WELCOME TO V. VALE’s RE/SEARCH NEWSLETTER #95, JULY 2010
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RE/SEARCH | 20 Romolo #B | San Francisco CA 94133 | 415.362.1465
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TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1. MESSAGE FROM YOUR EDITOR, V. VALE
2. Meditation Space
3. Counter Culture Hour with SINAN REVELL: 6 PM Pacific Time, Saturday June 12 – also simulcast on-line
4. FORTHCOMING EVENTS
5. What We’ve Attended/What We’ve Been Reading/Seeing
6. Moritz reports from Germany (Stephane von Stephane will reappear in future)
7. Recommended Links – send some!
8. QUOTES
9. Letters from Readers
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1. MESSAGE FROM YOUR EDITOR, V. VALE. Those readers who have actually read a number of RE/Search books have perhaps noticed that the books (for the most part) consist of interviews. Why? Well, it is our contention that interview books (as opposed to books by writers) offer the most “truth and wisdom” from interview subjects, and are less contrived and more spontaneous — hence more truly revelatory of the core essence and ideas of the person. (On the Internet, too many people construct and contrive “personas” to bamboozle, market to, seduce and deceive, say, prospective mates or “marks.”)
Our friend Karlo from Austria turned us on to the British writer PETER WATSON, and we intend to “check out” all of his books. For the moment we are enthralled by IDEAS: A History of Thought and Invention from Fire to Freud, an 822-page, 7.5×9.5″ hardback which we now consider an essential library reference book. Which is saying quite a lot. Watson has succinctly summarized hundreds of books, liberally quoted from them, and he is an excellent compiler, editor and a kind of philosopher in his own right.
Additionally, the British philosopher John Gray (the “favorite” philosopher of both J.G. Ballard, R.I.P., and Nassim Taleb) is quoted on the back cover: “Watson is refreshingly free from the cultural parochialism that still disables so much Western thought. Ranging freely across time and space, his survey includes some enlightening vignettes of Chinese and Indian thought, and he gives a useful account of Vedic traditions, in which human individuality is regarded as an illusion…”
One is always hoping to “discover” a new magisterial and revolutionary intelligence hitherto unknown, yet still alive on planet Earth. (On a daily basis we miss W.S. Burroughs & J.G. Ballard.) However, Watson’s “feet of clay” (he is, after all, an academic) were quickly revealed by a two-page NYTimes interview found online. We realized, sadly, that he is not a poet-philosopher (a kind of Aristotelian “ideal”) but more likely an excellent, encyclopedic “compiler” (rare enough, however, since he is possessed of a near-infinitely-ranging “gaze” upon the world’s history and culture). But, he possesses “blinders.”
A self-described ex-psychiatrist, Watson denounces the notion of the “unconscious” as virtually non-existent: “I don’t believe there is any such thing as the unconscious or the id.” But, we ask, where do poetry / aphorisms / epigrams come from? Poetry cannot be “logically” produced as by a machine; poetry just “appears” – coaxed to the surface of consciousness out of some deep reservoirs of memory and language likened to the very ocean itself. Sometimes poetry appears at the most inconvenient times, and thus is never recorded and disappears into the ether, perhaps forever.
Watson also virtually ignored that most revolutionary body of ideas produced under the aegis of “Surrealism”: Chance, Serendipity, Desire, Dreams, Mad Love, Objective Chance, Surrealist Games, Found Objects, Techniques like Decalcomania, the Cut-Up Method, Collage, Automatic Writing, Automatic Drawing, et al. However, at least he has produced a number of provocations. Two are hereby restated: 1) The 20th Century produced No New Ideas! 2) Modern Art Died with Andy Warhol… If those notions don’t spark some debate, then perhaps the reader already has one foot in the grave… – V. Vale
2. Visualize a large lake…
3. Counter Culture Hour - Sat July 10, 2010 – 6:00 PM PACIFIC TIME. (We hope to air this at its listed time this month. Due to a mix-up, the April’s show was reshown in May, so the intended May show was aired in June. Sorry for any confusion.)
SINAN REVELL, visual artist, photographer and vocalist of industrial pioneers SPK, discusses her career and the multicultural environment in which she was raised. The Counter Culture Hour is edited/produced by Marian Wallace; interview by V. Vale.
