http://abandonyourtimidnotion.blogspot.com/
looks promising
Wednesday, 3 December 2008
Wednesday, 15 October 2008
'bye, 'bye - an incoherent outro rant
Making the shortlist for the best 'Arts and Culture' Blog has really fucked with my head.
I'm going to try and explain why.
I nominated my own Blog for the awards; and I nominated the Blog for the categories 'Arts and Culture', 'Best New Blog' and 'Best Writing'.
I don't know whether anyone else who was shortlisted nominated their own Blogs, or whether it was just me.
That's really neither here nor there though anyway.
I never expected my nomination to get anywhere.
When I found it had got somewhere I was forced to think about nominating yourself for an award, the whole concept of 'awards' themselves, the cliques that I suspect probably exist amongst the other nominees and the judges and 95% of the crowd who'll be in Matt and Phreds next Wednesday (that isn't to suggest any impartiality on the part of the judges - all I'm saying is: I reckon everyone knows everyone else).
I thought I wanted lots of people to read my Blog. I thought I wanted recognition for the writing on my Blog. I thought I wanted to be part of that scene where everyone knows everyone else et cetera. I thought I wanted my Blog to be a - sort of - 'calling card'.
So hence nominating my Blog under three categories of the awards.
What I've realised, though, is that I don't care about any of those things I've just mentioned.
It's not that I don't want them - because I do; it's just that the cost of getting those things - or coming close to getting those things - is too great.
I'm talking about the amount of self-promotion that you've gotta do if you want a big audience, recognition, and to be part of any scene. And I've 'promoted' myself like mad this past year.
I've done a lot this year which have seemed like compromises to me - and all in the name of slaps on the back and having people know who you are.
And while I've been trying to get those slaps on the back and getting people to know who I am, I haven't been doing what is the most important thing to me - working on the poetry.
I feel as though I've been very distracted these past 6 or so months. And I've been distracted by things which, ultimately, I couldn't really give a fucking monkeys about.
I just want to concentrate on what's important to me - and that really isn't this Blog. So this'll be my last posting on QTPT.
*
My very perceptive friend Sajida would more than likely say something like: you're scared of failure Richard. You expect to come last; so, rather than allow that to happen, and be branded a 'failure' you're, instead, effectively withdrawing from the awards. You're - in a sense - 'beating the judges to the punch'.
Or she might say: you're scared of success Richard. You're on the verge of gaining some 'real' recognition, and that might result in you being taken from your 'comfort zone' - so rather than allow that to happen you're purposely sabotaging things.
If she were to say either of those things I'd probably reply: yeah, there's some truth in what you're saying; but I see it as more of a case of feeling disgusted with myself due to the amount of self-promotion I've engaged in over the past 6 or so months; and I've just decided, as far as the self-promotion goes: enough is enough.
Someone familiar with NME journalist-speak may accuse me of having an 'INDIE-SCHMINDIE' attitude. Which refers to bands who just wanna play to audiences of 3 for their entire career.
That attitude may well sum me right up.
I don't suppose that attitude is fashionable. Maybe 'where it's at' these days is seeing writing as being about making a lot of cash - no matter what the quality of the stuff being churned out. I don't care whether my attitude's fashionable or not though; I don't care whether I seem too serious...the truth is that I am serious.
And I'm sick of this Blog. And I'm sick of lots of other things as well.
In the room next door is a spiral-bound A4 writing pad. It has about 4 months of handwritten diary entries in. Of late, I've completed neglected that diary.
Well I'm gonna start it again.
As soon as this fucking Blog is wrapped up!
------------------------------------------------------------
Cheers to:
Peter Philpott at Great Works; Alex at Openned; Tom at Parameter; and James at if p then q - each of them linked to my blog from their respective sites. Cheers to Nigel and Sajida for bothering to read the thing when no one else gave a shit. And cheers to the other people I can think of, off the top of my head, who linked to the Blog: Sally (Nine Chains To The Moon); Katherine (Yellow Brick Road); Emma (Time Travel Opps woman).
Thanks to anyone else who linked, read or commented.
--------------------------------------------------------------
I'm not opposed, not one bit, to Blogging. I like it - I think it's fun. I've just had enough of this particular Blog. I suspect I may well start another one though - some time. If I do - I just won't tell anyone about it!
