After getting the niceties out of the way: that was an absolutely lovely read. As a matter of fact, maybe a little too lovely. It is 3 am at night here, I woke up at around 02:20 and had the notification of this and when I actually wanted to go to bed, I found myself reading through it.
Your examples were just too lovely and I find myself considering if it was possible a Bierce-like Devil's dictionary of these and playing with the thought if I couldn't do that in some idle moments. I hope I am kind enough to grant me the time for that.
Beautiful. Thanks for taking that time.
(Also, speaking as someone who has spent more time with Criticism than with actual art - it's not really that Critics are miserable. At least not the really good ones. They're/We're just stressed. Proper Criticism is trying to hold the door open to that other space of art - the one where art isn't determined by how pleasant it is but rather on its own merits... where it lives right next to religion and magic, with the added benefit of being entirely real by admitting to its unreal character. That's stressful and sometimes grumpy but far from miserable. When you're going to put that crack in everything it's to let the light get in.)
too long; didnt read
also visit my substack
(AI generated pseudo-thinkpiece about Epstein)
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After getting the niceties out of the way: that was an absolutely lovely read. As a matter of fact, maybe a little too lovely. It is 3 am at night here, I woke up at around 02:20 and had the notification of this and when I actually wanted to go to bed, I found myself reading through it.
Your examples were just too lovely and I find myself considering if it was possible a Bierce-like Devil's dictionary of these and playing with the thought if I couldn't do that in some idle moments. I hope I am kind enough to grant me the time for that.
Beautiful. Thanks for taking that time.
(Also, speaking as someone who has spent more time with Criticism than with actual art - it's not really that Critics are miserable. At least not the really good ones. They're/We're just stressed. Proper Criticism is trying to hold the door open to that other space of art - the one where art isn't determined by how pleasant it is but rather on its own merits... where it lives right next to religion and magic, with the added benefit of being entirely real by admitting to its unreal character. That's stressful and sometimes grumpy but far from miserable. When you're going to put that crack in everything it's to let the light get in.)
Could you just write a poem or some quips or something…..I love those…
Saved!
Great examples here! Especially the Hicok elegy and the ghazal. Thank you for sharing.
Haven't even read it past the small introduction but it came in such a great time. Because I'm writing a book! I'm sure I'll use this 🤩
Essential and comprehensive! Thank you.