The Counter Culture Hour (aka RE/SEARCH TV) is also ON-LINE as well as on cable access San Francisco Channel 29 — 6pm Pacific Time, Sat April 10, 2010 ALSO on-line (simulcast) – at this link: http://72.47.201.244/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1881&Itemid=1801
You need a fairly decent internet connection and computer to “get it.”
USA west coast: 6:00 PM Saturday,July 10
USA east coast: 9:00 PM Saturday, July 10
London: 2:00 AM Sunday, July 10
Tokyo: 10:00 AM Sunday, June 10
ETC.
If you cannot get this online (we have heard some complaints about this), please write us to get a DVD copy.
Would you like to have a Counter Culture Hour showing in your town? Please write and ask us how you can do this. (write: info@researchpubs.com)
The new management of the Public Access Station is working towards having all shows available all the time in an archive, and we are looking into other hostings for the show, also as an audio MP3. Or, contact us for a DVD now!
4. FORTHCOMING EVENTS (San Francisco unless Otherwise Noted)
() $ NOW: Hypnodrome: Pearls Over Shanghai held over til Aug 1. For info see: www.thrillpeddlers.com
() $ NOW: Embarcadero Cinema, SF: MICMACS by Jean-Pierre Jeunet. Fans of Survival Research Laboratories (SRL) will immediately recognize the “shop” environment of the underground family who unite to launch a pranks campaign against France’s biggest arms manufacturers. This is a RE/Search-recommended “MUST SEE” film, beautifully accomplished – every frame seems a small gem – and there’s nothing like seeing a film on the large screen with super sound, especially one as gorgeously visually detailed as MICMACS. Support subversive filmmaking!
() $ Opening FRI JULY 9, 2010. Embarcadero Cinema, SF: THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE. Adaptation of best-selling novel by Swedish author Stieg Larsson; sequel to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (the film version, now playing at the Lumiere, is also recommended!) — part of the MILLENNIUM TRILOGY, a must-read, must-see set of novels & films. After reading the Steig Larsson MILLENNIUM TRILOGY, it seems not impossible the Author was Assassinated! “THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE reunites Noomi Rapace as Lisbeth, the troubled, wise-beyond-her-years genius hacker, along with Michael Nyqvist who again portrays Mikael Blomkvist, the crusading journalist cum amateur sleuth. This time, the pair investigates a suspected sex-trafficking operation with underage girls in Sweden.” 129 Minutes. Swedish with English subtitles. Today, why are novels & films more seditionary than books on “politics”?! BTW, another excellent novel with political content is Henning Mankell’s THE MAN FROM BEIJING. Excellent on Chinese-in-America history & What it’s like living in China, post Chairman Mao…
() $ Opening FRI July 9, 2010. Clay Theater, SF: WILD GRASS (104 min) – A film by Alain Resnais. Opens July 9 at the Clay In San Francisco; Shattuck in Berkeley; Sequoia Twin in Mill Valley; Camera 3 in San Jose. July 30 at Del Mar in Santa Cruz – This from the press release: “A wallet lost and found opens the door slightly to Georges and Marguerite’s romantic adventure. After examining the ID of its owner, it is not a simple matter for Georges to turn in the wallet he has found. Nor can Marguerite retrieve her wallet without being piqued with curiosity about the person who found it. As George and Marguerite navigate the social protocols of giving and acknowledging thanks, turbulence enters their everyday lives. WILD GRASS is based on the novel ‘L’incident’ by French novelist Christian Gailly. WILD GRASS, a Sony Pictures Classics release, runs 104 minutes, is in French with English subtitles, and is rated PG-13 for some thematic material and brief violent content. Resnais, while looking for a stage play to adapt, was attracted by the musicality of Gailly’s writing, as well as by the irrationality of the characters at the centre of the plot. Relying on his troupe of dependable actors – Sabine Azéma, André Dussollier, Anne Consigny, Emmanuelle Devos, Michel Vuillermoz and Mathieu Amalric – Resnais carves out a eccentric tale — really, a story of MAD LOVE. With WILD GRASS for which, he won the 2009 Cannes International Film Festival’s LifeTime Achievement Award, for his work and exceptional contribution to the history of cinema, Resnais proves, at 87, that he is at the peak of his form.”
