted as much.

Why do critics feel a need to defend the authors they write on, like doting parents deaf to all criticism of their obnoxious children?"

To find out, read the rest HERE.

Heartfield versus Hitler: Hitler was No Surprise

"Willett's book Heartfield versus Hitler is an absolute refutation to the many who attempted to excuse their tolerance and/or support of Hitler's rise to power with the disingenuous claim:

'We did not know.'

As Heartfield's images from the 1930s make clear, Hitler's character and intentions were far from secret."

Link: John Heartfield.

Left, Hitler erzahlt Marchen
Hitler tells us a scary bedtime story

"Zu Hilfe, zu Hilfe, ich bin eingekreist!"
Help! Help! I'm surrounded via ::: wood s lot ::: "the fitful tracing of a portal".

and Wit

Perfect From Now On: John Sellers on Indie Rock

We are always interested in how critics and other like-minded folk attempt to contextualize slippery cultural objects like painting, television, quilts, and music, so this afternoon we will be picking up a copy of John Sellers' "Perfect From Now On". Has anyone knocked this off their list yet? If so, do share...

From Eric J Lawrence @ KCRW: "Spring has sprung, and while that might incline you to start thinking about outdoor activities, here are a few literary reasons to keep you in your favorite reading chair at least until beach weather.  “Perfect From Now On” is a cheeky memoir from journalist John Sellers about his discovery of 90s-era indie rock.  Despite a shameful lack of appreciation for The Fall, Sellers writes charmingly about his obsessions, especially as he describes his encounter with Guided By Voices during their farewell tour."

Is Not Magazine; AU

Is Not Magazine is an Australian magazine in the form of a 1.5m x 2m bill poster that goes on display at outdoor sites for everyone to read/scribble on. You can even fill in the crossword. It’s independently published and carries no ads. It’s as much a piece of street art as a publishing project.

For more info click here .

via Neatorama

Rip Torn Kicks Norman Mailer's Ass

I'm in the middle of reading Mailer's "Castle in the Clouds" [holding out judgement] and while googling the old man I ran across this:

On the set of the 1970 film Maidstone, Rip Torn assaults Norman Mailer with a hammer, and Mailer retaliates by biting off a piece of Torn's ear:

Who could we get to do the updated version? Eggers v. Foster Wallace? Whitehead v. Eugenides, Ha!

Some backstory:

Norman Mailer created a film in the late 60s called MAIDSTONE. He played the part of a famous movie director who is considering a run for the presidency. Rip Torn played his potential assassin. At the end of filming, Rip appeared to get a little too far into his role, and he attacked Mailer on camera with a hammer, drawing blood. Mailer retaliated by viciously biting into Torn's ear, drawing even more blood. This is the fight.

It's debatable how "surprised" that Mailer was by the attack, but it should be noted that he still had the camera crew hanging around and filming, the day after production had allegedly "ended" on the picture. However, the blood from both men is undeniably real, as are the horrified reactions of Mailer's children (his wife, on the other hand, seems to be overacting badly).

More backstory here.

[via iFilm.]

via Panpopticist

25 Years of Love & Rockets @ Fantagraphics, Seattle Saturday/Sunday

"Jaime and Gilbert Hernandez's Love & Rockets is the alternative comics success story of the 80's and 90's. If the publication of Zap #1 in 1967 "officially" marks the beginning of underground comix, the publication of Love & Rockets #1 in 1982 could be said to "officially" mark the beginning of the '80's comics renaissance clumsily called alternative comics.

"Both Gilbert and Jaime credit the punk rock explosion of the late '70's with broadening their horizons and leading them to reflect their personal experience in their comics.

"Fantagraphics began publishing Los Bros. in 1982. While the original Love & Rockets ended in 1996 with its 50th issue, popular demand caused the Bros. to revive the title five years later in a slightly different format, and it continues to be published every four months."

What:Original art from the punk-inspired indie comic classic.
Why: Puts Archie and Jughead to shame.
When: Reception with Los Bros Hernandez, Sat., 5-8 p.m.; panel discussion and book signing, Sun., 1-3 p.m.

via Fantagraphics Bookstore, 1201 S. Vale St., at Airport Way (206-658-0110).