5 noggles of rye
1.) Every editor for every Best American series 2010 is a white guy.
2.) I stumbled across this Julia Harris blog. Pretty ordinary, but I was amused by the sidebar Percival Everett–“cocky writer of many books– hate. Julia needs to drop by for Mean Week.
3.) I have been blinking into some of the Xbox games everyone here suggested. I notice they keep asking me to make ethical decisions. Is that the new trend in games, or what makes them “literary”? The Call of Duty crazy in that scope clarity makes human look human and then you bring the rain/pain from high above like god or government. Little green people scurrying. I feel excited and dirty while playing. Maybe the point?
4.) A powerful article on violence, women and violence, literature and women and men and violence. Smart.
5.) Snow loses its beauty.
Tags: Best American, Best American Poetry, literature of violence, Percival Everett
re: 1) in january i had frosted flakes, in february i had cheerios; don’t mean i like cheerios more. in 2009 3 editors were women, so nobody had to point it out. you really think 2010 is more politically indicative than 2009? people want to be offended because they’re intellectually bored/restless; they need to direct their energy to internal causes. every time somebody shouts an ism, it grows. isms need voices to grow. just really tired of the anti-white guy thing, and to put eggers into the mix, who is one of the most socially progressive dude around this joint.
re: 1) in january i had frosted flakes, in february i had cheerios; don’t mean i like cheerios more. in 2009 3 editors were women, so nobody had to point it out. you really think 2010 is more politically indicative than 2009? people want to be offended because they’re intellectually bored/restless; they need to direct their energy to internal causes. every time somebody shouts an ism, it grows. isms need voices to grow. just really tired of the anti-white guy thing, and to put eggers into the mix, who is one of the most socially progressive dude around this joint.
Nor did the Pen/Faulkner award nominees generate any comparable notice for being all ladies and persons of color.
Nor did the Pen/Faulkner award nominees generate any comparable notice for being all ladies and persons of color.
Regarding violent women in art: I found the mention of pulp-ish nods to female exercises in power pretty interesting, but what’s being avoided is the fact that power isn’t necessarily always the driving issue. Power is a trumped up version of self-preservation. Beatrix Kidder was fighting for her own life, in a way. It was not empowerment – she was scared in each and every scene – take a look in her eyes. Or what about the theater owner in INGLORIOUS BASTERDS? Same thing. It’s not power or revenge as much as it’s self-preservation (wherein the self is also slightly larger).
Or Briellat’s forthcoming BLUE BEARD. (Which I’ve seen and does focus on the power element, to a point. It’s more about self-preservation and delusional notions of her role as a young bride.)
I think another aspect is plain and simple psychosis. Blood lust. What about Godard’s WEEK-END? That sort of female violence is, in the end, violence stripped of its culturally-applied sexual connotations. Or TROUBLE EVERY DAY?
My point is that it’s been done, just not very well very often. Violence is never straightforward unless the perpetrator is truly insane. Otherwise it’s a series of moral and biological compromises. Throughout history the differences between the sexes have been egregious, but that doesn’t mean the process of committing a violent act is at the moment of action.
Regarding violent women in art: I found the mention of pulp-ish nods to female exercises in power pretty interesting, but what’s being avoided is the fact that power isn’t necessarily always the driving issue. Power is a trumped up version of self-preservation. Beatrix Kidder was fighting for her own life, in a way. It was not empowerment – she was scared in each and every scene – take a look in her eyes. Or what about the theater owner in INGLORIOUS BASTERDS? Same thing. It’s not power or revenge as much as it’s self-preservation (wherein the self is also slightly larger).
Or Briellat’s forthcoming BLUE BEARD. (Which I’ve seen and does focus on the power element, to a point. It’s more about self-preservation and delusional notions of her role as a young bride.)
I think another aspect is plain and simple psychosis. Blood lust. What about Godard’s WEEK-END? That sort of female violence is, in the end, violence stripped of its culturally-applied sexual connotations. Or TROUBLE EVERY DAY?