() Friday, July 9 at 6:30 PM, and Saturday, July 10 at 6:30 pm: Sundance Kabuki Theatres, 1181 Post, Lobby: BEETLE QUEEN CONQUERS TOKYO, a film about Japan’s love affair with insects. IN PERSON: Jessica Oreck, Director of BEETLE QUEEN CONQUERS TOKYO, and the Insect Discovery Lab with a unique display of insects. 6:30 pm: Savenature.Org’s Insect Discovery Lab will be on hand Friday and Saturday night with a unique array of insects, including Australian sticks, Giant thorny phasmids, the Giant African millipedes, the Eastern lubber grasshoppers, Madagascar hissing cockroaches, darkling beetles, and a whip scorpion. 7:10 PM: Opening Remarks by filmmaker Jessica Oreck 7:15 PM Screening of BEETLE QUEEN CONQUERS TOKYO followed by Q and A
() FREE Sat July 10, 8:30pm, Submission Gallery, 2183 Mission St: SYMBOLS OF EVERYDAY LIFE through Object & Gesture. Bar, DJ, live performances, many artists! Show lasts through Aug 1.
() FREE Tues JULY 14th, 7pm. Book & Bookshelves. BOOK READING BY DUNCAN MCNAUGHTON, LAWRENCE KEARNEY. 99 Sanchez St, SF.
() $ THUR JULY 15,16,17,18: CASTRO Theater, SF: THE SILENT FILM FESTIVAL! We at RE/Search especially want to see the restored print of Fritz Lang’s METROPOLIS, playing Fri July 16 8:15pm! With live accompaniment by the Alloy Orchestra. But, Rotaie (7/16, 6pm. sounds interesting as well, as we are fans by F.W. Murnau’s haunting visual light-and-shadows style which reportedly influenced director Mario Camerini. For Full Info on this one-of-a-kind San Francisco Festival go to http://www.silentfilm.org
() FREE Fri JULY 16, Sat 7/17, Sun 7/18, 10-3pm. Extraordinary Garage Sale of Victorian/Edwardian taxidermy, furniture, antiques by a friend of ours, Tia Resleure who is being forcibly evicted after 20 years at same apt. 3 Phoenix Alley (tiny), off Pacific bet. Jones/Taylor. Buses: #12 and #10 go right by, stop 1/2 block away. #30, 45, 8X are close. #19, 47 aren’t too far away (you could then take the 10 or 12 up the hill). See more details at Tia’s website: http://www.acaseofcuriosities.com
() BERKELEY: FREE SAT July 17, Shipyard, 1010 Murray St, 6pm. Fun-Raiser for NeverWas Haul. A meta-steampunk event with $5 food/drink by Kimric Smythe of SRL and his cohorts. http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=128789153814059
() $ Opening Fri JULY 23, Embarcadero Cinema, SF: BREATHLESS 50th Anniversary Restoration of Godard’s Revolutionary Debut Movie. The new restored print of Godard’s “BREATHLESS” brings back the early ’60s Paris hipster mindset like nothing else, and makes Jean Seberg immortal as an amoral, faux-innocent siren as unfathomable as she is desirable. Great clothes; music; beautiful footage capturing Parisian streets, cafes and neighborhoods… See it and travel back in time…
() Fri Aug 6, 9pm – Elbo Room, SF: ZEROS (70s Punk band) plays! RE/Search hopes to be there!
5. What We’ve Attended/What We’ve Been Reading/Seeing/Listening to/What We’ve Been Sent
() Great New Andy Warhol Book from our friend Chris Trela: The Autobiography & Sex Life of Andy Warhol, chock-full of interviews with people who “knew” Warhol: You can’t buy press like this: http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=38768
Order from: www.trelamedia.com or andywarholsexlife.com
() Thur June 17 Went to SFMOMA to see the show curated by Chris Johanson: “Johanson, a key figure who emerged among San Francisco’s Mission School artists, returns to the Bay Area to launch his collaborative project with THE THING Quarterly. A periodical in the form of an object, THE THING commissions artist multiples that incorporate text. Each issue is kept secret until the date of release. Guests can purchase Johanson’s THING issue and put it to use while watching video projections of moonrises by Johanson and THE THING. The musical group The 17th & Capps (presented by Johanson, featuring Joe Goldring, Lara Allen, Wendy Farina, and Alex Oropeza) revisits its punk back catalogue, reinterpreted as American standards. Johanson also curates a video program documenting Bay Area performance art and San Francisco itself from the 1990s to the early 2000s. The evening begins in the Rooftop Garden with a floral-based menu from Blue Bottle Coffee Co. and Meatpaper magazine.” It was fun!
