Saturday, June 13, 2009
Indeterminacy 85
I was on an English boat going from Siracusa in
Sicily to Tunis in North Africa. I had taken
the cheapest passage and it was a voyage of two
nights and one day. We were no sooner out
of the harbor than I found that in my class no
food was served. I sent a note to the captain
saying I’d like to change to another class.
He sent a note back saying I could not change
and, further, asking whether I had been vaccinated.
I wrote back that I had not been vaccinated
and that I didn’t intend to be. He wrote
back that unless I was vaccinated I would not be
permitted to disembark at Tunis. We had
meanwhile gotten into a terrific storm.
The waves were higher than the boat. It
was impossible to walk on the deck. The
correspondence between the captain and myself
continued in deadlock. In my last
note to him, I stated my firm intention
to get off his boat at the earliest
opportunity and without being vaccinated.
He then wrote back that I had been
vaccinated, and to prove it he
sent along a certificate with his signature.
- John Cage
3 Godfathers (1948)
Three outlaws on the run discover a dying woman and her baby, and they promise her to bring the infant to safety across the desert.
Yeah, it's very sentimental, but splendidly done. Good family entertainment for Christmas time.
The Shootist (1976)
A dying gunfighter spends his last days looking for a way to die with a minimum of pain and a maximum of dignity.
I've seen this movie quite often, and it's remarkable every time: a great swan song for the old time western and one of its greatest stars, who delivers one of his best roles ever.
The Falcon and the Snowman (1985)
The true story of a disillusioned military contractor employee and his drug pusher childhood friend who became walk-in spies for the Soviet Union.
An otherwise interesting story is treated mysteriously indifferent. It's not ever clear what the point's supposed to be.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Indeterminacy 149
Patsy Davenport heard my Folkways record. She said, “When the
story came about my asking you how you felt about Bach, I could
remember everything perfectly clearly, sharply, as though I were
living through it again. Tell me, what did you answer? How do
you feel about Bach?” I said I didn’t remember what I’d said —
that I’d been nonplused. Then, as usual, when the next day came,
I got to thinking. Giving up Beethoven, the emotional climaxes
and all, is fairly simple for an American. But giving up Bach
is more difficult. Bach’s music suggests order and glorifies for
those who hear it their regard for order, which in their lives
is expressed by daily jobs nine to five and the appliances with
which they surround themselves and which, when plugged in, God
willing, work. Some people say that art should be an
instance of order so that it will save them momentarily from
the chaos that they know is just around the corner. Jazz
is equivalent to Bach (steady beat, dependable motor), and
the love of Bach is generally coupled with the love of jazz.
Jazz is more seductive, less moralistic than Bach.
It popularizes the pleasures and pains of the physical life,
whereas Bach is close to church and all that. Knowing as
we do that so many jazz musicians stay up to all hours and even
take dope, we permit ourselves to become,
sympathetically at least, junkies and night owls ourselves:
by participation mystique. Giving up Bach, jazz,
and order is difficult. Patsy Davenport is right.
It’s a very serious question. For what if we do it
— give them up, that is — what do we have left?
- John Cage
The Perfect Storm (2000)
In the Fall of 1991, the "Andrea Gail" left Gloucester, Mass. and headed for the fishing grounds of the North Atlantic. Two weeks later, an event took place that had never occurred in recorded history: a giant storm.
The story is told presenting the crew of the ship as simple fisherman who become heroes. But the only true hero in this movie is the storm.
Amarcord (1973)
A year in the life of a small Italian coastal town in the nineteen-thirties, as is recalled by a director with a superstar's access to the resources of the Italian film industry and a piper's command over our imaginations.
Basically a typically meandering stream of anecdotes and images without a plot Fellini manages to create a phantasm of small-town Italy, frivolous, ribald, nostalgic, tragic and humorous all at the same time. Very enjoyable.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
A Song a Day
Dinosaur Jr. - Over It
Just had to share this clip, since it's from the new album which will be released in about 10 days. Can't wait till it arrives.
cannot make it here
im over it
ive been feeling weird
get over it
can i wind up free (?)
im over it
is there more to see
im over it
what else should i do?
if i run around for you
(?)
keep it coming (?)
cant escape the task
im over it
Just had to share this clip, since it's from the new album which will be released in about 10 days. Can't wait till it arrives.
cannot make it here
im over it
ive been feeling weird
get over it
can i wind up free (?)
im over it
is there more to see
im over it
what else should i do?
if i run around for you
(?)
keep it coming (?)
cant escape the task
im over it
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Indeterminacy 88
“Cultivate in yourself a grand similarity
with the chaos of the surrounding ether.
Unloose your mind and set your
spirit free. Be still as if
you had no soul.” These words come towards
the end of one of Kwang-tse’s stories
which, if I were asked, I
would say is my favorite. The Mists
of Chaos had spent much trouble trying to
come in contact with Chaos himself.
When he finally succeeded, he found
Chaos hopping about like a bird and
slapping his buttocks. He phrased
his question, which concerned the
nature of ultimate reality. Chaos
simply went on hopping and slapping his
buttocks and said, “I don’t know.
I don’t know.” On a second occasion,
the Mists of Chaos had at first just
as little satisfaction, but on
pressing Chaos, received the advice
I quoted. In gratitude,
he bowed ceremoniously, spoke
respectfully, and took his leave.
- John Cage
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