Brilliant! I loved it. Somehow I would have left off the last verse - too
declarative and out of 'mood' with the above. (I am anti tidy endings
because they invariably colour what has gone before one way or the other -
but not the reader's way.)
But it's the Hit of the Week, as far as I'm concerned ...
Andrew
On 25 September 2014 02:30, Lawrence Upton <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Well, as before, I am grateful for such a close reader... I don't have a
> tv. Haven't had one for over ten years and haven't seen much in 20.
> Sometimes I may see something on my laptop, but I have the sound turned
> down - you see a lot you wouldnt see otherwise without the sound! Yes, I
> get my knowledge of what's going on from the web but more from BBC World
> Service and Radio 4. Verbal. Still photos. Or when I look out the window
> and the wind's blowing and moving things.
>
>
> Some of the things in this piece, the events I mean, are made up, gestural
> things, there's a bit where a woman turns her head and her hair moves
> forwards... One sees that all the time both with friends and intimates and
> people passing in the street
>
>
> The last lines are not quotes for instance. Just made up. I don't doubt
> someone has said them, but I made them up based on other things people have
> said; but wrote them off the top of my head. Or so I believe. I've been
> writing this for nearly 20 years! On and off, you know. Those lines were
> much as they are ten years ago.
>
>
> Some of the writing came, I believe, from an issue of the Cotton Traders
> catalogue - that or some other clothing catalogue. You can spot that -
> colours, fabrics etc. I've got a piece I'm performing with Benedict Taylor,
> next month, my voice and his viola, where counting comes in and out of the
> text, but such short outtakes from such a long list of numbers that it may
> seem random.
>
>
> May be random.
>
>
> I'd like to consider the possibility that the voice changes. Can't say
> how. Can't say more or less anything. To try to explain I'd like to go back
> to that idea of editing film, cutting one section against another.
>
>
> Obviously (?) it's not another Dziga Vertov idea - I think I referred to
> him before. But important as he is to me, there's no point in just doing
> the same thing again and again; but it's in that territory. What you can
> achieve by cutting a text as if it were audio tape.
>
>
> Once that idea is there one doesn't an original continuity to cut.
>
>
> Originally the piece was called Montage. Then I thought it ought to be
> Conceptual Montage. Then I thought that is not the subject. What's the
> subject?
>
>
> Laughter.
>
>
> Maybe I'll stop now. I don't know if any of that is any use. I didn't
> really think about it till you asked. Or rather I may have had a different
> explanation on the tip of my notional tongue. Ive just responded with this
> as if I'm chatting
>
>
> thanks so much
>
>
> best
>
>
> L
>
>
>
>
>
> On 24 September 2014 16:57, Doug Barbour <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > Phew, Lawrence.
> >
> > I began reading & wasnt sure ow to respond. It seemed, that early part,
> so
> > distanced & cool, not partaking of any of the many things/events
> described.
> > But it builds, & that voice of no one while mostly staying firm in its
> > declining any real interest does get involved,& so the build up, the
> > accumulation of images (mostly from TV or the web?) savages the reader,
> > despite or almost because of that refusal to emote, or so it felt to
> me...
> >
> > Doug
> > On Sep 24, 2014, at 6:25 AM, Lawrence Upton <[log in to unmask]>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > a square of denim, squareness imposed
> > >
> > > by the photograph containing its image,
> > >
> > > buttons done up; head level, tapering into
> > >
> > > a kind of wedge which one might call the nose;
> > >
> > > all's quiet, the houses smoking, hills deserted
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > the virgin has sumptuous hair, the child god set aside,
> > >
> > > her hands clasped together loosely in an ill-fitting jumper.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Usually all the religious icons have been smashed.
> > >
> > > He clenches his fist, but does not look at anyone.
