I’ve been rereading M.R. James’s stories. He’s most associated with ghost stories and quiet horror, but as an influence on Lovecraft there are plenty of creepy crawlies for those kinds of fans. I get why they seem archaic to some contemporary readers. Jacobi’s readings are perfect in the audiobooks. Puppets and animation in a serious … Continue reading Marginalia #8
Artaud’s manifestos on the Theater of Cruelty. Certainly transferable to other art forms. I read this 20+ years ago after discovering various early-20th Century avant-garde manifestos. Worth a reread with fresh eyes and more experience. Holbein’s paintings are favorites and I’ve always wanted to track these down. Functions like a Memento Mori Tarot. Le danse … Continue reading Marginalia #7
More interesting and insightful than I thought it was going to be. Australian folk horror from the early 80s. A precursor to Hereditary, maybe? Genuinely bad, but possibly fun for those with a penchant and the patience for horror on a low budget in the 80s. Takes on apartment horror/possession. Some hilarious dialogue hilariously delivered. … Continue reading Marginalia #5
An annotated discography for sound and sound art at the fringes. You could probably get all Benjamin and Adorno on these genres and ideas, but Tau keeps the critical machinery to a minimum and often approaches the pieces and artists very practically. What draws us toward or away from these sounds? What does one get … Continue reading Marginalia #3
An epic about change and organized around the history of the world. I can’t imagine any reader not knowing some of these stories. I had been meaning to read the whole thing for years, especially after coming across Samuel Beckett’s enthusiasm for it. I can only remember offhand Beckett celebrating Proust, Joyce, and Ovid. Beckett’s … Continue reading Marginalia #2
A recent read that gives insight into before and after the folk explosion of the 1960s, referred to here as The Great Folk Scare. Great stories with a personal perspective on an era considered so important because of its connection to songwriters like Bob Dylan and Joan Baez. Van Ronk’s relationship with and stories about … Continue reading Marginalia #1
Over at The Drunken Odyssey, I review Christopher C. King’s Lament from Epirus, a book about the West’s oldest surviving folk music. Continue reading New Review: Lost Chords and Serenades Divine #18
We talk about her book, Known by Salt, over at The Drunken Odyssey. (Photo courtesy of Bang Images.) Continue reading An Interview with Poet Tina Mozelle Braziel
I’m happy to have a short essay co-written with a former student over at The Drunken Odyssey. Sometimes resolutions take a decade. Continue reading More on The Outsiders
Stephen McClurg 