................................................................................................................................................................................
A lot of time has gone by now. As I write this it is almost 1980. George Maciunas died last year of a long and horrible illness.
But he knew before he died that his mistake was forgiven, that all the Fluxus people were together again - they came together for concerts, for New Years' parties, for many things like that. And when Maciunas was dying, they came together to his house to help him finish up a lot of his Fluxus boxes and works before he died.
When Maciunas went into the hospital for the last time, his doctors said, "We don't know why this man is still alive". But the Fluxus people knew. Being friends and sharing simple things can be so very important.
And though Fluxus is almost twenty years old now - or maybe more than twenty, depending on when you want to say it began - there are still new Fluxus people coming along, joining the group.
Why? Because Fluxus has a life of its own, apart from the old people in it. It is simple things, taking things for themselves and not just as part of bigger things. It is something that many of us must do, at least part of the time.
So Fluxus is inside you, is part of how you are. It isn't just a bunch of things and dramas but is part of how you live. It is beyond words.
[Dick Higgins]
A Child's History of Fluxus
................................................................................................................................................................................
Related posts:-
Creative Living
Walter
Access experience
................................................................................................................................................................................
I was out on a bike-ride (or cycle-dérive) the other day, and I'd made my way to an area of field and woodland that is currently being developed into what appears to be an industrial estate. The development is in its early stages, and a few new buildings have recently sprung up. They look quite incongruous sitting out there in the middle of nature.
I was looking at two of these buildings; they appear to be office space - both of them are quite large, with two floors and glass sides. They are identical to each other, but only one of them is currently occupied.
I was looking at the empty one, and noticing how you could see straight through it. You've probably seen buildings like this before; office-space in waiting. These buildings have always held a certain attraction for me - their latency invites you to use your imagination, to think about what you would put in there, or do in there. Its nice to imagine wandering around them whilst they're empty, as this is something most of us probably get to do so rarely. For me these spaces definitely have a lot of imaginative potential.
I then noticed a man standing outside the empty building smoking a cigarette, presumably the security guard. I was tempted to ask him if I could have a look around the building, but my rational side got the better of me and I didn't approach him (reasoning; what would I say? Can I have a look around? And what if he asked why? How would I explain my motivations without sounding suspicious and/or strange?).
It struck me later that if I'd have had my camera on me then the situation may have been entirely different. I would most certainly have been less afraid to approach him, knowing that I could have explained my intentions by using the camera; I could have told him that I wanted to take photos for a project on the development; that I was freelance photographer, or a student.
Perhaps in a perfect world we wouldn't need devices like these in order to give us an excuse for exploring and experiencing the world; but, if you are of a timid nature or your rational side has too strong a grip, then such devices can prove really handy.
In this instance the camera would have been a device for gaining access to a place where I had no reason to be, other than simple curiousity. Of course, this is reason enough in itself, but it isn't always easy to explain this to someone, or even to justify it to your (rationalising) self.
There are many other examples of devices that allow subtleties of experience. Let's say you find yourself sitting indoors on a lovely sunny day. You realise that you'd like to be outside, but you have no ostensible reason for going out. Some may take a walk, or go sit in a park. The skateboarder always has a reason for being outside. And a sunny day never presents a problem of imagination. The skateboard, whilst serving its ostensive purpose (it allows the person to skate), also acts as a device allowing the skater to experience being out and about on a lovely day - a device for accessing subtleties of experience.
I'm not suggesting that we all take up skateboarding, but I hope you can understand the idea; the camera and the skateboard, whilst being devices for taking pictures and skating upon, can also act in other ways.
So, note to self: always carry the camera, just in case ...
................................................................................................................................................................................
Related posts:-
Dérive
Experiential Education
Community | Play
I was out on a bike-ride (or cycle-dérive) the other day, and I'd made my way to an area of field and woodland that is currently being developed into what appears to be an industrial estate. The development is in its early stages, and a few new buildings have recently sprung up. They look quite incongruous sitting out there in the middle of nature.I was looking at two of these buildings; they appear to be office space - both of them are quite large, with two floors and glass sides. They are identical to each other, but only one of them is currently occupied.
I was looking at the empty one, and noticing how you could see straight through it. You've probably seen buildings like this before; office-space in waiting. These buildings have always held a certain attraction for me - their latency invites you to use your imagination, to think about what you would put in there, or do in there. Its nice to imagine wandering around them whilst they're empty, as this is something most of us probably get to do so rarely. For me these spaces definitely have a lot of imaginative potential.
I then noticed a man standing outside the empty building smoking a cigarette, presumably the security guard. I was tempted to ask him if I could have a look around the building, but my rational side got the better of me and I didn't approach him (reasoning; what would I say? Can I have a look around? And what if he asked why? How would I explain my motivations without sounding suspicious and/or strange?).
It struck me later that if I'd have had my camera on me then the situation may have been entirely different. I would most certainly have been less afraid to approach him, knowing that I could have explained my intentions by using the camera; I could have told him that I wanted to take photos for a project on the development; that I was freelance photographer, or a student.Perhaps in a perfect world we wouldn't need devices like these in order to give us an excuse for exploring and experiencing the world; but, if you are of a timid nature or your rational side has too strong a grip, then such devices can prove really handy.
In this instance the camera would have been a device for gaining access to a place where I had no reason to be, other than simple curiousity. Of course, this is reason enough in itself, but it isn't always easy to explain this to someone, or even to justify it to your (rationalising) self.
There are many other examples of devices that allow subtleties of experience. Let's say you find yourself sitting indoors on a lovely sunny day. You realise that you'd like to be outside, but you have no ostensible reason for going out. Some may take a walk, or go sit in a park. The skateboarder always has a reason for being outside. And a sunny day never presents a problem of imagination. The skateboard, whilst serving its ostensive purpose (it allows the person to skate), also acts as a device allowing the skater to experience being out and about on a lovely day - a device for accessing subtleties of experience.I'm not suggesting that we all take up skateboarding, but I hope you can understand the idea; the camera and the skateboard, whilst being devices for taking pictures and skating upon, can also act in other ways.
So, note to self: always carry the camera, just in case ...
................................................................................................................................................................................
Related posts:-
Dérive
Experiential Education
Community | Play
Disenchanted
................................................................................................................................................................................
It seems to them vulgar to enjoy food because you are hungry or to enjoy life because if offers a variety of interesting spectacles and surprising experiences. From the height of their disillusionment they look down upon those whom they despise as simple souls. For my part I have no sympathy with this outlook.All disenchantment is to me a malady, which it is true, certain circumstances may render inevitable, but which none the less, when it occurs, is to be cured as soon as possible, not to be regarded as a higher form of wisdom.
[Bertrand Russell]
The Conquest of Happiness, p.111
................................................................................................................................................................................
Related posts:-
Bright spark
Life Is Too Short!
Embrace Experience
Come on Youth
Tactfully Unconventional
................................................................................................................................................................................
Conventional people are roused to fury by departures from convention, largely because they regard such departures as a criticism of themselves.They will pardon much unconventionality in a man who has enough jollity and friendliness to make it clear, even to the stupidest, that he is not engaged in criticising them.
[Bertrand Russell]
The Conquest of Happiness, p.89
................................................................................................................................................................................
Related posts:-
Personality and convention
Uses of Heroes | Experience
Creative Living
Status Quo
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)