Excerpts
human nature has nothing to do with master-pieces
The tradition has always been that you may more or less describe the things that happen you imagine them of course but you more or less describe the things that happen but nowadays everybody all day long knows what is happening and so what is happening is not really interesting, one knows it by radios cinemas newspapers biographies autobiographies until what is happening does not really thrill any one, it excites them a little but it does not really thrill them.
…
It is awfully difficult, action is direct and effective but after all action is necessary and anything that is necessary has to do with human nature and not with the human mind. Therefore a master-piece has essentially not to be necessary, it has to be that is it has to exist but it does not have to be necessary it is not in response to necessity as action is because the minute it is necessary it has in it no possibility of going on.
…
And so always it is true that the master-piece has nothing to do with human nature or with identity, it has to do with the human mind and the entity that is with a thing in itself and not in relation. The moment it is in relation it is common knowledge and anybody can feel and know it and it is not a master-piece.
from “What Are Master-pieces and Why Are There So Few of Them”
by Gertrude Stein
Tags: gertrude stein, master-pieces
“His writing is not about something. It is that something itself.” —Beckett on Joyce
i fucking love this. thank you.
“His writing is not about something. It is that something itself.” —Beckett on Joyce
i fucking love this. thank you.
from waking life: “Which is the most universal human characteristic: fear, or laziness?”
methinks the answer lies in some-kind-of amalgamonstermation of the two, or: indecision.
“have you heard, the word is love” —Beatles
“have you heard, the word is love” —Beatles
“there’s some kinda love and there’s some kinda hate, but the maggots in the iron lung won’t copulate” – The Misfits
“there’s some kinda love and there’s some kinda hate, but the maggots in the iron lung won’t copulate” – The Misfits
That was thrilling, as usual. Just when I thought master-pieces were dead, Stein (through Higgs) makes me stumble. Now, I realize that they are so dead, I might be breathing their dust.
So, wait. What is human nature again? Doesn’t it belong to that group of antiquated and, somewhat, outmoded notions that include consciousness, thinking, universality, relativity, knowledge and, especially, thing-in-itself? And what is so philosophically and politically relevant about the question of master-pieces today? What is a master-piece? And doesn’t such a thing require a slave sonnet or something related to slavery to determine its condition? I mean there can’t be a master-something without a slave-something, right?
Is this one of those days where are all you “southern” writers long for the “golden age” of plantations and cotton and stuff like that? Well, I’ve seen your pictures on facebook, Christopher Higgs (and Blake Butler) and I’ll gladly be your slave. But, you’re going to have to change your ways of thinking. Master-pieces, along with master narratives, belong to those who need them.
The heavy leather dog-collar is in the bed-side table, to the left.
That was thrilling, as usual. Just when I thought master-pieces were dead, Stein (through Higgs) makes me stumble. Now, I realize that they are so dead, I might be breathing their dust.
So, wait. What is human nature again? Doesn’t it belong to that group of antiquated and, somewhat, outmoded notions that include consciousness, thinking, universality, relativity, knowledge and, especially, thing-in-itself? And what is so philosophically and politically relevant about the question of master-pieces today? What is a master-piece? And doesn’t such a thing require a slave sonnet or something related to slavery to determine its condition? I mean there can’t be a master-something without a slave-something, right?
Is this one of those days where are all you “southern” writers long for the “golden age” of plantations and cotton and stuff like that? Well, I’ve seen your pictures on facebook, Christopher Higgs (and Blake Butler) and I’ll gladly be your slave. But, you’re going to have to change your ways of thinking. Master-pieces, along with master narratives, belong to those who need them.
The heavy leather dog-collar is in the bed-side table, to the left.
hmmm… copulating maggots…
hmmm… copulating maggots…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4a8DY7SiMU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4a8DY7SiMU
Actually, Stephen, I was thinking “slave” as in “being a slave” for somebody (i.e. Christopher Higgs) and not for some thing (i.e. the record industry, commercial culture). But, I understand if you have a difficult time differentiating between the two. I mean, you listen to Britney Spears.
Actually, Stephen, I was thinking “slave” as in “being a slave” for somebody (i.e. Christopher Higgs) and not for some thing (i.e. the record industry, commercial culture). But, I understand if you have a difficult time differentiating between the two. I mean, you listen to Britney Spears.
oh damn… lol
oh damn… lol
are slaves “humorless drones”? sorry, pretty slow yall…
are slaves “humorless drones”? sorry, pretty slow yall…
Now, I’m laughing! I don’t know, Stephen. Are you asking yourself that question?
Now, I’m laughing! I don’t know, Stephen. Are you asking yourself that question?
so confused….
so confused….
No you’re not. But, that’s cool. I still like you and the funny things you say on the GIANT. Anyway, back to my questions: What is human nature? What is a master-piece? To be honest, I don’t think anybody really cares. You included. But, it’s fun to try to guess at these things, to make-believe and stuff. I think human nature is this really bad story that people have made-up to explain things that are impossible to explain. And I think master-pieces are also really bad stories, too, that people believe-in because they need something to explain why not all writing can be great or something. Because if all writing was great, then there’d be anarchy. And people are afraid of anarchy.