SFMOMA currently has one of its best exhibitions ever: “From Calder to Warhol,” with a beautiful hardbound catalog commemorating a spectacular recent donation to the museum: the 1,100-item art collection of GAP Founder Donald Fisher. A large number of works had never been seen in person before, such as Warhol’s portrait of Joseph Beuys in green camou background. It’s really a richly rewarding show to experience firsthand, especially the sculptures, works of Hans Richter (what a variety of styles!) and Chuck Close. Oh, and the surprising paintings by Agnes Martin and Lee Krasner…
() NEW Handmade 3-Hour FILM made by Andre Perkowski: NOVA EXPRESS: “An ambitious project by a young filmmaker, consisting of powerful, penetrating clips and images of a variety of themes, including old science fiction and noir films, science documentaries, and protest footage, among others, set to various sound clips and readings of William S. Burroughs’s writings. The atmosphere of the film is notably consistent and rich, with fairly smooth transitions, and the film’s minimalistic score fits with the ambiance of the film perfectly. The contrast of visual themes is often effective, with the more mundane segments accentuating the intensity of both the stranger and more aggressive ones. The sequences taken from educational films fit particularly nicely with the more transgressive passages, and the emphasis on the scientific perspective results in a cold, alien feeling in relation to the subjects of the film in the more provocative scenes. The soundbites are a highlight, occasionally making images that might otherwise be forgettable feel particularly unsettling.” – Bryce
() REVIEWS by MAYA RIEBEL, McGill University, Canada:
() COCO & IGOR (Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky) A film about the short-lived passionate affair between the iconic designer and the seething composer. Additionally, to a fantastic use of Stravinsky’s music to drive the plot, the cinematography yields many amazing shots, notably a powerful opening sequence, in which the musical cacophony is matched by the indignant chaos in the Parisian audience. The camera effectively haunts the darkened hallways and chambers of Coco’s country manor, mirroring the movie’s attempt to sound the psychological depths of the two protagonists. While some may be surprised by the explicit love scenes, they serve the necessary purpose of establishing Coco’s exploitative designs on Igor. One might regret the tendency to harp on the obvious “passion-music” link, but the retro experience will remain enjoyable to those who appreciate a more European-style slow pacing. — Maya Riebel
() IT CAME FROM KUCHAR by Jennifer Kroot
This movie about the Kuchar filmmaking twins is director Jennifer M. Kroot’s love child, for she is one of George’s former students. She met Mike later and he quickly became an integral part of the film, thereby steering the picture into a joined biographical endeavor. The movie attempts to give an overall account of the brothers’ paths, beginning with their early childhood, spent making short 8mm films in the Bronx and watching movies in air-conditioned theaters, and following with their progressive individual divergences as artists, and their methods of creating the now iconic B-movies for which they became famous.
The movie may appear a bit disjointed; this is mostly because of its ambition in scope. Kroot wants to tell the entire story of not one, but two individuals, covering their personal as well as artistic lives. Furthermore, the film is interspersed with interviews from numerous acquaintances and plenty of delightful excerpts from their films. It is a fond general overview, so do not expect any in-depth studies of their work; that is not the goal of this movie. If you have never heard of the Kuchar brothers or know very little, this film is a perfect introduction. Speaking of which, the opening graphic sequence is darling and gives the audience an accurate taste for what is to come (if the title hadn’t tipped you off already).
Then there is the question of the films themselves. Many will scoff at these B movies and see nothing to praise, besides the obvious love and soul put into them. To be sure, they are figuratively amateurish, using very basic materials, obvious costumes, props and highly exaggerated makeup. In fact, everything is exaggerated: the movies are the fantastical reflections of mainstream films the Kuchars had seen, stretched to accommodate extra drama. In many ways, they are extraordinary, hilarious parodies, and yet they are totally sober in their desire to tell a good story. One thing you can say about the Kuchars: they went “all out” with whatever little means they had. Essentially, the films have always remained what they started out as: simply children’s fantasies made with enthusiasm, passion and tons of creativity. While George has worked on a few bigger, more Hollywood-type films, one gets the feeling that neither of the twins would be well-suited to that environment. They are meant for the smaller-scale, craft-driven scene.