My point is that it’s been done, just not very well very often. Violence is never straightforward unless the perpetrator is truly insane. Otherwise it’s a series of moral and biological compromises. Throughout history the differences between the sexes have been egregious, but that doesn’t mean the process of committing a violent act is at the moment of action.
Why do you purposely leave out grape nuts, Jimmy?
Grape-ist.
Why do you purposely leave out grape nuts, Jimmy?
Grape-ist.
ethical choices in video games are really big these days.
ethical choices in video games are really big these days.
oh you had the chance to type grapist but you blew it
oh you had the chance to type grapist but you blew it
Richard Russo? Blargh.
And Dave Eggers always does the Best Am Non-Required, doesn’t he? That’s like his thing. He gets kids as his co-editors or something. I don’t know. I read 2008; it was pretty good.
I did type grapist and changed it. Shows you how weak I be.
Richard Russo? Blargh.
And Dave Eggers always does the Best Am Non-Required, doesn’t he? That’s like his thing. He gets kids as his co-editors or something. I don’t know. I read 2008; it was pretty good.
I did type grapist and changed it. Shows you how weak I be.
Are you implying that I’m a white man? I don’t know how to tell you this, but actually, I’m a Lost Boy of Sudan.
Are you implying that I’m a white man? I don’t know how to tell you this, but actually, I’m a Lost Boy of Sudan.
Hi. I’m Richard Russo. MG, this saddens me. Didn’t you enjoy a look through my latest book, “That Old Cape Magic,” while you were resting on the couch watching your wife cook you dinner?
Hi. I’m Richard Russo. MG, this saddens me. Didn’t you enjoy a look through my latest book, “That Old Cape Magic,” while you were resting on the couch watching your wife cook you dinner?
trust your instincts, trust the reader. that hyphen blew it dude.
trust your instincts, trust the reader. that hyphen blew it dude.
Thanks for the link, tho now I am feeling guilty for the rant. When’s Mean Week?
Thanks for the link, tho now I am feeling guilty for the rant. When’s Mean Week?
Dave, it was wrong what you did.
Dave, it was wrong what you did.
Yeah…you’re right, God. The thought went through my head a couple times while I was writing it that, yeah, maybe it’s a dickhead move calling it an autobiography, but then I was like, art doesn’t have rules. Do my 826 centers and various other charitable work make up for dickhead moves such as this?
Yeah…you’re right, God. The thought went through my head a couple times while I was writing it that, yeah, maybe it’s a dickhead move calling it an autobiography, but then I was like, art doesn’t have rules. Do my 826 centers and various other charitable work make up for dickhead moves such as this?
Yes, probably.
Yes, probably.
Thanks, God.
Thanks, God.
I think if there’s one thing that is unbearably self-conscious, it’s when white men hate on other white men for being white men. “Damn you for being a white man like me and being successful! See? I’m socially conscious because I am a white man who is not part of the system which is inherently racist and sexist!” Self-righteousness quotient raises if they have a girlfriend or wife or boyfriend who isn’t white. I am reminded of Roxane’s mention of the “liberal racist” in one of her stories.
I think if there’s one thing that is unbearably self-conscious, it’s when white men hate on other white men for being white men. “Damn you for being a white man like me and being successful! See? I’m socially conscious because I am a white man who is not part of the system which is inherently racist and sexist!” Self-righteousness quotient raises if they have a girlfriend or wife or boyfriend who isn’t white. I am reminded of Roxane’s mention of the “liberal racist” in one of her stories.
You are all kinds of wrong.
You are all kinds of wrong.
You are all kinds of “don’t exist.”
You are all kinds of “don’t exist.”
Burn!
Burn!
That pic is crazy.
