My Fantoms - Theophile Gautier - JK Cosmos

My Fantoms – Theophile Gautier (translated Richard Holmes)

Details, A Very Close Look / “The Actor” & “The Opium Smoker”

Details, readily transporting the images and emotions of the piece, and yet, if the writer is not effective in the details, the work fails. In the writings of Gautier, details is one component of his craft that works.
How to write in details, without sounding like a list or a work for a business endeavor? Gautier wrote in poetry/prose, actually. His writings are fluid, are transformative and knowing how to structure the piece without the effort showing is a skill well worth the effort.

“….and a sharp breeze whirled among the saffron yellow leaves, blackened at the edges by the first nip of early frost. The rose-bushes along the flowerbeds were twisted and broken by the wind, their long stems left trailing disconsolately through the mud; but the main alley, with its graveled surface, still remained passably dry.” The Actor P.101.

The short stories in the anthology are phenomenally close up and detailed. The use of description and language that closes us in and around and very engaged is how the narratives are related and communicated. Why are all stories not as perfect? How does Gautier keep the pace and not bore the reader?

“Altogether it would have been the ideal place for a poet to have turned his meditative steps. Indeed at that very moment a young man was pacing up and down the central avenue, though with every visible sing of impatience. His dress was elegant to the point of theatricality, consisting of a black velvet frock-coat with gold military frog-ging and collar trimmed with fur, tight-fitting grey wool trousers, and a pair of soft leather boots reaching to the knee and decorated with tassels.” P.101. The Actor. Fabulous use of language and movement, of fluidity and a graceful introduction to the narration is the process that catches ones breathe as we read on.

The details in both stories enhance and develop the characters. How much more of a visual is portrayed in each story, than with the adjectives and phrases to describe all of it.
“Without hesitation I replied that her name was Carlotta (which was true). She then told me that she had been a singer, and that she had died so young she had never tasted any of the pleasures of existence.” P. 99. The Opium Smoker.

How does the flow of language and detail enhance the work without bearing down on it? When does Gautier realize that the phrase, the sentence, the thought have enough detail? Gautier was a critic and wrote in various genres, including short essays. The sense of use of space and the constraints of a short story or essay may allow Gautier only a few concise ways to articulate and to narrate, which is perhaps the best use of language and poetic word choices.

Works Cited:
Gautier, Theophile. My Fantoms. Translated – Richard Holmes. New York Review Books.NYC, NY. 1976.

Value of Time

Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful, lest you let other people spend it for you.” —Carl Sandburg

“Guard well your spare moments. They are like uncut diamonds. Discard them, and their value will never be known. Improve them, and they will become the brightest gems in a useful life.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson

Welcome 2012 - JK Cosmos

Welcome 2012! Another New Year to reflect and plan, to be resolved. 

Having taught too many college classes at a few local colleges, the time to think and to recollect is bitter-sweet. Another year past and done with and what's been accomplished. The regret at not having done as much, not having accomplished the goals of last year's resolve - forever gone. How many more years of good health and motivation, inspiration, active life and living? How much to be done and how much will actually be accomplished? The never-ending, always hopeful questions with some sense of loss and some sense of being in the void, that vacuous and open place of time and effort and time and wishful thinking. How to bring it all home, bring it together; really matter? Questioning the purpose and purposeful life, and the ability to move forward with some sense of having mattered...is this the question most people pose?

Hope! Hope to matter, to leave a positive impact or to motivate, inspire another person to matter...time and effort - how to bring it to fruition.

And so it goes...and so we aspire to do better...and how to take away that poignancy and urgency..or is that part of the life-force and the movement towards a better life and more significant existence?

Economy, Transitions - Growing Up or Was that Old/Older - JK Cosmos

Politicians, our reps in DC - how are they talking so much nothing that nothing is exactly what is accomplished? When did the electorate decide to watch tv and tweet & post on fb rather than work up a sweat about the inequities in the US of A? The economy and news about interest rates, jobs, professional development - gloom and doom. The 'talking heads' at both conservative and liberal news outlets; the written work the live news streams and television - shout at the masses - the economy has tanked!

Has it? Has the United States relinguished leadership & power to China, to the Middle East - to what flavor are the media junkies serving today? Where are the reports based on facts and figures? How can the average Joe & Jane learn more about the realities they face? It may seem that the main street Americans are too busy trying to keep body and soul together. They are. It may seem that the middle class, now sliding to poor, has more significant plans, to find that better job, to pay off college costs with their children, to figure out how to keep the house, manage the car bills and to top it off, medical insurance.

And the question becomes, what are the leaders doing? How are we, the people, to view the world now with banks manipulating and continuing to soak up the monetary resources. The banks, who required funding and more funding, greedy and ever-taking from the working class. Prosecuting those responsible for the fall-out would seem reasonable and fair, where are the prosecutors and where is the anger of the people paying the bill on those mis-steps of the very wealthy; bankers and politicians.