> > >
> > > The sleeping bag slips slowly off the bed, half unzipped, flaps
> > >
> > > folded back, turned down like lapels;
> > >
> > > or skin and flesh in a bungled operation;
> > >
> > > a joke gorilla breaks through the forest,
> > >
> > > pretending to be the god of war,
> > >
> > > but no one believes in it;
> > >
> > > a young girl scratches her head,
> > >
> > > a sign of sophisticated bewilderment
> > >
> > > because she is smiling
> > >
> > > and does not seem to be at all afraid.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Winter is close: the flat extremities
> > >
> > > of the inhabitants cast low shadows
> > >
> > > and do not raise themselves above the artificial
> > >
> > > darkness coming in off the sea; all growl
> > >
> > > at each other and attempt to speak,
> > >
> > > but no one succeeds in communicating anything
> > >
> > > beyond malice.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Two headless corpses have been laid, face up,
> > >
> > > upon each other; hands which slapped together
> > >
> > > in a childish game; one man's shirt is glistening
> > >
> > > with blood; she looks up at him from the warm floor;
> > >
> > > firelight reflects off a bright cheek;
> > >
> > > she is smiling; she is welcoming; he hesitates
> > >
> > > and then he speaks. She does not listen.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > The steps of the pyramid rise towards midday sun.
> > >
> > > A rotten cow's head feeds flies. It is the autumn.
> > >
> > > The people have no hope of returning to their homes;
> > >
> > > but, perhaps, if they can stop laughing, there is still something
> > >
> > > to be done. There shall be no escape, but there is a chance
> > >
> > > that some sense of community may be faked in these circumstances,
> > >
> > > despite all. They gain nothing by submission,
> > >
> > > except heavier burdens. Whether their masters quarrel
> > >
> > > with each other or agree, their bondage is equally ruinous.
> > >
> > > There is too much salt in the soil for proper crops.
> > >
> > > There is too much sulphur in the air to breathe correctly;
> > >
> > > but a sniggering sort of laughter is permissible.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Headless corpses descend the escalator.
> > >
> > > An attendant calls out the range for the buyers to hear:
> > >
> > > green over blue, blue over blue, blue denim. Squared off blues
> > >
> > > in curving shapes. Our heavyweight stone-washed classic
> > >
> > > is a real classic. Nothing is any longer safe from their greed and lust
> > >
> > > yet what a mere handful the invaders are.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > She adopts the stance of a man and leans upon his shoulder.
> > >
> > > He affects not to see her. He does not reject the advance.
> > >
> > > He puts on his glasses, throws his jacket backwards
> > >
> > > over the other shoulder, and looks into the middle distance
> > >
> > > with smug assurance: blue denim, blue over blue, ecru, black.
> > >
> > > There are two styles for men and one for ladies.
> > >
> > > Blue denim, blue over blue, green over blue, ecru and black.
> > >
> > > Her majesty's equerry takes over the microphone. Looks like
> > >
> > > an elongated diamond or a double-headed axe. Bottle. Navy.
> > >
> > > Raspberry. White. Cut from a generously-sized unisex block.
> > >
> > > Can be worn on its own or underneath a jacket, giving a smart
> > >
> > > but casual look. Style reference Alan. He is on his own.
> > >
> > > The sky has darkened. Leggings are made from our soft quality cotton.
> > >
> > > There is ample evidence that pepper sprays are only mildly carcinogenic
> > >
> > > and are not therefore greatly deleterious to health
> > >
> > > unless the target should be grossly asthmatic. Camel; khaki;
> > >
> > > ecru; taupe. Style reference Stan, who has nearly thirty years with the
> > > force.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > We must not be scared by the loss of one or two battles.
> > >
> > > Wear your best working clothes, put your hand behind your head
> > >
> > > and stretch and laugh. Ankle length. Black, navy, grey marl, ecru.
> > >
> > > Everyone should have several of these in their wardrobe.
> > >
> > > He pulls a brick from the wall and hurls it towards the enemy;
> > >
> > > but they laugh as they come forward. They have water-cannon;
> > >
> > > they have rockets; they have curved sticks set with broken glass;
> > >
> > > they have the newspapers behind them and bright lights to dazzle.
> > >
> > > One size fits all. The same paralysis in the face of the foe;
> > >
> > > the same insubordination towards that which had been agreed.