That pic is crazy.
http://www.theonion.com/content/node/27899
http://www.theonion.com/content/node/27899
Did yalls see the Onion’s tribute to my dick the other day? http://www.theonion.com/content/news/tiger_woods_announces_return_to
Brought a tear to my eye.
Did yalls see the Onion’s tribute to my dick the other day? http://www.theonion.com/content/news/tiger_woods_announces_return_to
Brought a tear to my eye.
Yeah Dave Eggers is the series editor of non-required, he isnt’ the 2010 editor.
Yeah Dave Eggers is the series editor of non-required, he isnt’ the 2010 editor.
Crazy? The people not eating those big-ass nachos are the crazy ones.
Crazy? The people not eating those big-ass nachos are the crazy ones.
I really hate when men, white or whatever, sit around feeling worn out by the “anti-white guy thing” when not once has there been a single year in which men have been either a minority of the selectants for any major award or alternatively simply not present on the list at all. This is exactly why it is not like the cheerios one month, frosted flakes the next comparison. The shitty ‘three is enough’ standard we have is the deeper problem and to that extent what annoys me is that the entire absence of women this year isn’t directly related to the presence of three last year, as though that tokenism were sufficient. Conservatism, racism, sexism, heterosexism, liberalism neo- and moderate and capitalism have not given up their “isms” and nor will they do so. Anyone who wants to be against those things needs to stop replicating this basically quite condescending idea that an incident like this is even about “offense” but a recognition of something amiss in our supposed age of (almost) equality that is wrongly pacified by “three”. There needs to be an embrace of the “isms” of opposition and resistance, rather than this sort of zen displeasure with commitment to agendas as though lodging complaints against the social organization of co-optation and exclusion were no more than a shrewish wife picking on her taxed but loving husband.
I really hate when men, white or whatever, sit around feeling worn out by the “anti-white guy thing” when not once has there been a single year in which men have been either a minority of the selectants for any major award or alternatively simply not present on the list at all. This is exactly why it is not like the cheerios one month, frosted flakes the next comparison. The shitty ‘three is enough’ standard we have is the deeper problem and to that extent what annoys me is that the entire absence of women this year isn’t directly related to the presence of three last year, as though that tokenism were sufficient. Conservatism, racism, sexism, heterosexism, liberalism neo- and moderate and capitalism have not given up their “isms” and nor will they do so. Anyone who wants to be against those things needs to stop replicating this basically quite condescending idea that an incident like this is even about “offense” but a recognition of something amiss in our supposed age of (almost) equality that is wrongly pacified by “three”. There needs to be an embrace of the “isms” of opposition and resistance, rather than this sort of zen displeasure with commitment to agendas as though lodging complaints against the social organization of co-optation and exclusion were no more than a shrewish wife picking on her taxed but loving husband.
“[i]when not once has there been a single year in which men have been either a minority of the selectants for any major award or alternatively simply not present on the list at all.[/i]”
Um, not that I would disagree that men make up the majority of prize winners and women often get treated unfairly in publishing, but the above quote is not even remotely accurate.
“[i]when not once has there been a single year in which men have been either a minority of the selectants for any major award or alternatively simply not present on the list at all.[/i]”
Um, not that I would disagree that men make up the majority of prize winners and women often get treated unfairly in publishing, but the above quote is not even remotely accurate.
lincoln, if you agree that men make up the majority of prize winners etc., then you agree that my statement is accurate because that’s it’s premise, the problem of the status quo ‘majority’
lincoln, if you agree that men make up the majority of prize winners etc., then you agree that my statement is accurate because that’s it’s premise, the problem of the status quo ‘majority’
The statement that “not once has there been a single year in which men have been either a minority of the selectants for any major award or alternatively simply not present on the list at all” is not an accurate statement. Looking at the national book award nominees from the last decade, three times women made up a majority of the fiction nominees and once men were entirely absent (the Rick Moody scandal year.) I’m sure plenty of other major awards have had years where a majority of the short listed works were by women.