In the end, It Came From Kuchar is a sweet, personal take on two artists who had a lot of influence on many other artists (including John Waters), and on the history of American cinema. This film will no doubt divide the movie-goers into those who thought of it as exalting the mediocre work of emotionally immature amateurs, and those who thought of it as a look into the artistic life of two very idiosyncratic individuals. Whether they never grew out of their childhood hobby, or whether they have no desire to and are comfortable in the a-professional aspect of film, is for the audience to decide. Love it or hate it, either way, we highly recommend this movie as a wacky introduction to the bizarre world of B Cult movies. — Maya Riebel
() MIKE KUCHAR’S MEDUSA’S GAZE (sic)
To be perfectly frank, this had us a little perplexed. Is it parody, or is its tone one of serious introspection? In the first scene, a very slim young man stands in front of a window, framed by morning light as he “swooshes” the white, translucent curtains to and fro from his body. In another, he writhes on a bed. In yet another unforgettable scene, he bends over a sink, spitting dark red liquid – blood – into it, the camera aiming up between his legs, achieving a low-angle scrotal close-up. He is stark naked for the whole film, offering a very frank and unassuming nudity. He also narrates a poem, providing a mystical voice-over for the duration of the short. While occasionally provoking the sound of shocked laughter, the film’s intention seemed grave enough, and all was done with utmost sincerity… — Maya Riebel
() MICMACS by Jean-Pierre Jeunet (contains spoilers, so beware)
Great cinematography – Jeunet makes good use of color as usual. Whereas in “Amelie” he privileged bright colors such as red and green, in this movie the overarching color scheme approaches a sepia tone. The use of the actual micmacs, and Jeunet’s now standard quirky characters give the appearance of originality to the picture…
The plot itself of the movie is classic: Boy’s father dies, is left an orphan. Boy grows up to be an outsider, after a couple of misfortunes that take on the guise of Fate. Man happens across his father’s killers, decides to avenge his father. Man meets a jolly band of other outsiders, who adopt him, and so he finds a new family. They help him take revenge. And – of course – no movie is complete without some love storyline, which, by the way, seemed almost plopped down into the movie & was hardly developed at all, as if the screenwriter(s) were merely fulfilling the automatic need for it…
[The plot also made me ponder the common trope of the “band of outsiders” which has appeared in so many works of literature and film: Peter Pan, “Lost Boys,” Robin Hood, The Outsiders (duh!), any place you find some sort of “underground people”, etc.]
I also liked the use of outside sets. It seems as though everything was filmed in the areas close to Paris, or IN Paris, and yet you never feel it while watching the movie – you never really realize that everything is in Paris, unless you recognize the architecture, the streets, or spot the Eiffel Tower in a couple of panoramic shots. The end result, through a clever use of setting, is a sense of exoticism in an otherwise very familiar place.
See the more explicit end-sequence in which the protagonists trick the bad guy CEOs into thinking they are in the Middle East, when really, they’re just outside Paris in some construction site. What a show! [To compare and contrast with “Amelie,” that movie was very Paris-centric, even using some of the city’s better-known landmarks to drive the plot. This movie, by contrast, could have been in any other big city without losing its charm.]
A very enjoyable movie! — Maya Riebel
() July 7, SF Main Library: Diane Di Prima read from Volume 2 of her Autobiography as part of Michelle Tea’s RADAR Series.
() FROM BRYCE: Pictures That Tick by Dave McKean. A collection of narratives told in graphic novel format, via a variety of penetrating visual styles.
