For what it's worth I like you and what is worse I really do

My first post will be a recap of the last week (+/- a day)

music:

(more to come)

Bob Dylan- Blonde on Blonde; Highway 69 Revisted.
I especially appreciate the lyrics of Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands. Poetry. The metaphors!

The Carnigans- Long Gone Before Dawn
Song: For What its Worth
This album has more of a country sound to it, than the mtv-pop-love-me-love-me image they had way back. I would've never given this album a chance if not for Michelle (my mentor and guide, telling me about Copenhagen at the moment). She's been recommending books, music, and movies, and I have been very pleased with this education.

She is dramatically fine-tuning my tastes. I felt inclined to document this movement considering the high amount of intake at this point in my life (8 hours of music per day. Up to 100 pages of reading each day. And depending on netflix, a film every couple of days).
I'm looking for answers.
These things give me, a mute, a voice.
The more I read the more words I know.
The more I listen the more I can speak.
The more I watch, the more I know what to look for.


reading: Ham on Rye, by Charles Bukowski (will finish tonight).

Recently finished the following books:

The Stranger, by Camu --look into absurdism and existentialism if you find yourself confused by this mans' indifferance.
"As if that blind rage had washed me clean, rid me of hope; for the first time, in that night alive with signs and stars, I opened myself to the gentle indifference of the world. Finding it so much like myself - so like a brother, really - I felt that I had been happy and that I was happy again. For everything to be consummated, for me to feel less alone, I had only to wish that there be a large crowd of spectators the day of my execution and that they greet me with cries of hate." -- I read this last page as I was walking down broadway to work. I connected with the Mersault and then went into the office. Queer feeling, it was.


High Fidelity, by Nick Hornby (recommended by Michelle)
A page turner. Its about a man, love, and his record collection. Favorite ideas/quotes:
What comes first, the music or the miserable? Are we miserable because of the music we listen to? Or do we listen to music because we are miserable?.


The Philosophy of Andy Warhol, by Andy Warhol (recommended by Betsy Clifton)
Full of great quotes-- I typed them all out for personal use. The writing gets you into his head, which makes his art work all the more intriguing. It made me mourn his death. "Think Rich. Look poor"


Camping ground, by Dallas Angguish HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. It's from "Dumped: An Anthology" full of short stories by various writers (even Raymond Carver!). It's a story about a homosexual youth and his first heart break. Sexually explicit and sometimes troublesome (the Longland twins) yet sentimental and personal. I think I will photocopy it and send it to willing readers.


film:
Watership Down.
This one was hard to watch because it required close attention and because it's animated. I remembered trying to watch it as a child and not being able to follow it... for obvious reasons, within the first 10 minutes, a rabbit uses the word "opressed". This animated film is not for children, and actually contains a lot of profundities. It's an allegory for humanity, but I think it should be remade and better adapted to the book. The author had created his own language for the rabbits even. Original ideas/prefrances of the author should've been more incorporated into the film. Would've made it a little more intriguing and not so obvious in plot.

In the Realms of the Unreal.
A documentary about outsider artist Henry Darger. This was my second time viewing the film. I'll be going to The American Folk Artist Museum tomorrow to see his work. One should watch the director interview in the special features before seeing the film.

The Thin Red Line
A film directed by Terrance Mallick, adapted from a book. One of the better war movies I've seen. Not all gore and guts. Excellent story and character developement. Shows the personal side of war, instead of getting us pumped up about killing people (I've noticed the propaganda of patriotic war movies since we've invaded Iraq).

Coffee and Cigarettes
One has to know the context of the film to fully enjoy it. Also, look up the actors. If you don't know who Tom Waits is, then you can't really appreciate the vingettes. The film itself is a work of art, that should be kept in mind.

I'll have to figure out the format of this blog a little more. As far as music is concerned, I'll write more about what I like than dislike since there is such a high turn over rate. Books and Films I have to read/watch in order to judge and so it'll be a like/dislike judgement, and fair enough to post chronilogically since the turn over rate isn't high.

I should perhaps make more lists. I like lists. Just like Rob in High Fidelity-- constantly making a Top 5 List of everything!

I want my kids to be able to read this and develope proper taste, as I pursue a similar attempt.



i should go eat lunch. i'm getting shakey.