----- Original Message -----
From: "ccjones" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: 31 January 2002 02:50
Subject: respect for english
Most has been said, and better than I would have managed, I suspect.
There are other imperialisms.
One is tired and used up, now meaningless language
"Discourse is a site of
struggle."
sounds a bit familiar
"some self appointed judge" was screamed at me, as it happens, just after I
suggested it would be a good idea for her to get a child out of the path of
a tram
do you prefer officially appointed judges?
I once took instruction from Jehovah's Witnesses (they didn't know what I
was studying) whose favourite phrase "These self-appointed professors"....
which they were not. They varied that with "These so-called professors", but
they *were called professors
Not all judges make bad judgements all the time
We all use tired language. "We all use" is one; "tired language" is another.
We have to use recycled language; but be careful of what sneaksin with it at
key points
Another is bad logic... and you seem to be on the edge of saying any old
struggle will do
You say _Artaud wrote something like: creation is an act of war._
Well, I hear what he says. I won't say he's wrong; but we need to say a
little more. I mean: always? and in equal measure?
Quoting isn't enough.
_ To create poetry
Artaud smashes language. _ from wch it does not follow that smashing
language creates poetry
_ It is a violent act. It is a political act._ from which it does not follow
that a violent act is a political act_ although it will always have
political implications
_ To take
responsibility and smash racism, sexism, homophobia, class oppression._
Now I like sentences like that in poems, but not in discussion. I can't help
feeling there's a bit missing. What follows? "Read a few books and shout"
perhaps
If, however, it is exclamation of aspiration, I may well agree with you. It
depends on what you mean by _smash_ It's a tired out metaphor and always
was doubtful
It doesn't work like that.
"Language is not innocent."
I spent a lot of time resisting a virus called "Belief in the fall" and I am
not going to pick it up here.
I won't argue by saying "Yes, it is". I have a problem with "innocent"
anyway after the mass suggestion that all killed in the Pentagon were
innocent
Instead I'll suggest to you that "Language is not innocent." is a category
error
" Language, in this case English, is not a nature,
even an artificial nature, to be molded as if a docile medium by the artist,
the poet, the writer."
I'm afraid it *is a nature
No nature is to be molded
They all react
| many joyous times
yeh, ban the bomb
L
|