necessity need and awareness of possibilities

Necessity is the mother of invention. But sometimes we don't realize we need something unless we once have it, or have that idea.. or that possibility that you can indeed have it.. like a good python script, scripted by Perplexity AI.

Unbelievable

But don't get too excited.

AI vortex

I know androids dont dream of electric sheep but this distinction is getting fuzzier and fuzzier and we wade more and more into the AI vortex.

plight of writing terse

content writers

can't end writing

content after content

with no contentment!

Wistful meditative contemplative stillness especially noticeable in early mornings

and the ungraspable phantom of life

Your word is God ~ Anna Brown

For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Matthew 12:37

beneath a veneer of respectability

 

The Outsider's struggle is emblematic of a broader societal conflict, where individuals harbor dangerous impulses beneath a veneer of respectability.

But

Many great artists, like Shakespeare and Keats, navigated their lives without the neuroses associated with the Outsider archetype, indicating that profound creativity can exist alongside social adjustment.

tasked with bridging the gap between self-perception and actual experience

writers serve a crucial function in society by articulating experiences and truths that others may overlook

ban ville

 

1. What is Banville’s attitude towards his own writing?
   Banville is highly critical of his own work, stating that he hates all of his books and feels they are a standing embarrassment.
2. Describe Banville's typical writing routine.
   Banville typically writes from 9 a.m. until lunch, takes a break for bread, cheese, and tea, then resumes working until 6 p.m., maintaining a structured environment with two desks at right angles.

fleeting moments of connection between individuals

everything new in childhood had an aura of the uncanny

on life as having been filled with stillness and vigilance, portraying a sense of waiting for what was to come in an unfashioned world

the past beats inside me like a second heart

tone balances between wistfulness and curiosity

attempt at humor that falls flat and awkwardness in delivering potentially grave news

Banville compares writing to being a sportsman, emphasizing the need to perform at the top of one’s game for long hours each day.

Critics describe Banville’s writing as perfectly crafted, beautiful, dazzling, and often infused with dark humor and sharp wit.

Banville's exploration of themes related to women’s rights and his admiration for female writers further enrich his literary contributions.

Banville considers himself "incurably terrified of air travel," fearing the potential dangers associated with flying.

He believes there is no distinction between men and women in his writing; he sees them simply as people.

Banville praised Edna O'Brien as one of the most sophisticated contemporary writers, noting her ability to create striking characters who are often damaged by their experiences.

He aims to blend poetry and fiction into a new form, reflecting a desire to innovate within literary traditions.

He imitated James Joyce after reading "The Dubliners," which inspired him to write but also led him to recognize the quality of his early attempts as poor imitations.

Banville's narrative style is marked by lyrical precision and a keen exploration of complex themes such as identity, gender dynamics, and existential fears. His use of dark humor serves to both entertain and provoke thought, while his reflections on societal issues highlight a commitment to social commentary. The pacing of his prose allows for deep introspection, inviting readers into the intricate workings of his characters' minds.

and his advocacy against vivisection (The act of operating on living animals (especially in scientific research) --- Banville called vivisection "absolutely disgraceful" and questioned why scientists do not volunteer for experiments instead of using animals. He was shocked to learn about vivisection experiments being conducted at Trinity College and wrote a letter of protest to The Irish Times. He felt dispirited after realizing he received little support for his stance and considered withdrawing from public discourse on such matters.

Banville stated that he does not eat meat.

Banville's emotional connections to friends and animals are also explored, revealing a sensitive and principled individual who grapples with ethical issues.

Banville mourned the loss of his labrador, Ben, who died from cancer at Christmas 1980, and he still regards him as "a lost friend.

He suggested that if he were awarded the Booker Prize, he would use the money to buy every copy of the longlisted books in Ireland and donate them to libraries to ensure they were read.

What did Banville say about receiving the Franz Kafka Prize in 2011?

He described it as an award he truly wanted, appreciating its old-style nature and acknowledging his long engagement with Kafka's work.

Pynchon

Pynchon has famously never granted an interview throughout his career, which spans over five decades, and he has only been photographed a handful of times as an adult

metaphor Archie used to describe his life path

 He likens his life path to a trail of breadcrumbs that has been consumed by birds, indicating that he feels lost and without direction.

..

Archie feels that mentioning the war leads to disinterest from others, as people tend to glaze over or change the subject, indicating a sense of alienation regarding his past.

The text explores themes of identity, the search for recognition, the impact of time on personal achievements, and the struggle against feelings of irrelevance in a rapidly changing world.

