Category Archives: writing

“For the hair, it seems, is less concerned in the resurrection than other parts of the body.”

Perhaps parts of us decay to signify something greater. As little as we treasure wisdom, we might treasure it even less if given the choice to trade our brains for beauty outright. Seeing others become old, realizing that’s us, accepting our situation and trying to make more of it – that’s got to mean something, …

November 20, 2011 – 3:07 pm | By ashok | Posted in writing | Comments (2)

“But without God, the universe is meaningless. Life is meaningless. We’re meaningless. (Deadly pause) I have a sudden and overpowering urge to get laid.”

Hemingway consistently links sex and death. Is the link as simple as “there is no eternal, rational order, all things pass away, this is depressing and we need to occupy ourselves with something or someone?” It’s too much, too soon. No God means nothing is meaningful? 99% of believers won’t grant that: people of all …

November 18, 2011 – 2:29 pm | By ashok | Posted in writing | Comments (0)

Re: Xeni Jardin’s “Everything Moves To Live”

Italicized quotes below from “Everything Moves To Live” Xeni Jardin, “Everything Moves To Live” | Xeni Jardin at about.me (I) … there is poetry in the network. There is math in music. Metal dreams of becoming a spaceship. And the spaceship dreams of flying toward stars. I feel the recent glimpses I’ve been taking at …

October 25, 2011 – 3:13 am | By ashok | Posted in blogging, writing | Comments (1)

“like transparent glass”

1. “The most beautiful bodies are like transparent glass.” This was sitting in my journal and I didn’t know what to do with it, so now it’s here. At first, we think of luminous, youthful skin that plays with light. Our sensuality isn’t always just hormones pumping, though it can feel that way. It is …

October 19, 2011 – 4:59 pm | By ashok | Posted in poetry, writing | Comments (8)

Anthony Jacobus, “Silence!”

For me, Anthony Jacobus’ “Silence!” series starts with this portrait of a woman in period costume. The greys and whites take on linear and swirling shapes; the clash between young and old is nowhere more evident than in her youth and the decayed panel behind her. She doesn’t look defeated or exhausted to me – …

September 11, 2011 – 1:56 am | By ashok | Posted in media, writing | Tagged | Comments (1)

Botticelli, “Venus and Mars”

Thanks to Ruthie for her insights. “Venus and Mars” (may take a while to download) | Wikipedia article So a male is almost boorish in his exhaustion after intercourse. There’s not much new there. What’s curious is her. She is staring at him, but I’d venture that gaze is more business than anything else. She’s …

August 10, 2011 – 3:47 am | By ashok | Posted in writing | Tagged | Comments (1)

Trip to Iowa, 8/6 – 8/8

For the purpose of singing a wedding with Collegium. They waited for me. On the plane I was told we would be delayed; there was no opportunity to warn them. The delays seemed interminable. I was very worried they would leave the airport without me. The hotel name and address I didn’t know. A very …

August 9, 2010 – 10:55 pm | By ashok | Posted in personal, writing | Comments (10)

Picasso, “Man with a Violin” and “Man with a Guitar”

Via the Philadelphia Museum of Art: Man with a Guitar | Man with a Violin I don’t know whether you can call Satie’s Gymnopédies Cubist (listen to Gymnopédie No. 1); his formal association with cubists seems to have happened later in his career. Nonetheless, a description of the Gymnopédies from Wikipedia in need of citations …

August 1, 2010 – 1:05 pm | By ashok | Posted in writing | Tagged | Comments (9)

Comment on Cowboy Bebop, “Speak Like a Child” (Session 18)

“Speak Like a Child” (video) Episode Summary Faye is gambling on horses, hoping one will win; Spike is fishing, and has almost caught something. She loses at the same moment he loses the fish, although both are in wholly separate locales. Jet is hanging laundry at the same time all of this is going on …

July 23, 2010 – 1:31 pm | By ashok | Posted in writing | Tagged | Comments (8)

Comment on Cowboy Bebop, “Jupiter Jazz” (Sessions 12 and 13)

Spoilers galore ahead Cowboy Bebop, “Jupiter Jazz” (video – part 1, part 2) | episode guide (part 1, part 2) “There is nothing in this world to believe in.” – Vicious 1. These two episodes are haunting, beautiful, and present some of the deepest characters I’ve ever seen on television. I can’t think of a …

June 26, 2010 – 9:36 am | By ashok | Posted in media, writing | Tagged | Comments (3)