Just sayin’, no reason to be factually inaccurate in fighting the good fight.
The statement that “not once has there been a single year in which men have been either a minority of the selectants for any major award or alternatively simply not present on the list at all” is not an accurate statement. Looking at the national book award nominees from the last decade, three times women made up a majority of the fiction nominees and once men were entirely absent (the Rick Moody scandal year.) I’m sure plenty of other major awards have had years where a majority of the short listed works were by women.
Just sayin’, no reason to be factually inaccurate in fighting the good fight.
You’re right, sorry. I did reach too far there, or too far too simplistically. I forgot about the Moody thing in particular. So to amend my statement above then, “not once has there been a single year in which men have been either a minority of the selectants for any major award or alternatively simply not present on the list at all”, I should say “not once” in a way that registers as being a proper state of affairs awards should move in and out of without issue, “not once” as more than a representationalism within the status quo. Thanks for pointing me up on that, the clarification helps.
You’re right, sorry. I did reach too far there, or too far too simplistically. I forgot about the Moody thing in particular. So to amend my statement above then, “not once has there been a single year in which men have been either a minority of the selectants for any major award or alternatively simply not present on the list at all”, I should say “not once” in a way that registers as being a proper state of affairs awards should move in and out of without issue, “not once” as more than a representationalism within the status quo. Thanks for pointing me up on that, the clarification helps.
Assuming David is a white male (I always wonder about people’s assumptions about the genetic makeup of others), perhaps he should fully commit to his convictions in regards to gender equality and quit writing/academia in order to equalize the male/female ratio. He should embark on a career that is typically minority female-dominated. Dr. Amy Bishop, who broke gender barriers in a male-dominated field, could be his role model.
Moral rules in video games definitely have roots in Dungeons and Dragons, where it was never any fun to be a lawful good character. Would a half-elf qualify as a minority hire?
Snow: white and oppressive like Best American editors. Spring thaw approaching. Globe warming.
Assuming David is a white male (I always wonder about people’s assumptions about the genetic makeup of others), perhaps he should fully commit to his convictions in regards to gender equality and quit writing/academia in order to equalize the male/female ratio. He should embark on a career that is typically minority female-dominated. Dr. Amy Bishop, who broke gender barriers in a male-dominated field, could be his role model.
Moral rules in video games definitely have roots in Dungeons and Dragons, where it was never any fun to be a lawful good character. Would a half-elf qualify as a minority hire?
Snow: white and oppressive like Best American editors. Spring thaw approaching. Globe warming.
What’s vapid about this, of course, is how it self-congratulates itself on having proven the hypocrisy of my point in advance but really only as a means to defer the hypocrisy of its own assumptions. Were I to take such a stand, would a woman would take my place? Such a claim I’m hypocritical not to do so would seemingly assume that there is some exterior authority that would ensure a just “ratio” be implemented should I ‘do the right thing’ and remove myself. It is the very absence of such authority in our society – and I do not mean in a literal sense, llike some Bureau of Gender Apportionment, but a proper commonsense recognition of just how gender unequal we are – that underwrites my point. The habitual way we tie the very field of available talent to a majority of males really only serves to highlight the male referee who pronounces the supposed permissive statement: “Let the best man win.” So, if I stepped ‘down’ from writing or academia, neither of which I do or am in by the way, but perhaps some day, what would such volunteerism mean? That I’d have a lot more alone time to read Best American collections and be pleasantly surprised on the odd occasion a woman’s name turns up? I’d much rather use my ‘place’ to enhance my own self-mindfulness about gender discrimination in a way which would enable me to be among those who say the lack of institutional room and social space for women is actually an issue and not some minor disparity or technical glitch that liberal democracy will debug in time. In practice, that means being willing not to fall on my sword when nobody gives a damn but, rather, something far more committed like working for the institutional changes that would create an atmosphere where selecting a majority quotient of women for the editorship of your essay collections year after year would be a no-brainer rather than a draining eternal argument against the conformism of the supposedly independent-minded.
