February 20th, 2010 / 8:31 pm
Web Hype
Blake Butler
Web Hype
Vanessa Place reads from La Medusa
Tags: la medusa, vanessa place
-
Archives
- January 2023
- February 2022
- September 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- August 2017
- July 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
-
Meta
Wow. That was good.
Wow. That was good.
Oh my hot heavens…what fantastic, relentless, imaginative brilliance! Watching this video makes me very excited for the future.
Oh my hot heavens…what fantastic, relentless, imaginative brilliance! Watching this video makes me very excited for the future.
yes yes yes
yes yes yes
The juxtaposition between this passage and the second Vanessa read that night — opening arguments for a crackhouse rape-case appeal excerpted from her self-appropriation trilogy forthcoming on Information as Material — was magic.
James Wagner’s “Apples of Himmler” was another of many revelations to be shared that evening.
Poet voice kills me no matter the content
The juxtaposition between this passage and the second Vanessa read that night — opening arguments for a crackhouse rape-case appeal excerpted from her self-appropriation trilogy forthcoming on Information as Material — was magic.
James Wagner’s “Apples of Himmler” was another of many revelations to be shared that evening.
Poet voice kills me no matter the content
vagina
vagina
Am I the only one who sees joylessness in the presentation?
Am I the only one who sees joylessness in the presentation?
That and I can’t say how many times I’ve heard stuff like this on open mic nights. Probably not the best display of her talents. Then again, I’ve never read her before, so we’ll see.
That and I can’t say how many times I’ve heard stuff like this on open mic nights. Probably not the best display of her talents. Then again, I’ve never read her before, so we’ll see.
Love, love, love La Medusa and thank you Blake for setting me on to it. For VP fans, I’m lucky and proud to say she posted a piece recently at the blog journal some friends and I keep. If it’s of interest, you can check it out here.
Love, love, love La Medusa and thank you Blake for setting me on to it. For VP fans, I’m lucky and proud to say she posted a piece recently at the blog journal some friends and I keep. If it’s of interest, you can check it out here.
I agree.
I don’t know anything about her, but I imagine her interpretation/presentation reflects her own personality and relationship with the piece/subject matter.
I could see this being a completely different experience were the piece read with warmth and humor. And more slowly. I’d like to savor those words, chuckle at each one.
I agree.
I don’t know anything about her, but I imagine her interpretation/presentation reflects her own personality and relationship with the piece/subject matter.
I could see this being a completely different experience were the piece read with warmth and humor. And more slowly. I’d like to savor those words, chuckle at each one.
Just read this, pretty nuts to hear it change aloud. Now I want to hear the whole book.
The joyless rendition of a thousand different names for pussy is pretty hilarious, in my opinion.
Just read this, pretty nuts to hear it change aloud. Now I want to hear the whole book.
The joyless rendition of a thousand different names for pussy is pretty hilarious, in my opinion.
totally agree. it would die if she drew attention to the funny ones &c
totally agree. it would die if she drew attention to the funny ones &c
I really appreciated the deadpan delivery. I think there are many different ways to approach reading work. I would have enjoyed seeing her read it with some warmth and humor but I think the choice to read it without a lot of vocal inflection was deliberate and smart.
I really appreciated the deadpan delivery. I think there are many different ways to approach reading work. I would have enjoyed seeing her read it with some warmth and humor but I think the choice to read it without a lot of vocal inflection was deliberate and smart.
I’m sure her delivery was completely deliberate and with meaning, and true to her intentions. Like I said, I don’t know about her or this piece, including a larger context for it.
This says nothing for the voice I would give the piece (in my head) were I to read it (especially before hearing her delivery).
I can’t say that I would want to listen to her read much, though.
Imagine Dave Chapelle reading it.
And it’s not just that it’s deadpan. I like the deadpan delivery of, say, Tao Lin. Or Bob Newhart. Don Draper.
I just don’t find the “joyless rendition of a thousand different names for pussy” to be “pretty hilarious”. I found it to be, well, joyless. And when it comes to pussy, I prefer joy.
OK, one reader/listener’s two cents/half of the equation.
I’m sure her delivery was completely deliberate and with meaning, and true to her intentions. Like I said, I don’t know about her or this piece, including a larger context for it.
