Masculine and Feminine
The big accomplishemnt of today was seeing Godart's "Masculine/Feminine" at Cinema Village East. They couldn't hold it in only one venue but had to expand it to include several theaters in the village, and now it plays in TWO venues instead of ONE. Is that a sign of a film's popularity? The number of screens it is shown has doubled, incrased by a whopping 100%; it has shocked and surprised its detractors by its swift rise at the box office and the tightening of its grip on the public imagination is complete.
Although the effect it had on me was not as dramatic as the things listed above, it is indeed a remarkable movie.
After the movie, I put on my cap and grabbed a copy of the Village Voice from the lobby and started reading. There was a line at the concession stand in front of me because the girls behind the stand were laughing loudly and too preoccupied to serve, as the line of filmgoers snaked. Soon enough, a bossy man with a thin mustache came headlong from around the corner, pulling his pants up with one hand to keep them from falling, having heard their laughter, but when they saw him coming the girls gulped. I understood that this was the manager. A stern look from him was enough to make them into efficient service employees. If you were there, you would have heard an indignant New Yorker cursing.
I also read a few pages--pages--of Calvino's "The Baron in the Trees." Its prose is evocative and self-absorbed in the best way possible, but alas not in any way that titllates and strokes the senses. He is mildly in love with writing adventure stories--uncommon for a literary artist. He is not one of my favorite writers of all time. In fact, I don't know if I'd be reading this particular novel of his had i not found it at a second hand book stall at the public library for ONE DOLLAR. I was amazed to find a classic book with such a new cover. If anyone thinks I am a deep and judicious consumer of art, you can see by this example that I am superficial and prone to buying books that I do not particularly enjoy reading--and for what? For a new-looking cover.
I'm sure I am not the only one to do this. Even though I have reduced my library considerably before we moved to the new apartment we are living in right now, I have no hope of reading all the thousands of books in my library. Yet I keep purchasing them. I am an incurable bibliophile.
I had not much happen to me today, but here is the kicker: my library privileges have been confiscated by THE MAN. As you know by what I have said so far, and you know the kind of person I am, I find this very upsetting. This college is slowly squeezing me out; as I no longer am a registered student here, they have moved against me, first barring me from access to the online database and now...this. The ultimate indignity. I demand satisfaction, sir! A duel at the sunset, to be fought between myself and a member of the college administration who is also a HIGH BORN GENTLEMAN.
I applied for graduation two weeks ago and explained to them that I am in limbo, dammit. Before my application is approved, and befor I become an alumni with access to this library, I am made a nonperson, displaced and driven out by those once trusted. I will set my course on finding new hangouts and new galaxies to explore. To boldly go where no one has gone before.
So...maybe I'll pick up a grad school application tomorrow. Shoot, it's Saturday. Monday, but I have work on Monday. When? Huh. You know, it doesn't matter. I'll get around to it eventually.
Although the effect it had on me was not as dramatic as the things listed above, it is indeed a remarkable movie.
After the movie, I put on my cap and grabbed a copy of the Village Voice from the lobby and started reading. There was a line at the concession stand in front of me because the girls behind the stand were laughing loudly and too preoccupied to serve, as the line of filmgoers snaked. Soon enough, a bossy man with a thin mustache came headlong from around the corner, pulling his pants up with one hand to keep them from falling, having heard their laughter, but when they saw him coming the girls gulped. I understood that this was the manager. A stern look from him was enough to make them into efficient service employees. If you were there, you would have heard an indignant New Yorker cursing.
I also read a few pages--pages--of Calvino's "The Baron in the Trees." Its prose is evocative and self-absorbed in the best way possible, but alas not in any way that titllates and strokes the senses. He is mildly in love with writing adventure stories--uncommon for a literary artist. He is not one of my favorite writers of all time. In fact, I don't know if I'd be reading this particular novel of his had i not found it at a second hand book stall at the public library for ONE DOLLAR. I was amazed to find a classic book with such a new cover. If anyone thinks I am a deep and judicious consumer of art, you can see by this example that I am superficial and prone to buying books that I do not particularly enjoy reading--and for what? For a new-looking cover.
I'm sure I am not the only one to do this. Even though I have reduced my library considerably before we moved to the new apartment we are living in right now, I have no hope of reading all the thousands of books in my library. Yet I keep purchasing them. I am an incurable bibliophile.
I had not much happen to me today, but here is the kicker: my library privileges have been confiscated by THE MAN. As you know by what I have said so far, and you know the kind of person I am, I find this very upsetting. This college is slowly squeezing me out; as I no longer am a registered student here, they have moved against me, first barring me from access to the online database and now...this. The ultimate indignity. I demand satisfaction, sir! A duel at the sunset, to be fought between myself and a member of the college administration who is also a HIGH BORN GENTLEMAN.
I applied for graduation two weeks ago and explained to them that I am in limbo, dammit. Before my application is approved, and befor I become an alumni with access to this library, I am made a nonperson, displaced and driven out by those once trusted. I will set my course on finding new hangouts and new galaxies to explore. To boldly go where no one has gone before.
So...maybe I'll pick up a grad school application tomorrow. Shoot, it's Saturday. Monday, but I have work on Monday. When? Huh. You know, it doesn't matter. I'll get around to it eventually.