() Philip H. Farber sent us his THE GREAT PURPLE HOO-HA: A Comedy of Perception, Parts 1-2. Started reading it and was surprised at how pleasurable the fantastical narration quickly became — at least to a male reader! This critique of the celebrity “process” and the possibly deleterious effects of interactive, submersive modern media is almost effortless in its depiction of, well, contemporary life in New York City…
() Saw Andy Warhol’s nominal-documentary improv-theater masterpiece, “The Chelsea Girls,” last night at SFMOMA- 3 hours, 20 minutes, no break! Like no other medium, film can capture “life” – especially when Andy Warhol’s behind the camera. Was it his intention to incorporate boredom in order to provoke reflection and thought from his viewers – in other words, was boredom his GOAL?! Warhol perfectly captured the transition era between the psychedelic “hippie movement” sixties and what preceded it, by the simple device of showing the elaborate hairdos vs. the long, “natural” styles. Loved the gorgeous smiles of International Velvet and, of course, the long “genius” narrative improv of Eric Emerson…Each time a 30-minute reel ended it felt like somebody had just died…
() REVIEW OF TOSHIO SAEKI’s ONIKAGE (DEMON SHADOW), featuring a selection of Saeki’s works that have never been published before. Last Gasp of San Francisco brought this into the world: “A transgressive take on the traditional Japanese “floating world erotica” style, lovingly drawn. Of particular note are the beautiful overlays. This oversized hardback production contains the stuff of erotic nightmares of extreme fetishes, whose redeeming value is assured by the gorgeous technique and artistry. The most extreme fears and paranoias are unblinkingly depicted. Virtually every conceivable taboo has been breached; even the most outlier fantasies are wondrously depicted. This 12 x 15 inch red hardback belongs in the rare book libraries of the most discerning collectors worldwide. It’s a sumptuous production which is too extreme to disappoint even the most jaded bibliophile…
6. REVIEWS BY: MORITZ from Germany
() REVIEW: The Tivoli vs. Cabaret Voltaire: National Service Rewind
“There is a new release out under the moniker The Tivoli vs. Cabaret Voltaire (see RE/Search #6/7: Industrial Culture Handbook). Upon closer scrutiny one finds that this is a follow-up to The Tivoli’s 2009 album “National Service.” Richard H. Kirk remixed four songs from the Indie Rock album and turned them into dubby IDM tracks. The repetitive patterns of most of the tunes fortunately don’t lack texture and by that have the power to develop through each song despite the reduced lyrics. To give room for that development, the average track duration lies well over seven minutes. There are also two tracks that were not on “National Service.” Considering the facts that Cabaret Voltaire has been out of “the business” for decades and that Richard Kirk is the only Cabaret Voltaire member that contributed to this release named “National Service Rewind”, the obvious question is: Is there any connection to Cabaret Voltaire as it was known either in the late 70s or the early 80s? The answer is: There are few similarities. The track “Pawns On The Fence” reminded me a bit of mid-80s CV, but in the end the whole release shouldn’t be approached with CV-EBM or even Industrial expectations. Still – whoever is into electro might want to check it out.” — Moritz
() REVIEW: Hydroze Plus
“Jim Thirlwell remains VERY productive. His latest project is Hydroze Plus. On that he worked together with Fred Bigot (aka Electronicat). Contrary to my expectations most of the instrumentation on their self-named debut 10″ was done by Bigot. He produced a slow and minimal electronic sound with some glitch effects which proves perfect to bring out the crouching, maybe seducive, definitely sinister side of Thirlwell’s voice. The disc carries four tracks, two of which are remixes of the others. The remixes were done by Bigot and Thirlwell respectively but they can pretty much be seen as separate pieces in their own right. It wouldn’t be a Thirlwell release if it was “only” music. Of course this vinyl has stand-out artwork. As the disc is transparent, Thirlwell tried to benefit from that and came to what is some kind of a three-layer anatomy of the human eye with the center label being the eyeball. It’s hard to describe, so it’s kind of sad that only 500 persons will enjoy the pleasure of owning a copy of that holistic piece of art. But as for the music, somewhere there was some talk about a digital future release (just in case there is anybody who cares about ones and zeros.) Link: http://www.optical-sound.com/ ” — Moritz
() from Nina: “The totally neat-o Russian warship that’s docked at Fisherman’s wharf is giving tours” – http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/06/21/BAVP1E2O3N.DTL
() Weird YouTube video:http://blip.tv/file/get/Tpmtv-ExcerptsFromASelfProducedVideoByAllegedHutareeMemberKri292.mov