What’s vapid about this, of course, is how it self-congratulates itself on having proven the hypocrisy of my point in advance but really only as a means to defer the hypocrisy of its own assumptions. Were I to take such a stand, would a woman would take my place? Such a claim I’m hypocritical not to do so would seemingly assume that there is some exterior authority that would ensure a just “ratio” be implemented should I ‘do the right thing’ and remove myself. It is the very absence of such authority in our society – and I do not mean in a literal sense, llike some Bureau of Gender Apportionment, but a proper commonsense recognition of just how gender unequal we are – that underwrites my point. The habitual way we tie the very field of available talent to a majority of males really only serves to highlight the male referee who pronounces the supposed permissive statement: “Let the best man win.” So, if I stepped ‘down’ from writing or academia, neither of which I do or am in by the way, but perhaps some day, what would such volunteerism mean? That I’d have a lot more alone time to read Best American collections and be pleasantly surprised on the odd occasion a woman’s name turns up? I’d much rather use my ‘place’ to enhance my own self-mindfulness about gender discrimination in a way which would enable me to be among those who say the lack of institutional room and social space for women is actually an issue and not some minor disparity or technical glitch that liberal democracy will debug in time. In practice, that means being willing not to fall on my sword when nobody gives a damn but, rather, something far more committed like working for the institutional changes that would create an atmosphere where selecting a majority quotient of women for the editorship of your essay collections year after year would be a no-brainer rather than a draining eternal argument against the conformism of the supposedly independent-minded.
Just read the comments on the Best American article.
I am down with argument that basically question the process involved / the unconscious motivations of those selecting this year’s editors, but the arguments that call for “a representative sample of minority writers” – what the hell? There’s only EIGHT goddam editorships available; to impose some kind of culturally correct quota would be ridiculous.
That said, the BA series is maybe the most insipid thing about our country’s literary culture. I hope they continue to select only white male editors from this point forward, and that all the cultural watchdogs proceed to tear it to bits.
Just read the comments on the Best American article.
I am down with argument that basically question the process involved / the unconscious motivations of those selecting this year’s editors, but the arguments that call for “a representative sample of minority writers” – what the hell? There’s only EIGHT goddam editorships available; to impose some kind of culturally correct quota would be ridiculous.
That said, the BA series is maybe the most insipid thing about our country’s literary culture. I hope they continue to select only white male editors from this point forward, and that all the cultural watchdogs proceed to tear it to bits.
I will swiftly respond to David’s accusations about the insipidness of my statement, like a doting Irish mother attends her crying infant – her sweet, succulent infant
In the words of that great cross-cultural groundbreaker, Snow: bigger dem are them think dem have more power… a licky boom boom down.
And the choir responds: “Yeah, Yeah, we’ve heard you sing that licky boom boom lyric before, we’re down with that licky boom boom thing, we get it.You’re down. We’re down. A licky boom boom down.”
I will swiftly respond to David’s accusations about the insipidness of my statement, like a doting Irish mother attends her crying infant – her sweet, succulent infant
In the words of that great cross-cultural groundbreaker, Snow: bigger dem are them think dem have more power… a licky boom boom down.
And the choir responds: “Yeah, Yeah, we’ve heard you sing that licky boom boom lyric before, we’re down with that licky boom boom thing, we get it.You’re down. We’re down. A licky boom boom down.”
i hate white men as much as the next white man (seriously), but i have to say David “was more impressive, convincing” in this exchange.
i hate white men as much as the next white man (seriously), but i have to say David “was more impressive, convincing” in this exchange.
yawn, someone change the station, this song sucks
yawn, someone change the station, this song sucks
Well, David, you are obviously tone deaf if you write such a lengthy serious response to such preposterous proposal.
Well, David, you are obviously tone deaf if you write such a lengthy serious response to such preposterous proposal.