Filling the Library

AK Press is a great site with a lot of interesting and (to my mind) valuable reading material. There is some weeding to be done, as some of the selection seems rather light and reactionary, but the stuff on Surrealism and Situationism looks pretty good…and well priced. Ken Knabb and Larry Law's short works are only a few dollars each and definitely worth having in the library.

If you haven't been introduced to any Situationist works, I would start with this pamphlet-esque book. If it intrigues you then jump into the catalogue of Guy Debord and Raoul Vaneigem. My only trouble with the site is that you've got to sift through original authors and instigators of the movements and seemingly random (maybe I'm just not aware of them) peripheral writers. Constant flow of information of course leads to less pure data, so I feel safest sticking with only the originals until I've consumed all of it and am able to better independently analyze other sources. This seems so simple that I wondered for a second if it even needed to be said, but then I thought about the disturbing human tendency to skim off the top layer and reach an early saturation point…capitalizing on information from broken sources they don't even understand. I just want contextual streams of data flowing evenly…and of you want to use only a certain point then fine, just know its place in the world.

Also read an article this week discussing the most overrated modern authors. (Modern as in authors writing today.) To be fair, I'm not familiar with the critic here, but I think he makes some good points. I don't want to go point by point with all of the people he mentioned, but I can say I haven’t found any of them, or any other modern fiction writers, worth really devoting any time to. There are a few people who interest me, at least enough to check out, but no one I really respect or admire. The article points out that these writers, who have all achieved some sort of acclaim or advancements, capitalize on cliches and tricks, existing in a safe (and boring) sphere created, populated, and propagated by the creative writing MFA system. Interesting idea, I like that he commits to a theory about why these writers thrive and not just baselessly trashing them (although that’s always fun too.) Worth a read.

I'm trying to find a balance of modern ideas and appealing language…and not descend into archaism. Unless I intend to. Perhaps its actually a good thing that I don't have any current (in the larger time frame, not my own personal one) literary heroes, makes it less likely I would accidentally emulate someone. Easier to develop a style that is purely my own. Lots of ideas, lots of projects…need to install a refinement process in my brain to synthesize and develop everything. Preferably a non invasive procedure.

At least I've found some material worth reading.