What are you reading?

[galia]

Nietzsche isn't that hard go cet into. Just read birth of tragedy and Zarathoustra, easy reads and you'll cet the gist of what he thought. You don't need an introduction

[Faust]

Rereading for the first time in many years Simulacra and Simulation by Jean Baudrillard. Some of it is outdated and outmoded (and some of the language is bullshit of the highest order), but still amazing how much he got right and how pioneering many of his observations were. This book has renewed urgency in the age of Instagram, the Internet, and pervasive branding. The proliferation of content and news sources on the Internet and curated life via Instagram are exactly products of the world Baudrillard already saw taking shape in the late 70s.

Finally ended my slog. The first couple of essays were fantastic. The rest of the book descended into intellectual onanism, as usual.

Picking up the Foucault Reader in the faint hope of being redeemed.

[Faust]

He was a big fan of contemporary art:
http://insomnia.ac/essays/contemporary_art/

This was fantastic, by the way. Faustian bonus points for quoting Saul Bellow. I believe it's from "Herzog," which you must read!

[PUCK]

Also finished The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, don't know why it took me so long to get to it in my reading list... Reminded me of the poem: Heautontimoroumenos by Charles Baudelaire, for G Samsa's transformation into a beetle - appears to me - to be a metaphor for the final product of his own manifestation into a selfless person that sacrifices his own comfort for the betterment of his nuclear family.

.

I love Kafka, I would recommend if you enjoy his work give The Basic Kafka (blue soft cover book) a read, it's great to read the articles and pieces he wrote on a whim, it feels erratic and gives a great sense of his personality. It's not necessary to go the existentialist route to enjoy his work.

Checkout Poseidon: http://jlet.org/poseidon.html

Reads to me like a Joy Division song put to print.

Personally been on a McCarthy kick lately, Blood Meridian, The Road, etc. For me the thing that captures my attention is how sophisticated his ability to create a mood becomes over the course of his work. It's subtle and some even hate this aspect, but I find it meditative and serene, and love how it contrasts the extreme violence in the overarching story.

[Faust]

The Road was probably the first book widely discussed on SZ.

[PUCK]

The Road was probably the first book widely discussed on SZ.

I can imagine McCarthy being a fan of the SZ. Contemplative reality

[DiveBlueEagle]

Hello, I'm new here! Please be nice!

I am currently reading Foucault's text on "This Is Not A Pipe", as well as some introductory texts on Heidegger.

[Faust]

Hello, I'm new here! Please be nice!

I am currently reading Foucault's text on "This Is Not A Pipe", as well as some introductory texts on Heidegger.

I am also dipping into Foucault a bit.

Finished The Plot Against America by Philip Roth, in which he imagines an alternative history of America where the populist and fascist sympathizer Charles Lindbergh defeats Roosevelt in the 1940 election, and who picks Henry Ford, the notorious anti-Semite, as his secretary of state. A very prescient book in the age of Trumpism, which proves that the ignorant, hateful mob in America is alive and well.

[mne]

I'm reading 'No God but God' by Reza Aslan, it talks about the origin, evolution and future of Islam, it's a very interesting read, easily written and very informative. It's an eye opener, especially considering what nonsense media is feeding us daily.

I'm sure if you educate yourself enough (meaning beyond watching the news and reading daily paper) you will know better, but this book clarifies many nuances of the culture and Islamic religion, which may help those who find themselves guilty of a certain ignorance towards it.

[SafetyKat]

Finally ended my slog. The first couple of essays were fantastic. The rest of the book descended into intellectual onanism, as usual.

You followed that up with a re-watch of The Matrix right?


Reread "Candide" for some giggles in between tomes of Import/export regulations and Trade Statistics, It helps keep the spark alive. Replaced it with "The Belgians: An Unexpected fashion Story" from the library for my pleasure reading time.

[mne]

Rick Owens interview with Chris Wallace and Claude Montana

http://www.interviewmagazine.com/fashion/rick-owens-2#_

This is the only thing I read today, and it made my day.

What resonated with me in particular is how refreshingly self aware Owen's is, and how much distance he's got towards himself creatively and personally. When he asks himself if he's being hypocritical for wanting to be less available but meanwhile appearing everywhere online.. Or loosing his sh** when he didn't get the jacket design quite right and how humbling the experience was..

It makes him that much more relatable as an artist but also resonates with you on a human level :)

[Faust]

You should post this in the Rick Owens thread - this one is really for books. Thanks!

[Faust]

Midway through Hunger by Knut Hamsun - fantastic so far. One of those minor modernist masterpieces that are usually under the radar.

[t3hg0suazn]

http://www.interviewmagazine.com/fashion/rick-owens-2#_

This is the only thing I read today, and it made my day.

What resonated with me in particular is how refreshingly self aware Owen's is, and how much distance he's got towards himself creatively and personally. When he asks himself if he's being hypocritical for wanting to be less available but meanwhile appearing everywhere online.. Or loosing his sh** when he didn't get the jacket design quite right and how humbling the experience was..

It makes him that much more relatable as an artist but also resonates with you on a human level :)

This was seriously excellent.

[mne]

This was seriously excellent.

Agreed! you could just picture them three in a room having a good ol' laugh :)