I’ll probably change my mind about all of this tomorrow. Or maybe even in five minutes.
No you’re not. But, that’s cool. I still like you and the funny things you say on the GIANT. Anyway, back to my questions: What is human nature? What is a master-piece? To be honest, I don’t think anybody really cares. You included. But, it’s fun to try to guess at these things, to make-believe and stuff. I think human nature is this really bad story that people have made-up to explain things that are impossible to explain. And I think master-pieces are also really bad stories, too, that people believe-in because they need something to explain why not all writing can be great or something. Because if all writing was great, then there’d be anarchy. And people are afraid of anarchy.
I’ll probably change my mind about all of this tomorrow. Or maybe even in five minutes.
i see where u r coming from here, janey. might agree re: human nature/master-pieces. altho, i think if all writing was “great,” i don’t think there’d be anarchy, i think, if it was “true,” if people “believed” it was so, what there’d be would be peace.
“radical” peace
i see where u r coming from here, janey. might agree re: human nature/master-pieces. altho, i think if all writing was “great,” i don’t think there’d be anarchy, i think, if it was “true,” if people “believed” it was so, what there’d be would be peace.
“radical” peace
genes and our peer group are human nature.
the master-piece is the moment everyone has been convinced, or have convinced themselves, to agree on something about something.
genes and our peer group are human nature.
the master-piece is the moment everyone has been convinced, or have convinced themselves, to agree on something about something.
“What is human nature?”
Well, Marx (polemicizing against an anarchist, as a matter of fact) wrote that “all history is nothing but a continuous transformation of human nature.”
He also called “the war of the slaves against their oppressors” “the only just war in history.”
I suppose I’m with Janey Smith and Artaud against masterpieces. I do like Gertrude Stein, though, in small doses (like this one).
“What is human nature?”
Well, Marx (polemicizing against an anarchist, as a matter of fact) wrote that “all history is nothing but a continuous transformation of human nature.”
He also called “the war of the slaves against their oppressors” “the only just war in history.”
I suppose I’m with Janey Smith and Artaud against masterpieces. I do like Gertrude Stein, though, in small doses (like this one).
“he’s a real nowhere man, siting in his nowhere land, making all his nowhere plans for nobody”
“Baby, you can drive my car/Yes, I’m gonna be a star/Baby, you can drive my car/And maybe I’ll love you (Beep beep, beep beep yeah!)”
“Baby, you can drive my car/Yes, I’m gonna be a star/Baby, you can drive my car/And maybe I’ll love you (Beep beep, beep beep yeah!)”
better yet: “haters gonna hate/lovers gonna love/i don’t even want none of the above, i want to piss on you, yes i do, i piss on you, i pee on you”
better yet: “haters gonna hate/lovers gonna love/i don’t even want none of the above, i want to piss on you, yes i do, i piss on you, i pee on you”
Are these Lady Gaga lyrics?
Are these Lady Gaga lyrics?
just want to be authentic, yall, have meaningful, anonymous, intellectual conversations on the interwebs… wish i hated everything and used words like “methinks” and “amalgamonstermation”… then i’d be somewhere, man….
just want to be authentic, yall, have meaningful, anonymous, intellectual conversations on the interwebs… wish i hated everything and used words like “methinks” and “amalgamonstermation”… then i’d be somewhere, man….
zusya, if i ever meet you, i’ll punch your teeth in. is that a lady gaga thing to say?
zusya, if i ever meet you, i’ll punch your teeth in. is that a lady gaga thing to say?
wow… lol…. hmmm… well, if you met me right now, i’d punch your teeth in…. i’ll probably “cool off” by the time that happens, whoever you are, black hole of negativity…. hmmmm…. sigh…….. might need to quit htmlgiant indefinitely…. (good riddance)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBu7EFQZEsg&feature=related
wow… lol…. hmmm… well, if you met me right now, i’d punch your teeth in…. i’ll probably “cool off” by the time that happens, whoever you are, black hole of negativity…. hmmmm…. sigh…….. might need to quit htmlgiant indefinitely…. (good riddance)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBu7EFQZEsg&feature=related
yup, i’m revoking my commenting privileges. peace, zusya, sorry for losing my shit.
yup, i’m revoking my commenting privileges. peace, zusya, sorry for losing my shit.
I think Stein would probably say, approvingly, that if a master-piece is not necessary, it is obnoxious, which is why there are so few of them.
I think Stein would probably say, approvingly, that if a master-piece is not necessary, it is obnoxious, which is why there are so few of them.
um, hi? i thought my song quotelette was relevant to ““What Are Master-pieces and Why Are There So Few of Them” … wasn’t aiming at any nerves.
got a couple fillings the other day. was this close to a root canal.
yea im a spaz… god bless yr teeth
yea im a spaz… god bless yr teeth
I like both this excerpt and Janey Smiths reply.
I like both this excerpt and Janey Smiths reply.
: D
: D
‘amalgamonstermation’ is pretty dubious, but I think indecision might be pretty spot on. certainly, it’s my most frequent downfall, if nothing else.