This says nothing for the voice I would give the piece (in my head) were I to read it (especially before hearing her delivery).
I can’t say that I would want to listen to her read much, though.
Imagine Dave Chapelle reading it.
And it’s not just that it’s deadpan. I like the deadpan delivery of, say, Tao Lin. Or Bob Newhart. Don Draper.
I just don’t find the “joyless rendition of a thousand different names for pussy” to be “pretty hilarious”. I found it to be, well, joyless. And when it comes to pussy, I prefer joy.
OK, one reader/listener’s two cents/half of the equation.
I’m with Mimi. I like joy with my pussy. But I was fascinated, nonetheless, by this reading. For me, it wasn’t even just the reading or the presentation but also how the author stepped away from the mike at the end. Intensely joyless, in this clip at least. And I’m not judging good or bad or otherwise. Just sayin’…
I’m with Mimi. I like joy with my pussy. But I was fascinated, nonetheless, by this reading. For me, it wasn’t even just the reading or the presentation but also how the author stepped away from the mike at the end. Intensely joyless, in this clip at least. And I’m not judging good or bad or otherwise. Just sayin’…
hmmm… would it die? is it alive? does it thrive?
hmmm… would it die? is it alive? does it thrive?
yes, if “it” is my train of thought about this momentous compendium. any emoting on her end would impose her thoughts about it, and limit the ways of thinking about this. having so many names for vagina isn’t just funny, it isn’t just weird, or joyous, or debased, or any one thing. i am not always loving a heat-less reading but i do love this one because it is as if she is presenting an artifact she found, without adding her own interpretation of that artifact. readers should emote a reasonable amount when they want to help guide the audience in some way. here i do not want to be guided anywhere.
yes, if “it” is my train of thought about this momentous compendium. any emoting on her end would impose her thoughts about it, and limit the ways of thinking about this. having so many names for vagina isn’t just funny, it isn’t just weird, or joyous, or debased, or any one thing. i am not always loving a heat-less reading but i do love this one because it is as if she is presenting an artifact she found, without adding her own interpretation of that artifact. readers should emote a reasonable amount when they want to help guide the audience in some way. here i do not want to be guided anywhere.
I don’t find the reading funny; I find it uncomfortable (as a man, through history) and revelatory (in scope, through history).
I don’t find the reading funny; I find it uncomfortable (as a man, through history) and revelatory (in scope, through history).
I can see that, not wanting to be guided, let the words themselves be the guide, more layers that way. The extra (and more disturbing layer to me, as I mentioned above) is the way she seems just *done* at the end of the reading. I think she’s somehow projecting attitude or affect in the severe lack of emotion in the way she exits the stage, so to speak. Like I said, I find it fascinating. (And I’m with w/ Ken below, too)
I can see that, not wanting to be guided, let the words themselves be the guide, more layers that way. The extra (and more disturbing layer to me, as I mentioned above) is the way she seems just *done* at the end of the reading. I think she’s somehow projecting attitude or affect in the severe lack of emotion in the way she exits the stage, so to speak. Like I said, I find it fascinating. (And I’m with w/ Ken below, too)
I have to disagree with Amy’s statement that she is “presenting”…. “without adding her own interpretation”. I hear a lot of “interpretation” in her delivery – somewhat comparable to the adage “(one’s) silence speaks volumes”. Her affectation, her lack of inflection, her pacing, these things do indeed say something to me.
And as far as that list is concerned, standing I don’t need any guiding, whether reading it or listening to it being read.
I will add that it would help me to have some context beyond its “list-ness” for my personal understanding of the piece. This video did not give any. I am intrigued enough to look for the book, find out more about Place, etc.
I have to disagree with Amy’s statement that she is “presenting”…. “without adding her own interpretation”. I hear a lot of “interpretation” in her delivery – somewhat comparable to the adage “(one’s) silence speaks volumes”. Her affectation, her lack of inflection, her pacing, these things do indeed say something to me.
And as far as that list is concerned, standing I don’t need any guiding, whether reading it or listening to it being read.
I will add that it would help me to have some context beyond its “list-ness” for my personal understanding of the piece. This video did not give any. I am intrigued enough to look for the book, find out more about Place, etc.
Just a note to say information as material is not publishing this work. Thanks.
Just a note to say information as material is not publishing this work. Thanks.