I'm going to try and explain why.
I nominated my own Blog for the awards; and I nominated the Blog for the categories 'Arts and Culture', 'Best New Blog' and 'Best Writing'.
I don't know whether anyone else who was shortlisted nominated their own Blogs, or whether it was just me.
That's really neither here nor there though anyway.
I never expected my nomination to get anywhere.
When I found it had got somewhere I was forced to think about nominating yourself for an award, the whole concept of 'awards' themselves, the cliques that I suspect probably exist amongst the other nominees and the judges and 95% of the crowd who'll be in Matt and Phreds next Wednesday (that isn't to suggest any impartiality on the part of the judges - all I'm saying is: I reckon everyone knows everyone else).
I thought I wanted lots of people to read my Blog. I thought I wanted recognition for the writing on my Blog. I thought I wanted to be part of that scene where everyone knows everyone else et cetera. I thought I wanted my Blog to be a - sort of - 'calling card'.
So hence nominating my Blog under three categories of the awards.
What I've realised, though, is that I don't care about any of those things I've just mentioned.
It's not that I don't want them - because I do; it's just that the cost of getting those things - or coming close to getting those things - is too great.
I'm talking about the amount of self-promotion that you've gotta do if you want a big audience, recognition, and to be part of any scene. And I've 'promoted' myself like mad this past year.
I've done a lot this year which have seemed like compromises to me - and all in the name of slaps on the back and having people know who you are.
And while I've been trying to get those slaps on the back and getting people to know who I am, I haven't been doing what is the most important thing to me - working on the poetry.
I feel as though I've been very distracted these past 6 or so months. And I've been distracted by things which, ultimately, I couldn't really give a fucking monkeys about.
I just want to concentrate on what's important to me - and that really isn't this Blog. So this'll be my last posting on QTPT.
*
My very perceptive friend Sajida would more than likely say something like: you're scared of failure Richard. You expect to come last; so, rather than allow that to happen, and be branded a 'failure' you're, instead, effectively withdrawing from the awards. You're - in a sense - 'beating the judges to the punch'.
Or she might say: you're scared of success Richard. You're on the verge of gaining some 'real' recognition, and that might result in you being taken from your 'comfort zone' - so rather than allow that to happen you're purposely sabotaging things.
If she were to say either of those things I'd probably reply: yeah, there's some truth in what you're saying; but I see it as more of a case of feeling disgusted with myself due to the amount of self-promotion I've engaged in over the past 6 or so months; and I've just decided, as far as the self-promotion goes: enough is enough.
Someone familiar with NME journalist-speak may accuse me of having an 'INDIE-SCHMINDIE' attitude. Which refers to bands who just wanna play to audiences of 3 for their entire career.
That attitude may well sum me right up.
I don't suppose that attitude is fashionable. Maybe 'where it's at' these days is seeing writing as being about making a lot of cash - no matter what the quality of the stuff being churned out. I don't care whether my attitude's fashionable or not though; I don't care whether I seem too serious...the truth is that I am serious.
And I'm sick of this Blog. And I'm sick of lots of other things as well.
In the room next door is a spiral-bound A4 writing pad. It has about 4 months of handwritten diary entries in. Of late, I've completed neglected that diary.
Well I'm gonna start it again.
As soon as this fucking Blog is wrapped up!
------------------------------------------------------------
Cheers to:
Peter Philpott at Great Works; Alex at Openned; Tom at Parameter; and James at if p then q - each of them linked to my blog from their respective sites. Cheers to Nigel and Sajida for bothering to read the thing when no one else gave a shit. And cheers to the other people I can think of, off the top of my head, who linked to the Blog: Sally (Nine Chains To The Moon); Katherine (Yellow Brick Road); Emma (Time Travel Opps woman).
Thanks to anyone else who linked, read or commented.
--------------------------------------------------------------
I'm not opposed, not one bit, to Blogging. I like it - I think it's fun. I've just had enough of this particular Blog. I suspect I may well start another one though - some time. If I do - I just won't tell anyone about it!
RESULT! (sort of)
Josie Long finally got in touch - hurrah!
She told me she'd actually LOVE to "'get to know' the person who is behind what is apparently one of the top four Arts and Culture Blogs in Manchester".