‘amalgamonstermation’ is pretty dubious, but I think indecision might be pretty spot on. certainly, it’s my most frequent downfall, if nothing else.
@donald aprosexia is my biggest achilles heel (in more ways than one).
@donald aprosexia is my biggest achilles heel (in more ways than one).
chris, for being apolitical you are the epitome of polemical, a reactionary stance which springs not from the no-need to which stein elliptically alludes. from everything you’ve said this past year it seems that without mimesis to rail against, you have nothing to propel you, which is far from the so-called ‘freedom of the masterpiece’.
can you not expand the conversation into a non-reactionary territory? if not, your position is as deterministic as newtonian mechanics.
or would you not exist without mimesis? and as such, more than anything, are you not indebted to it, bound to it like a slave, for isn’t that by which you define yourself: the negation of something else?
this is a vital and interesting discussion, but damn man, flip the record over or something. if all you’re trying to do is be provocative, then i have a pair of fishnet stockings you can borrow.
chris, for being apolitical you are the epitome of polemical, a reactionary stance which springs not from the no-need to which stein elliptically alludes. from everything you’ve said this past year it seems that without mimesis to rail against, you have nothing to propel you, which is far from the so-called ‘freedom of the masterpiece’.
can you not expand the conversation into a non-reactionary territory? if not, your position is as deterministic as newtonian mechanics.
or would you not exist without mimesis? and as such, more than anything, are you not indebted to it, bound to it like a slave, for isn’t that by which you define yourself: the negation of something else?
this is a vital and interesting discussion, but damn man, flip the record over or something. if all you’re trying to do is be provocative, then i have a pair of fishnet stockings you can borrow.
Wow, tough talk Keith Brown….would not have expected such vitriol from someone whom I have in the past encouraged and corresponded with most kindly…in truth, I had thought you’d disappeared from planet earth, given that I never received a response to my praise-filled response to your Net-Sub essay way back when…how quickly and easily your knife slides into my back…oh well, fickle are the friends we think we keep. Good day to you.
Wow, tough talk Keith Brown….would not have expected such vitriol from someone whom I have in the past encouraged and corresponded with most kindly…in truth, I had thought you’d disappeared from planet earth, given that I never received a response to my praise-filled response to your Net-Sub essay way back when…how quickly and easily your knife slides into my back…oh well, fickle are the friends we think we keep. Good day to you.
just want to live my life yall
just want to live my life yall
my bad. re-reading my comment, it does appear hostile. perhaps, my mindset was tweaked toward such for unknown reasons, and allowed the language and line of logic to carry me away (i mean that seriously, the assonance of the ‘p’s in ‘apolitical/epitome/polemical’ became the driving force of the sentence; and was no longer thinking about the tone or literal meaning). i suspect i was trying to engage in an impassioned discussion and came across as attacking you. or simply came across as an asshole. which i take responsibility for.
the outwardly directed aggression was most likely due to personal circumstances at the moment. among other things (cognitive, historical and physical) i was bored and thought i’d try to push a surface-level discussion, which has cropped up here before, into other areas by means of a hot trident. maybe take it into a historical survey of the human animal: from organism qua survival to conscious sentient, at once individuated from the biological imperative (while still inextricably bound up with it) and yet involved in a complex affair of freedom and determernism even at the psychological level; and the implications of such a condition with regard to aesthetics.
apologies for the attack. as a core principle i only advocate violence against ideas, not other people. and apologies for not responding to your compliments regarding my essay, which i would certainly have done and thanked you for, but for some reason don’t recall receiving. perhaps we’ll have to chalk that one up to entropy. anyhow, yeah i’m still on the planet, albeit in a private biodome that sometimes fills up with fog and mist. hope you can see past the grievance as a flawed attempt at sparing.
my bad. re-reading my comment, it does appear hostile. perhaps, my mindset was tweaked toward such for unknown reasons, and allowed the language and line of logic to carry me away (i mean that seriously, the assonance of the ‘p’s in ‘apolitical/epitome/polemical’ became the driving force of the sentence; and was no longer thinking about the tone or literal meaning). i suspect i was trying to engage in an impassioned discussion and came across as attacking you. or simply came across as an asshole. which i take responsibility for.
the outwardly directed aggression was most likely due to personal circumstances at the moment. among other things (cognitive, historical and physical) i was bored and thought i’d try to push a surface-level discussion, which has cropped up here before, into other areas by means of a hot trident. maybe take it into a historical survey of the human animal: from organism qua survival to conscious sentient, at once individuated from the biological imperative (while still inextricably bound up with it) and yet involved in a complex affair of freedom and determernism even at the psychological level; and the implications of such a condition with regard to aesthetics.
apologies for the attack. as a core principle i only advocate violence against ideas, not other people. and apologies for not responding to your compliments regarding my essay, which i would certainly have done and thanked you for, but for some reason don’t recall receiving. perhaps we’ll have to chalk that one up to entropy. anyhow, yeah i’m still on the planet, albeit in a private biodome that sometimes fills up with fog and mist. hope you can see past the grievance as a flawed attempt at sparing.
[…] HTMLGIANT / human nature has nothing to do with master-pieces […]