Sunday, February 26, 2006
Mental and spiritual freedom
That's what the folks at the Houseplant Picture Studio take the "straight and narrow road to" after reading my blog. I'm glad about that. The encounter of a political scientist usually leads to madness and despair. The houseplanters moved me, in turn, to listen to Captain Beefheart, finally, and I am excited. Finally I understand what (er, whom) Tom Waits has been imitating after he went avantgarde.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Andreas...
Captain Beefheart is definitely one of THE "extreme" musicians of modern music...but not all of his music is difficult to comprehend or adjust to.
Most fans cite "Trout Mask Replica" as his best, but I like "Ice Cream for Crow" and it's a good place to approach his music without being scared-off completely.
It's funny, even though I like and admire Beefheart, I've never had any interest in Tom Waits...I just don't see any depth or feeling in his work (the same with Bruce Springsteen...but that's just me) - Waits did do a nice LIVE album..."Nighthawks at the Diner"
---
I kid around a lot, but I was honestly humbled (or dumbfounded) by the fact that you seem to actually (maybe) like our website...and maybe even visit it once in a while.
I normally just ATTEMPT to be a "smart" person, but you truly seem to BE one!
So...thanks...it's mildly-amazing to know that smart people drop by...it kind of keeps me on my toes
I know nothing of political science...and avoid politics like the plague, but I'll keep checking your blog and see what I can absorb as far as politics and the law go
How would YOU define political science? How do you approach your profession that somehow makes you unique? I've done art, music and other right-brained activites all my life, so the world of political debate seems totally alien to me
Must go...take care
talk again soon
Kurt Benbenek
California
Kurt,
sorry for not posting any response. Part of the reason (but not a valid excuse) is related to my change of address.
I'm not always so sure about that I'm that smart. For example, I spent part of the summer installing Linux on my laptop. While this was fun, it was not the smartest way to waste my time... I don't like to categorize people according to smartness or dumbness, besides obvious cases. But those don't need my ranking: they usually expose themselves prominently in public.
I don't think my approach to political science is unique. I try to do good research -- answer questions I find interesting, analyze data in a reliable manner, write readable articles. I am not changing any paradigms. I actually find that research is in many respects similar to aesthetic endeavors: Research questions have to be gripping, well-presented research can be quite beautiful -- and papers or books have to be well-written. I enjoy reading research, to my peril, as it means that I read too slowly and am never able to ingest the huge amount of stuff that political scientists churn out every day.
As to music: I find that "extreme" music gets much less extreme once one pays attention and one gets used to it. See how Stockhausen and similar types become more listenable once one has listened to some John Zorn et al., or Cpt. BH, for that matter.
You're right that Tom Waits is not particularly deep, but he has an ironic sentimentalism that can be convenient for the detached-intellectual types: You can enjoy the kitschy emotionalism of his drunkard characters without feeling guilty of indulging in kitsch. (He's much more popular in Germany than in the States, where people are less afraid of kitsch.) Plus, some arrangements are nice (Clap Hands) and he's funny. And he's butchered a West-Side-Story song.
I'll prepare a real post on my view of political science. Thanks for dropping in! Be well and stay in touch. [Ouch, this sounds like G. Keillor, my apologies.]
Cheers,
A.
B E N B E N E K !
http://kurtbenbenek.blogspot.com
here's the tracklisting for my new album, Chastity Bono's Shitpop Cropduster, available online only, because stores are too stupid to give a shit about me.
01 - Pointless Intro
02 - Charity Sex from a Sleeping Dog
03 - Human Activity is So Beneath Me
04 - The Homosexual Hiding Spot
05 - Kurt and Gina - Disgusting Couple Bereft of Meaning and Worth
06 - Pheasant Stuffed Up My Ass
07 - Why All My Tomorrows Blow
08 - Going Down on a Male Prostitute
09 - Assignment Four: Rape is Better than Celibacy
10 - Proposed Genious Television Spot for Miss Piggy Anal Love Beads
11 - Have No Fear, I'm Still Queer
12 - Psychic Trajectory All Fucked Up by My Limitless Self-Esteem Issues
13 - Gay Man
14 - Live to Read Kiddie Porn
15 - Cock in my "Kitchen" (i.e., "Anus")
16 - It's the Middle School of So-Called Albums
17 - Digging Around in Gina's Herpid Mud-Chasm Yesterday
18 - The Day My World Turned Gay Forever
19 - Kurt by the Sea (Watch Him Drown)
20 - Sweaty Dreams of Virgin Teens
21 - I'm the Monster, and I Abuse Children
22 - Shit Hole of my Life
23 - Ain't No Use... I'm Not Interested in Women
24 - Experimental Colon Cleansing
25 - Four Things That I Want You to Bring: "Full House" Trading Cards, Lubricant, Some Lace, and a Horse Trough for Gina
26 - Kiddie Porno
27 - Wannabe (That's Me)
28 - Even the Shittiest Punk Rock is Better than BENBENEK
29 - Too Many Phone Sex Charges on My Card
30 - Charity Sex from Gina (Crushing What Little Life is Left Out of Me)
31 - My Kind of Outro (Incest)
31 TRACKS - DOUBLE STEREO ALBUM
RELEASE DATE: JUNE 15, 2007
BUY YOUR COPY BEFORE JUNE 15
AND YOU'LL GET A BONUS CD
PLUS VARIOUS ODDS AND ENDS
GATHERED FROM AROUND
THE OFFICE
http://kurtbenbenek.blogspot.com
Post a Comment