She said she'd get a National Express up from London to Manchester, Wednesday afternoon, and meet me at the Anchorage tram-stop, outside work.
Disappointingly though, she said she couldn't be arsed going to the Blog awards and asked if I'd be up for, instead, spending the evening in The Broadway, playing pool and drinking Holts'.
What could I say?
I'm sure the Blog awards will be top and fun and exciting and everything et cetera and that it'll 'provide great networking opportunities' but...erm...well...the opportunity to spend the evening hanging out with Josie Long, drinking and playing pool...it's just too good an opportunity to miss.
So, that's what I'll be doing next Wednesday.
I hope everyone has as good a night as I hope to have!
Sunday, 12 October 2008
latest on the josie long 'situation'
It seems Josie Long might not be as interested in "'get[ting] to know' the person who is behind what is apparently one of the top four Arts and Culture Blogs in Manchester" as I had hoped she might be. Here is another picture of her:
At least a couple of hours have passed since I sent her a message with my brain to (a) discover who I am (b) decide that attending the Manchester Blog awards with me is an opportunity not to be missed (c) obtain my phone number (d) call me.
I still haven't heard from her! Come on Josie Long!
If you snub me Josie Long I don't know how I'll be able to show my face at the Manchester Blog awards!
A Picture Of Josie Long
I would like Josie Long to 'be my date' for the Blog awards. Here is a picture of her:
As can be seen, Long 'Likes Books'. (I'm quite keen on books myself).
As evidenced by the t-shirt she was wearing on Never Mind The Buzzcocks she also likes Jeffrey Lewis. (I own two Jeffrey Lewis albums, several of his comics and have seen him live twice. Both gigs were quite a while ago though. I couldn't be arsed going when he played the Academy 4 in september)
As well: I would bet 50p (there's a credit-crunch on) that she like The Fall, and would have been able to answer the question asked on Never Mind The Buzzcocks of how Mark E Smith got into trouble recently with the RSPCA.
I think me and Josie Long would really 'hit it off'.
I'm sure Long would love to 'get to know' the person who is behind what is apparently one of the top four Arts and Culture Blogs in Manchester.
Josie, I'm waiting for your call.
As can be seen, Long 'Likes Books'. (I'm quite keen on books myself).
As evidenced by the t-shirt she was wearing on Never Mind The Buzzcocks she also likes Jeffrey Lewis. (I own two Jeffrey Lewis albums, several of his comics and have seen him live twice. Both gigs were quite a while ago though. I couldn't be arsed going when he played the Academy 4 in september)
As well: I would bet 50p (there's a credit-crunch on) that she like The Fall, and would have been able to answer the question asked on Never Mind The Buzzcocks of how Mark E Smith got into trouble recently with the RSPCA.
I think me and Josie Long would really 'hit it off'.
I'm sure Long would love to 'get to know' the person who is behind what is apparently one of the top four Arts and Culture Blogs in Manchester.
Josie, I'm waiting for your call.
Tuesday, 7 October 2008
ISSUE 1
There is a poetry anthology online, at the moment, called ISSUE 1.
It's about 4000 pages long and contains contributions from an equivalent number of poets.
It's funny.
The editors assembled a list of nearly 4000 poets living and dead. They then used some computer programme to generate 4000 poems. They then randomly ascribed those computer generated poems to each of the poets.
On Ron Sillimans Blog ronsilliman.blogspot.com a considerable number of those living poets were getting annoyed at having ascribed to them poems they didn't write which they considered to be a load of old shit. Someone mentioned that they might sue the editors of the anthology - I think that might actually have been Silliman himself.
I just tried to access the anthology again earlier (here: http://www.forgodot.com/) and found that I couldn't - so I'm wondering if the threat of legal action has meant it's been withdrawn.
I searched through it last night. And found a poem ascribed to Richard Barrett.
This is the poem:
Like a party
A chorister of bullets
Like an account
A flower of apples
Dust
Going
Saying
Disclosing
A delicious surprise
Sitting fellowship
Like a line
A party of companies
*
The poem could be found on page 2242.
*
I don't know if it's me who's supposed to be the author or some other Richard Barrett.
In the spirit, though, of 'anarcho-flarf vandalism' (what Silliman called the anthology) I'm going to claim the poem as my own!
