Notes for 8/28/09
many applications of the term
-writing in a romantic language
in the middle ages the romance languages started seperating themselves from Latin (around 1000-1200) and forming their own identities, becoming more gestural and emotional - outside of the traditional system of Latin.
"Language starts misbehaving"
-dramatic
-overtly emotional
-gestural
-exotic/foreign
-nature ...true to nature, recognizing our human nature
the romantic implulse - yearning - nonconformity
Nonconformity / Conformity
-pivotal relationship between the two
-the two are not in balance or ever in synthesis, always one or the other, or..the pivot
-constant state of imbalance and pivoting
-cultural dynamics - culture & counter culture
"A civilization is most creative when its pivoting" (also individuals)
-dichotomy, coexistence of different aspects of itself which are constantly at odds
-the pivot is the creative part, once you land on one side or the other you establish what you've created.
Avant-garde
military term (french) - the soldier who's assignment was to go ahead to check out the terrain & come back with information on how and where to proceed next.
-experimental. searching, trial and error. makes you an outsider.
-the origins of this are in nonconformity
-dynamicism, the nature of the pivot. cannot define, cannot be sure where you are.
definite/indefinite universal/particular shape/shapeless
clarity/confusion madness/insanity science/pseudoscience
The &. & & & & & & & NOT either/or, but AND. Not one or the other but BOTH, but they are distinguished as contradictory forces, dichotomies (rather than dualisms). MULTIPLICITY and coexistence, not harmony.
*book: The Boundary Between Madness & Insanity
thoughts:
Tesla: accepted at first, but later rejected because he kept experimenting and pushing boundaries even after 'substantial' discoveries had already been made. (note to self: research Tesla)