> > >
> > > She, however, wore his boots and wore them to great effect,
> > >
> > > one leg curled around her, one leg cocked, elbow on it at the knee,
> > >
> > > the hand of the other arm and hand sub-system clutching
> > >
> > > the ankle of the leg curled round her. She had full lips
> > >
> > > and slightly tousled hair; her smile suggested honour and dignity
> > >
> > > but stopped short of bloodshed.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > The kids came out of the woods after a hard struggle:
> > >
> > > bottle, red, navy, white, birch grey. They were made
> > >
> > > from the same heavy fabric as their parents,
> > >
> > > the summer now far spent, and they were watching
> > >
> > > the points where danger threatens. Bottle; black; navy; birch grey.
> > >
> > > Everything combines to hinder or delay a new campaign. Bottles,
> > >
> > > broken in fights or by carelessness, it hardly matters. Birch grey,
> > >
> > > alder, oak and ash. White where the fires burned the fiercest.
> > >
> > > Red of your blood --
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Cut out the sentimentality. Cut out
> > >
> > > all of it or I'll cut it out of you myself.
> > >
> > > The plan was hastily conceived.
> > >
> > > Some of them were self-assured;
> > >
> > > some of them tried to smile and look composed.
> > >
> > > None wanted to fight. None wanted to retreat. None wanted to die.
> > >
> > > They copied each others' identity papers and pretended
> > >
> > > to relationships they did not have. Black, navy, green and red,
> > >
> > > Bordeaux and green, style reference Rome. The strong carried the weak.
> > >
> > > None were well but most survived and all contained their rage
> > >
> > > until there should be some possibility of retribution. Navy, dark red,
> > >
> > > olive, petrol; black, navy, bottle of wine; dark denim, light denim,
> > >
> > > they were suddenly upon us, swimming whilst carrying their arms,
> > >
> > > their horses under control, the background music synched
> > >
> > > to the camera. What could embarrass or defeat a foe who attacked like
> > that?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > The photographs do not do justice to this excellent piece.
> > >
> > > A small roll neck, the head disabled or cut off.
> > >
> > > Other features include an open welt.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > She turns her back to the camera, then turns her head to face it.
> > >
> > > The hair flounces forward with the movement; the face starts to smile.
> > >
> > > The hands are wrong; the jumper's shapeless; but the guns
> > >
> > > are in position and the population has been gradually led
> > >
> > > into the demoralising temptations of arcades,baths and banquets.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > This is an established classic and is equally suitable for men and
> women.
> > >
> > > He stands behind her with the gun in the small of her back.
> > >
> > > They smile at the commandant who is baffled and in despair.
> > >
> > > Black. Indigo. Black, indigo. And then she gets the joke
> > >
> > > and she just can't stop laughing. I'm going to fall off the log,
> > >
> > > you bastard, she says. A woman passing with her dog on a leash
> > >
> > > tries to look shocked, can't quite make it. Flecks of mud stain
> > >
> > > his white shirt. Slowly she takes off the superfluous rain coat
> > >
> > > to reveal her jacket, nautical blue, cactus, India ink.
> > >
> > > We've chosen this jacket with great care.
> > >
> > > Produced from the finest, heavy grain hide,
> > >
> > > it is really a substantial garment. It will get better and better
> > >
> > > with age whilst keeping out the worst that the English winter
> > >
> > > can throw at you, whilst looking incredibly stylish as well.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > When I consider the motives we have for fighting
> > >
> > > and the critical positions we are in, I have a strong feeling
> > >
> > > that the united front you are showing today will mean
> > >
> > > the dawn of liberty for the whole of Britain.
> > >
> >
> > Douglas Barbour
> > [log in to unmask]
> >
> > http://www.ualberta.ca/~dbarbour/
> > http://eclecticruckus.wordpress.com/
> >
> > Latest books:
> > Continuations & Continuations 2 (with Sheila E Murphy)
> > http://www.uap.ualberta.ca/UAP.asp?LID=41&bookID=962
> > Recording Dates
> > (Rubicon Press)
> >
> > If once a man indulges himself in murder, very soon he comes to think
> > little of robbing; and from robbing he comes next to drinking and
> > sabbath-breaking, and from that to incivility and procrastination.
> >
> > Thomas De Quincey
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
--
Andrew
http://hispirits.blogspot.com/
'Undercover of Lightness'
http://walleahpress.com.au/recent-publications.html
'Shikibu Shuffle'
http://abovegroundpress.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/new-from-aboveground-press-shikibu.html
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