Congratulations to Steven Waling, Chris Killen and Robin Purves who all featured in the anthology.
It's about 4000 pages long and contains contributions from an equivalent number of poets.
It's funny.
The editors assembled a list of nearly 4000 poets living and dead. They then used some computer programme to generate 4000 poems. They then randomly ascribed those computer generated poems to each of the poets.
On Ron Sillimans Blog ronsilliman.blogspot.com a considerable number of those living poets were getting annoyed at having ascribed to them poems they didn't write which they considered to be a load of old shit. Someone mentioned that they might sue the editors of the anthology - I think that might actually have been Silliman himself.
I just tried to access the anthology again earlier (here: http://www.forgodot.com/) and found that I couldn't - so I'm wondering if the threat of legal action has meant it's been withdrawn.
I searched through it last night. And found a poem ascribed to Richard Barrett.
This is the poem:
Like a party
A chorister of bullets
Like an account
A flower of apples
Dust
Going
Saying
Disclosing
A delicious surprise
Sitting fellowship
Like a line
A party of companies
*
The poem could be found on page 2242.
*
I don't know if it's me who's supposed to be the author or some other Richard Barrett.
In the spirit, though, of 'anarcho-flarf vandalism' (what Silliman called the anthology) I'm going to claim the poem as my own!
Congratulations to Steven Waling, Chris Killen and Robin Purves who all featured in the anthology.
Sunday, 5 October 2008
on THE DELINQUENT CASINO
A Will Hutton coinage for the British financial sytem.
Came across it in todays Observer supplement on the current economic crisis.
In that same supplement there's a column by the books editor of The Observer: William Skidelsky. In it he bemoans the lack of art chronicling the financial-life of the C21st. He reminds us that in the '80's there was Tom Wolfe, Jay McInerny and Martin Amis satirising the excesses of capitalism; and there was, of course, Oliver Stone's Wall Street. Skidelsky wonders where the equivalent works of today are; where is the epic recounting the rise of the oligarch? Or the novel dealing with todays City traders?
Skidelsky suggests the absence of such work might be in part down to the difficulty writers and artists have in understanding the complexities of the financial system. He goes on to say, though, that the lives of traders and financiers outside of work should be a lot more easily graspable, and should therefore act as a way in to an attempt to address the subject of C21st finance.
It's also suggested, in the article, that perhaps the financial life of the c21st has been so far overlooked by the Big Writers because they have found their most recent subjects in the War on Terror.
The whole focus of the article was on writers / artists finding their subject material in those who wield the power in the financial system; it made me wonder, though, about those who might be considered 'victims' of the financial system. (A highly dubious distinction to make, I realise, as the way things are presently going there will soon be nothing other than 'victims' of the financial system). Where are the books / works of art detailing their lives?
The point that the whole supplement strove to underline was just how extraordinary current economic / financial events are.
The point that Skidelsky's column put across is that art should be addressing these current events.
Came across it in todays Observer supplement on the current economic crisis.
In that same supplement there's a column by the books editor of The Observer: William Skidelsky. In it he bemoans the lack of art chronicling the financial-life of the C21st. He reminds us that in the '80's there was Tom Wolfe, Jay McInerny and Martin Amis satirising the excesses of capitalism; and there was, of course, Oliver Stone's Wall Street. Skidelsky wonders where the equivalent works of today are; where is the epic recounting the rise of the oligarch? Or the novel dealing with todays City traders?
Skidelsky suggests the absence of such work might be in part down to the difficulty writers and artists have in understanding the complexities of the financial system. He goes on to say, though, that the lives of traders and financiers outside of work should be a lot more easily graspable, and should therefore act as a way in to an attempt to address the subject of C21st finance.
It's also suggested, in the article, that perhaps the financial life of the c21st has been so far overlooked by the Big Writers because they have found their most recent subjects in the War on Terror.
The whole focus of the article was on writers / artists finding their subject material in those who wield the power in the financial system; it made me wonder, though, about those who might be considered 'victims' of the financial system. (A highly dubious distinction to make, I realise, as the way things are presently going there will soon be nothing other than 'victims' of the financial system). Where are the books / works of art detailing their lives?
The point that the whole supplement strove to underline was just how extraordinary current economic / financial events are.
The point that Skidelsky's column put across is that art should be addressing these current events.
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