7. RECOMMENDED LINKS (send some!)
() from Amy Jenkins: SRL in Queens Museum: http://archive.srl.org/2010/05/28/srl-the-curse-of-big/
() From Moritz: “Hey Vale. Here is a little tidbit on the human rights for apes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_Rights#June_2008:_Spain_passes_rights_resolution_for_non-human_primates
- And here is the Atom Blasters video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1iXGjmLya0
- The notes say the documentary is called “True Gore” but taken from a VHS called “Super Junk”. Neither title returned a result on my preferred 18+ video importer. But imdb has info on True Gore (1987): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0348253/ Do you know that movie?? (A film by Monte Cazazza)
() From JPM:http://books.google.com/books?id=Loulao8hWM8C&dq=The+Heebie-Jeebies+at+CBGB&printsec=frontcover&source=bn&hl=en&ei=8aIyTPSeKpXmnQeyo9T2Aw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CC4Q6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=The%20Heebie-Jeebies%20at%20CBGB&f=false
() From PhilG: The Agony and the Ecstasy of Phil Spector – documentary
reviews: http://www.villagevoice.com/2010-06-29/film/the-agony-and-the-ecstasy-of-phil-spector-pop-mastermind-and-raging-ego?src=newsletter - http://movies.nytimes.com/2010/06/30/movies/30agony.html – http://beta.wnyc.org/shows/lopate/2010/jun/30/agony-and-ecstasy-phil-spector/
“I’d like to have a nickel for every joint Brian Wilson smoked trying to figure out how I got the ‘Be My Baby’ sound.” – Spector
() http://www.glatz.com/blog/subverse-documentaries-disquised-cheesy-comedies
() From Bryce:
() Anarchy Archives – Classical left-anarchist texts, available free: http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/
() CATcerto – symphonic performance around piece by piano-playing cat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeoT66v4EHg
() Children’s critique of Christianity: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zAXCrpfXXw
() DIY or DIE: How to Survive as an Independent Artist. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDE5vvs1WxY - Documentary on various independent artists in the United States. Available free on YouTube, in 8 parts – provided by director (links to rest of film in side bar and video description). Features interviews with Lydia Lunch, Ian MacKaye, J Mascis, JG Thirlwell, Mike Watt, Ron Asheton and others. DVD also available on film’s website.
() Incredible stop motion street art video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuGaqLT-gO4
() John Waters on dating & his favorite music – a friend just posted this on facebook http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbSRQUuLE2c
() from Graeme Rae: “Just finishing up reading a fairly interesting book you may be interested in, Spam Kings: http://www.amazon.com/Spam-Kings-High-Rolling-Hucksters-Enlargements/dp/0596007329/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1277690239&sr=8-1 — About the sleazy and strange characters who send out spam emails in America, and the sometimes odd anti-spammers who combat them. Certainly dispelled some of the illusions and stereotypes I had about shady Russian mafia or crazy African spammers! As somebody who sends (non-spam) bulk emails yourself, I’m sure you will find it illuminating if you haven’t already read it. Cheers, G.”
() http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euXQbZDwV0w
() article on Brion Gysin in NYT: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/27/arts/design/27gysin.html?
scp=1&sq=&st=nyt
() Save Your Eyes w/Nutrients: http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/Jul10/sight0710.htm
() from Chris Farris, conceptual artist of 1 Columbus Ave, SF: “Here’s that Throbbing Gristle video I told you about at the Space Between Gallery opening the other day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjatUNc7YuQ
() from Ian Webster: “Goat Fluffer: Eve Bekker (ex-Carolina Rainbow, Ugly Stick) – Melanie DiGiovanni (ex-Catheads) – Rachel Thoele (ex-Sex is a Witch, currently bass player for Flipper) – Rachel Huana. Possible gig at the Stork Club (Oakland) in September - http://www.facebook.com/pages/GOAT-FLUFFER/254090362440 - http://www.myspace.com/goatfluffer
() Greenpeace claims and takes credit for the reported fact that Nestles company has actually stopped cutting down rainforests — Let’s hope so! They’re still on the streets soliciting donations to spread the saving of the rainforests. http://www.greenpeace.org
() Walking iPad robot (?): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yL9CTazNujE
() from Bellina Chan: “This is another flick you must not miss. The film won Un Certain Regard at Cannes in 2009. The trailer is here: http://www.spike.com/video/kynodontas-dogtooth/3185688
8. QUOTES
The below are from Vale’s “tweets” on twitter.com – follow vale’s twitter account: “valeREsearch”
() “THE BATHTUB: An Underrated Luxury Zone of Solitude…”
() CAT HAIKU: “Don’t try cutting claws / While I’m asleep, dreaming / I hide my claws well.”
