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Pataphysical Slot Machine

by Crazy Horse Sun Sep 9th, 2012 at 04:38:21 AM EST

i don't know what Pataphysics is; that makes me some kind of expert. And Tour Guide. Is it worth a Tour? Well, through the Door then, or down the Rabbit Whole.


OH, what a sweet slide. The art moves on the shimmering walls, the colors live. The connections go right through me, i must be some kind of neural transition point.

At least MIT Press has a guidebook:


Of all the French cultural exports over the last 150 years or so, `pataphysics--the science of imaginary solutions and the laws governing exceptions--has proven to be one of the most durable. Originating in the wild imagination of French poet and playwright Alfred Jarry and his schoolmates, resisting clear definition, purposefully useless, and almost impossible to understand, `pataphysics nevertheless lies around the roots of Absurdism, Dada, futurism, surrealism, situationism, and other key cultural developments of the twentieth century.
....
In a Jarryesque touch, he provides these in reverse chronological order, beginning with a survey of `pataphysics in the digital age and working backward to Jarry and beyond. He looks specifically at the work of Jean Baudrillard, Georges Perec, Italo Calvino, J. G. Ballard, Asger Jorn, Gilles Deleuze, Roger Shattuck, Jacques Prévert, Antonin Artaud, René Clair, the Marx Brothers, Joan Miró, Max Ernst, Marcel Duchamp, James Joyce, Flann O'Brien, Raymond Roussel, Jean-Pierre Brisset, and many others.

So far so good, at least i'm not alone. How KrazyKunst can it be to share a Slot Machine with Joyce and the Marx Bros?

Of course, ET, with all its politics and punditry, may not be the best place in the world to go out on a limb. But then it wouldn't be out on a limb. Me feels comfortable way out here. Perhaps eye can learn me something pataphysical.

Like Eye said, at least me not alone.

You?

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You won't find me hanging out at some ET Tip Jar, no way. It's a beautiful sunny potentially last day of Summer, albedo hazy, and my man Man Ray has advised me to read Jarry underwater.

So me goin' swimming. Perhaps when me returns, eye'll know something pataphysical. Then continue building the Reactor.



"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin

by Crazy Horse on Sun Sep 9th, 2012 at 04:47:24 AM EST


"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin
by Crazy Horse on Sun Sep 9th, 2012 at 04:57:59 AM EST
[ Parent ]
"Les Ames de Venceslas, de Boleslas, de Ladislas, de Rosemonde entrent dans grotte, leurs Ancêtres les accompagnent et remplisssent la grotte.  Le plus vieux s'approche de Bougrelas et le réveille doucement.

BOUGRELAS: Eh! Que vois-je? Toute ma famille, mes ancêtres...Par quelle prodigé?"

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Sun Sep 9th, 2012 at 07:01:54 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Link to some more stunning photos (copyrighted, with artists permission) HERE

Review of Useless Pataphysics Guide HERE

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin

by Crazy Horse on Mon Sep 10th, 2012 at 05:25:44 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Oklahoma always at the forefront of thought.



"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin

by Crazy Horse on Mon Sep 10th, 2012 at 01:01:34 PM EST
At least we're well read.



"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin

by Crazy Horse on Tue Sep 11th, 2012 at 02:32:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]
I'm one of the serious folk, pataphysically speaking, but don't you wonder who designs these ceremonial robes of respect? Galadriel? Julia Child? Martin Luther?

(ED. Don't be a fool CH, at least they don't have to wear powdered wigs.)

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin

by Crazy Horse on Wed Sep 12th, 2012 at 10:37:50 AM EST
but the robes are the exception. Otherwise the court looks like a small lower level court designed in the seventies. As you can see in the austere design in this picture.
by IM on Wed Sep 12th, 2012 at 10:43:25 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Robe - Wikipedia
Die scharlachroten Roben der Richter am Bundesverfassungsgericht entsprechen nicht dem ansonsten in Deutschland gebräuchlichen Robentypus. Sie wurden vielmehr in den 1950er Jahren speziell von einem Münchener Kostümbildner entworfen, der als Vorbild eine Richtertracht der Stadt Florenz aus dem 15. Jahrhundert wählte. Verfassungsrichter tragen besondere Barette und anstelle der Krawatten Jabots, lange weiße Halsbinden, die den zur Amtstracht evangelischer Pastoren gehörenden Beffchen ähneln.

The 1950's is horrible enough, aesthetically. 1950's trying to catch 15th century Florence explains the ugliness. Small wonder that the designer is keeping their name secret.

by Katrin on Wed Sep 12th, 2012 at 10:58:15 AM EST
[ Parent ]
by gk (gk (gk quattro due due sette @gmail.com)) on Wed Sep 12th, 2012 at 11:05:20 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Oh dear. A mercenary. I wonder if the unknown designer of the 1950's wanted to insinuate something.
by Katrin on Wed Sep 12th, 2012 at 01:33:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Yes. Don't let the court shoot off the top of your nose.

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin
by Crazy Horse on Wed Sep 12th, 2012 at 02:22:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fabola/sets/72157623637793277/detail/

Dr Rheinbrain, one of the designer/builders of the Pataphysical Slot Machine, is a friend.  There are plans to display it at City Lights Bookstore in SF sometime soon.

Solar IS Civil Defense

by gmoke on Wed Sep 19th, 2012 at 06:42:06 PM EST
Nice to see Howard, Fabrice and the gang, and many thanks for posting the link.

For those who don't know Howard Rheingold, of "Virtual Community" and "Smart Mobs" fame, linkyhere.

If my memory isn't failing, i believe i first me a very young Douglas Rushkoff at Howard's place during a WELL meet up.

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin

by Crazy Horse on Mon Sep 24th, 2012 at 03:54:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]


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