October 30, 2006
Jandek in Queen Anne
On Friday, John and David Totten and I went to see Jandek's first performance in Seattle. Here is what I have to say about it:
1. If it dresses like a bluesman, it probably is a bluesman; the stranger concurs.
2. The feeling that all is about to disintegrate and yet remarkably does not lasted the entire set.
3. Jandek's shows are, apparently, always entirely new material. Consequently, the set was a particular work of art in its own right.
4. He didn't say a word other than those which he sung.
5. I do not know why I like this music, but I do.
6. Thus, the entire experience was remarkable.
7. This video from his first show gives you some idea, tho his hat was pulled even lower, and there were two female vocalists at the show on Friday.
October 22, 2006
Overtime
Why, Pittsburgh? Why? I'm supposed to be relaxing during a football game.
On a more academic note, British intellectual about town Terry Eagleton gives a surprising critique of Richard Dawkins's book The God Delusion. This is exactly the kind of thinking needed by the theologically minded and secular alike, particularly when religious beliefs of all kind continue to be an active force in shaping the world. One can be rigorous and demanding of religious ideas without slipping into either wishy-washy relativism or total dismissal. Eagleton here gives voice to a growing reassessment of the possibilities of religious thought among intellectuals, including (among the more notable) Badiou and Zizek.
October 19, 2006
At Last
So if I protect my microwave from microwaves by wrapping it in the new invisibility cloak, will it still cook my burrito? Or will my burrito come out invisible? And would that be a good or bad thing?
October 16, 2006
New Issue
Check out the newest issue of The Other Journal, on faith and the environment.
Scott Sammons drives an electric!
Aaron Ducat on Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close!
Yours truly tackles the big Slovene!
And much more!
October 12, 2006
Not Impressive
The Pittsburgh Steelers, if you have not already noticed, are 1-3. Not a championship record, by anyone's account. I was looking for the muscular demonstration of power to help dispel rumors of illegitimate super bowl rings. I wanted to see touchdowns. I wanted to see completed passes. I wanted to see victory.
Alas, we have a difficult path ahead of us.
On a happier note, the UW Huskies are showing up in an entirely unexpected fashion, including some great wins to put them at 4-2, more wins than they racked up all of last season. Capria and I will be at the Oregon game on Saturday. I will not be wearing purple, simply because I own nothing purple.
October 05, 2006
Manual Work as Life of the Mind
"Shopclass as Soul Craft" is a great article on the intellectual merits of skilled labor. The author parallels the movements of postindustrial capitalism, which he claims is generating a rote "clerk class," with the rise of the assembly line 100 years ago. Essentially, assembly lines took the mind out of shop work, making it so that any able bodied individual could be plugged in at a much lower cost. Consequently, the cultural attitude was adopted that white coller work was the place for the thinking person: creative, intellectual, thoughtful work. Crawford argues that the same process of "de-intellectualizing" is happening in global capitalism: now, white coller work is being done by scriveners who punch numbers, not solve problems.
The argument made in the paper is that, although this may seem counterintuitive, skilled trades, like carpentry, electrical work, mechanics, etc., are becoming the last bastion of truly integrated, creative, and intellectual everyday work. Thus, he concludes, educators shouldn't look over these careers for students who are looking for a more meaningful and less alienated work experience.
The paper is much more savvy and nuanced than this summary, so take the time to read it.
October 04, 2006
That Boy Wizard
I guess this mother misunderstood banned book week to mean that we should go after more decrepit titles. And, while were at it, let's make sure all the non-evil ones are in English.