Re: [-empyre-] Matrixial Encounters

marc <marc.garrett@furtherfield.org> · Thu, 14 Apr 2005 02:43:44 +0100

Hi Kate and all,
>I think in trying together to articulate this aesthetic, we will be 
touching

>upon the questions posed throughout this discussion - of how to transgress

>without doing so in the language, shape, form of that being transgressed.
Playful metaphorical instructions:
Move one foot outside of the circle
breath the air, taste it
look outside the circle
see others dipping their own toes, outside
throw a rope to another person, another circle
they catch the rope
others throw ropes
all are linked now
so now we are linked but no connection yet. gridlock!
--------------------
I think that it is time for people to step further, break the circle, 
let the air in and start reaching others, in more authentic ways. Leap 
beyond what we already know - escape the gradual falling from grace. 
Into what can sometimes seem like, 'a pseudo New Media Art implosion.'
Surely, we want more than what this world is now. For our loved ones, 
for ourselves and friends and potential co-matrixial mutualists. Whether 
it be aesthetic, ethical or plain ditzy, a re-emergence of the spirit 
'of why we all began doing this stuff in the first place' needs to be 
re-ignited, or even shared. Not for our own benefits but for all our 
benefits, and those who are not interested also.
"We want certainty and we return to the circle to find it. The ancient 
peoples gazed up into the wheel of the sky as it turns around and around 
in its intricate patterns and ceaseless cycles. Intricate, but familiar, 
we can predict what happens when things circle, know where the line 
crosses between inside and out, where the world divides into safe and 
unsafe." James Hillman.
Yes - we have all those amazing writers and thinkers who have guided us 
across the chasms, as we thumble around in the darkness of our own 
evaluated notions and various interpretations. But what use are these 
these amazing people unless we are brave enough to question our own 
desires for cultural acceptance, and move outside our circular walls. 
Built not only by our governments, despots and other fundamentalist 
juntas and social construction, but by ourselves - maybe it is time to 
value what we all have here now, see what we have happening on here. 
Really see. Be open, give it space, let it in, catch a sniff and just 
casually enjoy the aroma.
There are quality people on this list who are interested, enfused and 
curious enough to join in with the discussion here - within this circle 
there are many imaginative entities whom are exploring. And  much of the 
reasons of why we are all exploring at the moment can meet here - with 
room to spare.
And to be honest, what is a revolution? Who gets to hold the reigns 
after the fire and when it has finally died out? It will not be us, you 
can be sure of that.
Stepping stones (very very basic but cute enough to enjoy):
We don't need big ideas
We can have small ones that we can all share
We don't need to topple institutions
We can build our own connected groups, small ones
We don't need to be the most intelligent
We can be aware and critical and open
We don't need patriarchal leaders
We can create shared vision(s) amongst ourselves
We don't need manifestos
We can declare our behaviours instead
We don't need more solutions
We can build and change as we go along
ad finitum and all that stuff...
I feel that it is our own behaviours that need to be re-evaluated for we 
are all toughened by life, and can easily be blind to what is good for 
ourselves and others. Regarding the choice of rebuilding an alternative 
to what we have now in life; I'm game, I'm busy but not dead yet and 
always fascinated by people and their creative minds, especially when 
shared with others mutually (not self-consciously).
We are right now, part of a ratio with many combinations, entwined and 
can potentially be reshaped.
marc
------------------------------->snip<
I'd just like to clarify that this use of 'co-' is drawn completely from
Bracha Ettinger's work, not my own.

>> in terms of 'matrixial aesthetics' and ethics, i think subRosa's
>> activities are relevant (not just because this project uses the word
>> 'matrixial' in its title  :)
>> http://www.cyberfeminism.net/projects/doc/mx.html

I'd like to take Ryan's suggestion that subRosa's activities are relevant
and explore this a little more.  I am a great fan of what's happening at
subRosa, and am particularly fond of a good number of pieces on this site.
In fact, I was taking a re-look at a few pieces earlier this week, and as I
was doing so, I was thinking about whether or not these works were actually
engaging within a Matrixial space or not.  I'm not sure, but I think that
maybe, like much feminist work, it is really working at the limits of
phallic logic and not transgressing those boundaries to move into an
expanded Symbolic.
4/12/05 19:19marcmarc.garrett@furtherfield.org
>> I feel that there is always a place
>>where re-defining, mutually asserting, evaluating and sharing such a
>>process of matrixial aesthetics, is needed. Mainly because it seems that
>>it has not been declared or fully realized yet.

I'd also like to try and explore Marc's ideas further, and in relation to
the idea of transgressing the limits of phallic logic to move into a
matrixial symbolic, (not dismissing the phallic, but allowing an expanded
symbolic to include other potential perspectives) start to articulate a
co-emerging understanding of this aesthetic with others on this list.
I think in trying together to articulate this aesthetic, we will be touching
upon the questions posed throughout this discussion - of how to transgress
without doing so in the language, shape, form of that being transgressed.
Kate

>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> empyre forum
>> empyre@lists.cofa.unsw.edu.au
>> http://www.subtle.net/empyre

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