And so we think about lobbyists and the powerful hiring more powerful - the few who advocate and dance the dance of those few in control and charming, conniving and manipulating the weaker or perhaps the weakest - the politicians, with eyes on the prize of being re-elected and the money that will accomplish that - not the one vote from consitutuents; but rather the super funds and treasury overload of the conglomerates and the lobbyists that reward that vote, that stall, that back to committee motion.

Is this the bargain? Are we seeing the fruits of our labor? Has the world gone crazy or is this the end-game? Growing up has become a painful reality for most baby boomers. Growing older has not been the peace and loove child of the sixties. The promises of youthful activism and hard-work, studies and volunteerism has lead to what? And that is the rub, the total undenialable and caustic rub...

There are some, a very few, who do not believe the news. The minoirty of the people believe in and for something more. What do they believe in & for while the news people drone on about the negative the downsliding...They believe that America is the greatest nation in the world. They believe that America can and will lead on and move forward. They believe that despite reports and newscasts, the US of A can prosper and the people can aspire to do and be whomever they want and dream to be. For the most part, the they are citizens from elsewhere, the newly minted Unites State citizen, and hurrah for them. The rest of us should and need to listen closely. The rest of us need to stop talking and to take a 'pause' to regroup and to carry on..afterall we are Americans and know that the United States is the greatest nation in the world!

Thanks Tony for reminding me! Well-said!

June lst & another decade. - JK Cosmos

Took my brother, Steven, & his partner, Jim, to Logan Express yesterday as they headed out for Paris. Poignant and sweet recollections, when not in the too far past, my brother & I went to Paris. Young, jubilant and joyful, high expectations and easy going travels. It was an adventure. The journey to Paris, as young Americans, taught us to say we were from Canada, to avoid the 'hot politics' and hate for US that was prevalent at the time. 

Traveling without issues and to just live in the moment was the plan. And, for me, it worked. It worked well, in part, as I bought a pair of French jeans, washed out and tight with a flair at the bottom. I also found platform sandals, about three inches high and black and strappy. Thinking about walking around the city on new platforms, never crossed my mind. And finally, to blend in with Parisians, I found a very red and very slick lipstick and cut my hair from shoulder length flip kinda preppy look to a short, layered model, maybe actress look. It worked and Paris was fabulous and the time spent drifting and being on a small green chair at the Jardins de Tuileries couldn't be written much better than the reality.

Another decade and pinning for France, and more to it; for Paris.

Swan Lake/Black Swan-Paris 1973 Boston 2011

Swan Lake/Black Swan–Paris-Boston(1973/2010) J.K. Cosmos

Ballet, the energy and tension & pure physicality of it, astonishing! The love of ballet began early on and continued in earnest during my formative years and beyond. Providentially, I was in Paris for the foremost dance of Nureyev and Madam Fontaine. The venue, the Louvre, and the setting only in France, laid out the evening on a warm, clear, starry backdrop with the performance of ‘Swan Lake’ the preferred production.
On this night, at this place despite the ‘aha’ moments and fleeting energy of ballerinas fluttering about and the music commanding an audience response; on this night Nureyev dropped Madam Fontaine with a resounding and most dramatic thud. Some were not sure if it was a purposeful drop of the prima ballerina or was it part of the production or was he being such an egotist that he literally dropped her on her dainty and yes, aging behind. After all, this was the last performance for Madam and her retirement was well-known to the arts and creative community.
The morning newspapers cleared up any confusion with articles and commentaries on the ‘drop’ being mean-spirited and by clear intent of Monsieur Nureyev. Horrific in the world of dance! The production, the visuals, the rhythmic movement of the swan/ballet resonates still for me. My emotions high and close clearly mirrored my youth and idealism. The Swan Lake with themes of love and betrayal whispered in my ear the things that I knew were true. The dancers, beautiful and agile, confirmed my knowing that the world was beautiful and lovely. Oh, so lovely.

Response on Conflict in Egypt

Friends have written about religion as the cause of the strife in Egypt. My response was requested and the following is a brief one:

Ralph, not sure if I agree with your analysis, but I respect all of it. There are also Coptic Orthodox Christians in Egypt. My understanding is that Islam is a religion of peace, that is viewed as extreme when the politics are added to the mix. I am not an expert..., nor have I attended services, as you have..I just feel that most people want similar lives, as you mention without harassement & with respect. I wish I had an answer or path to that end, without violence. I think peaceful resistance and demonstrations should work, if the army & police would stand down and not engage with the people. Politicians should listen and do better.

On a global level, changes have to happen to be more just and fair; to give all people a chance at what they deserve, a life which includes a job, a home...I think it goes beyond religion, now. People in the US and Europe are also marginalized and wanting. Egypt is one major part of the beginning of a reaction. I think, not just the middle east, but some European nations, such as Greece, France, Great Britain and Ireland have -rioted and have demonstrations against banks and the government in the recent past and continue to do so. They oppose changing the retirement age and cutbacks on benefits earned. They oppose the backlash of the decades of fiscal irresponsibility. Balancing the budget need not be to the detriment of the middle class, does it? Greed of the upper class and those in power should not benefit on the backs of the working people. Restructuring shouldn't mean the wealthy continue to benefit and prosper while the majority are unemployed, and unable to live their lives with any sense of humanity and without hope.