() THE BATHTUB: An Underrated Source of Solitude: Regrouping, Reintegration, Refreshening, Reassessment, Recollection, Reevaluation, & Renewal
() “OUTSIDERS: Malcolm de Chazal. Georg Christoph Lichtenberg. Lieh-Tzu. Baltasar Gracian. Fernando Pessoa. Anna Kavan. Groucho Marx.”
() “After you have a Pig as a Pet, It’s Very Hard to Ever Eat Bacon Again.
() CAT HAIKU: “I won’t eat that food / No meat? – That’s not My Problem / Cat Kibble is Gross!”
() ASSAULT ON OUR SENSES: What the World Gives Us. THE CURE: SOLITUDE TIME EVERY MORNING – Get Up at 5AM If You Have To! NO INPUT, NO MEDIA!
() San Francisco’s General Strike, which began May 9, 1934: VIDEO PART 2: http://www.flickr.com/photos/32912172@N00/2666313912/
9) San Francisco’s General Strike, which began May 9, 1934: VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dku-MFnIxaU
() 1648 Treatise of Westphalia. 1688 English Revolution. 1751 Encylopedia. 1776 Decl, of Independence. 1789 French Revolution. Paris May ’68.
() CENTURY OF LIGHT: Montesquieu, Voltaire, Ben Franklin, Rousseau, Diderot, D’Alembert, Adam Smith, Kant, Beaumarchais, Thomas Jefferson.
() “The historical, invisible bottom line of the 3 major religions (Xtianity, Islam, Judaism) is: ‘BELIEVE AS I DO OR I WILL KILL YOU.”-Gracian
() David Byrne’s BICYCLE DIARIES – Best writing by him yet. Multi-dimensional travel writing that eclectically examines ideas, values, ethics.
() WHY FREUD IS VALUABLE: Dream Theories. Unconscious. Civilization & Its Discontents. Freudian Slip. Sex. Motivation Case Studies. His style.
() The PERFECT CEO: A Psychopath so clever no one can penetrate his disguise…”
() “If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they’ll kill you.” – Oscar Wilde
9. Letters from Our Readers:
() “Hi Vale, After one of our stimulating conversations at your place, I walked over to City Lights to hear a couple of surrealist/sci fi poets. Here is my review: Andrew Joron and Will Alexander at City Lights, June 16, 2010
“There were a couple of surrealist/sci fi writers at City Lights, each one with a hyper-intelligence: Andrew Joron and Will Alexander. The latter has a book of essays called “Towards the Primeval Lightning Field”, and poetic works like “Exobiology as Goddess”, and “Above the Human Nerve Domain.” The upstairs poetry room was crowded so I listened to Will Alexander without seeing him – I was on the stairs. The piece he read was rather long and undramatic, but with a sci fi mentality. Afterward he was talking to some people and mentioned Philip Lamantia as one of his mentors.
“Andrew Joron has lines like “My flag is the / Utility of my rag, the / shadow-totality of my flesh.” He imagines someone who is “dedicated to communism / but eaten away by music.” I managed to get a seat for his reading, a man in his 50’s with a lively intellectual curiosity. He has a quiet approach and read a few poetic pieces. He is published by City Lights (“Trance Archive”), and has a book called “The Cry at Zero” which I was looking at afterward – some highly distilled musings for typographic brainwave connoisseurs. – Steven Gray”
() from Ian Webster: “Vale, Tobias has been busy booking gigs for Negative Trend. They will be playing the Submission on July 24th with the Lewd, Battalion of Saints, Grannies, and Nihilist Cunts. On the 29th of July they will be playing the Bottom of the Hill with the Hashishins, and on August 7th they will be on the same bill with Eric McFadden and some other bands that Tobias could not recall at that moment. It appears that on August 21st there might be a gig at the Submission with the Mutants but Fritz wasn’t certain that everyone would be in town and so that date remains tentative.”
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JULY 2010 RE/Search eNewsletter written by V. Vale & other contributors. Newsletter and website powered by http://www.laughingsquid.com.
DISCLAIMER : If you’re receiving V. VALE’s newsletter, it’s because you **or someone you know** has sent your address to us, or signed our mailing list at an event!
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