Transmissions from Nowhereland
Issue 003/August 2024
At first I thought I was starting my PhD in June, but when paperwork backed up and bureaucracy slowed things down I actually officially started in July. And I was about to drop an exciting update in early August. But then I got the Gnarly Headcold That Everybody Else Has. (At least it wasn’t Covid.) Getting back into academic mode was already difficult and sent my brain for a loop, and then just when I was finding a rhythm, I got knocked back on my ass. So instead of bustin’ straight out of the gate, I tripped and fell in a water hazard. Blub!
Add to this, I had a Tales from Nowhereland gig lined up for August 16 and was all set to tell you about it, but instead had to postpone it for a later date. On top of that, I had two chances to DJ at Radioactive.fm, but both went into the cancelled bin. (I did, however, return to the airwaves on the 24th of August. Look to my Mixcloud where I’ll upload that set soon.)
So: whinge whinge whinge, poor me! Tell us something good ya baby!
Bartender Update
Now that we have pretty much an edit lock on the film, the next step is to get a soundtrack. Because the bar in Bartender is a classic American bar, I wanted something jazzy, something from a Blue Note release circa late ‘50s/early ‘60s. Still a n00b when it comes to the Wellington music scene, I turned to a friend who has his ear to the ground and that’s how I wound up having a coffee with saxophonist Jake Baxendale. He has a list of releases, residencies, and grants, which you can read about, and after chatting about his influences, I decided to hire him and two other of his friends to record a series of tracks that I can use as the background for my short. The score is now recorded, and we are getting closer to a premiere. I’m excited!
Is There a Doctorate in the House?
I was offered several places on campus to set up my PhD station. And here’s where I settled. I currently have desk space in an open office plan in Block 1, which is where admin peeps, many instructors, and other folks have their desks. I have a nice catbird seat from which I can look out over the main area, check comings and goings, and make conversation. There are a few other PhD students kicking around as well. I like it. I’m also in a room with an amazing bookshelf filled with all sorts of art books–some pertaining to my studies, even! Being next to books makes me happy.
I’ve gone back to the gym, because healthy body means healthy mind. So that’s some news. Though living here in Wellington means I walk more than I used to, I was getting pretty out of shape (and old, but that’s a given). But Block 1 where I spend most of my time is only 30 seconds away from the Massey Gym. There is no excuse! So I went back in my first week, got a weekly personal trainer to make sure I don’t embarrass myself, and now I’m going three times a week. I’ll be punching thru walls and postmodern theory in no time! And I’m already getting results: the guy who occasionally mows the lawn here at home asked if I’d been working out. I will take the compliments wherever I can get them, thanks. (Thirst trap gym mirror photos will be coming soon on my Instagram or OnlyFans, whatever comes first.) UPDATE: Lost all gains over three weeks of being sick lol. UPDATE UPDATE: I went back today, so stfu.
Trader Joe’s Everything Hegel
The other day I came across the phrase “Hegelian Dialectic” and I thought, well, yes, the Hegelian Dialectic. I know what that is. But then, as often happens when you find yourself in academia/general be-smartening-yourself, I then thought…wait, do I? And that led to a dive into the web and out the other side. The fish I held in my mouth was “thesis vs antithesis = synthesis”, but the most favorable swim was the Philosophize This! Podcast (recommended by my supervisors). Some will know this because I’m coming to the party late, but Stephen West’s hagiographic journey through the history of philosophy is exactly what I want from a history podcast: a conversational tone from a friend who really wants you to understand difficult concepts, who relates centuries-old ideas to the now, who uses examples, who can be super cringe in a Dad Joke way, who speaks at a speed and tone that imprints itself on your mind for future recall. My only complaint is that the episodes are mastered very quiet, so when a different podcast starts I jump out of my seat.
Tabula Rasa
Speaking of Beginner Mind, I decided to go back to a primer for my study of Surrealism (and Dada, they are so intermingled…but different!). How much did I *really* know about the Surrealists? Would I do well on your trivia team? By chance the bookshelf next to me provided the primer, A Very Short Introduction to Dada and Surrealism by David Hopkins. I especially liked how it looked back on the era through a critique of sexism (problematic, but not resoundingly awful) and racism (ahead of their time in terms of anti-colonial politics). Writing concise and smart history is in a way harder than having a thousand pages to do so, so I highly recommend it. Plus, am I team Breton or team Bataille? That’s a discussion for another newsletter.
PS BTW New Work
Talk about burying the lede, I created a very short video work, called Invocation. The work is informed by my reading on Surrealism and of Lon Milo Duquette’s The Chicken Qabalah. That’s all I’ll say for now on it.
Digging in the Dirt
To be honest, I’ve been feeling a little stuck and overwhelmed by the enormity of the challenge of the PhD. I was not sure of the way in. There’s been some major personal changes since moving here and I was too busy plowing ahead, and for good reason, there were deadlines and such. Too busy, really, to take a break and look back at myself and how I was doing. And in talking with friends–because that’s how my breakthroughs happen–I started to think…I haven’t written about any of this. Even just for myself. It’s time to do some emotional excavating.
That doesn’t mean, necessarily, that I’ll publish it here on the newsletter. Having an audience in the back of my mind might just hinder what I write and how I write it. This one’s just for me, folks! But from out of that excavation…ah, well you’ll have to wait and find out.
Land of Little Rain
Time to plug some more creative friends. Land of Little Rain is the non de plume of Sean Kennedy, one of my long time Santa Barbara pals (although he lives in Ojai). Like seriously, one of the smartest people I know, and it was only later that I discovered his music. Maybe it’s the Ojai vibes, but I always think of his sweeping rock/pop as coming straight out of Highway 33 and all points east until eventually the desert overtakes everything. Let me also mention that he writes, plays, produces, mixes, etc. nearly everything himself. If we lived in a just universe Mr. Kennedy’s music would be all over your favorite western-noir prestige series. Let your ears be the judge.
Earth Mover
I was able to attend the opening of Eleanor Diaz Ritzon’s show opening at Envy Gallery last week. Eleanor is one of my MFA comrades and I’m always been impressed with her earthy, down in the trenches paintings and her prodigious output. While some of us in open studio last year were jibber jabbering any chance we got, Eleanor put on the headphones, blocked us all out, and got to work. I assume her new studio situation is ever better. Anyway, I want to send her good vibes. Go see the show! It’s up til Sept. 14.
Okay, I’ve talked enough. Until next time!