But I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now ~ Bob Dylan - Archie

Sarah and Oliver

 Sarah feels conflicted; although she describes it as picturesque and pretty, she realizes that she has become what she never wanted to be—a conventional person in a storybook life.

Oliver dreamed of living in the country, having Irish setters, wanting four children, and having a wife who did not work outside the home.

Reading Point Counter Point

 She finds Huxley's prose exciting and skillful, appreciating its ability to expose the emptiness of civilization. The reading stimulates her critical abilities and evokes a mixture of excitement and inevitable depression.

the "horrible moments" related to contemplating infinity

 She describes moments when thoughts of infinity and death overwhelm her sense of self, making her feel trapped within her own body. This contemplation leads to physical discomfort and existential anxiety.

Sontag suggests that when faced with existential dread, she seeks relief through sensual experiences as a counterbalance to abstract thoughts about infinity and mortality, indicating a struggle between intellectual contemplation and physical desire.

She employs vivid imagery of physical strain and discomfort, describing muscles on a rack and an urge to burst out of her "poor shell," which symbolizes the intense pressure she feels from her thoughts and desires.

Medea

 Sontag was profoundly moved by watching Medea and was frustrated by audience members who reacted emotionally rather than appreciating it as a work of art. She believed that true engagement with art required detachment from reality.

Caveat lector

 After Sontag's death, the author found nearly a hundred notebooks filled with diaries, which were organized by her assistant and friend during the sorting of her effects.

The sole conversation about the diaries occurred when she first fell ill, where she simply stated, "You know where the diaries are," without providing further instructions on what to do with them.

From a young age, Sontag believed she had special gifts and a significant contribution to make, which fueled her relentless pursuit of knowledge and education throughout her life.

The author references Isaac Babel’s motto "You must know everything" to highlight Sontag’s desire for deep knowledge and understanding.

Sontag's stepfather urged her to relax and read less to find a husband, while her tutor, Stuart Hampshire, expressed frustration at her seriousness, comparing her to Germans and implying it was a negative trait. Sontag, however, took this as a point of pride.

The author suggests that Sontag held a deep belief in the ability to remake oneself, reflecting an American ideal that emphasizes personal agency and transformation throughout one’s life.

"Ideas disturb the levelness of life."

She finds solace and clarity in music, particularly through Mozart's Don Giovanni. The arias evoke strong emotions and provide her with a sense of resolution and serenity amidst turmoil.

Sontag describes her reading of Gide as an intense intellectual communion, feeling overwhelmed by the speed of thought and the depth of insight, which she likens to experiencing labor pains for every idea he presents.

André Gide (1869-1951) was a prominent French author, awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1947. His literary career spanned various styles, beginning with the Symbolist movement and evolving into a critique of moral and political issues. Gide's notable works include The Immoralist and The Counterfeiters, which explore themes of individual freedom and moral complexity. He is recognized for his experimental narrative techniques and autobiographical writings that reflect his struggles with identity and sexuality. Gide's influence extended beyond literature, impacting modern thought on freedom and tradition.

The reading list reflects her desire for intellectual engagement and growth, showcasing her ambition to immerse herself in a wide range of literature, plays, and poetry, indicating a commitment to expanding her understanding of art and life.

She emphasizes that poetry must be exact, intense, and complex, suggesting that art strives for independence from mere intelligence. 

Sontag experiences music as a deeply physical and emotional force, feeling both passion and pain in response to the melodies. She describes music as alive and sensual, evoking a visceral reaction that connects her body to the emotional landscape of the piece.

Sontag finds Goethe’s Faust moving but acknowledges her limited understanding, while she feels a strong connection to Marlowe’s work, having invested significant time in rereading it aloud. This indicates her deep engagement with texts that resonate with her.

weel demonstarted death

It is raining outside. What if there is no one else to read not just this, but anything whatsoever, other than a persistent and deeply fake illusion.

What if other people and other beings out there are completely empty and illusory.

And the real reason why you don't have any creative thing to share, or the motivation to create writing or painting or creative art work or photo work and sending it to people and making logical statements and seemingly nice words and creations of beauty during the absence of time and heaven is because it is evident that there are no other beings out there other than thunder and lightning and raining cats and soggy wet jeans in the light green turbanish gibberish.

One continues directly into the homage of intrinsic awareness which is the primordial base and dunes of reality which remains unpertubed in phenomenality, in self perfected spontaneaity.

wow, this reads nice, says whom.

knows by whom.

there is no knowledge other than the knower itself 

nothing to know other than the knower itself

knowledge is the knower itself.