Re: [-empyre-] original form

[Russell Smith <Russell.Smith@anu.edu.au>]

Yes, lots of love from me too.

I was captivated by Young-hae and Marc's work the first time I came across 
"The Struggle Continues" about a year ago. For me the strength of the work 
is above all in the writing: I always show this work to students who ask me 
who I think are the most interesting contemporary writers around. And I 
guess the other thing I like about it is it's not interactive in any dumb 
'new media' sense; if people can't stop fidgeting with their mouses for 
five minutes to take in a bit of art then I guess that's their loss.

With the pounding repetition, lyrical aggression, and general 
hilariousness, the texts remind me above all of Thomas Bernhard and Samuel 
Beckett (about the highest compliment I can make!). Young-hae and Marc - 
I'm sure you won't answer if you don't want to, but would you care to 
comment on literary influences?

Regards

Russell Smith
--
At 04:09 PM 5/12/2005 +1000, you wrote:
> I experienced Young-hae and Marc's 'engaged work' as a form of dialogue, 
> true communication (I am still contemplating that the basis of it was 
> possibly 'unconditional love').  The fact that it was art as well was kind 
> of secondary to me (although I was very much aware of it).  I saw it as a 
> way to escape narrow-mindedness/stupidity/rigidness/etc. (mine own as well 
> as the one of 'other') through dialogue, exchange - you do need to kind of 
> 'train' yourself in selflessness for that. I personally love 'true' 
> 'stupidity', I see it as one of the basic elements of life - and when it 
> is put in relevant context it becomes really beautiful.  Therefore, my 
> personal response to their work was related to the 'moment' in time, or 
> rather quite accidental on one level, but one could also argue that all 
> art (or awareness of art) is in a way an 'accidental event'.
>
> - and, yes, lots of love from me
>
> Victoria
>
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Dr Russell Smith
Lecturer in English
School of Humanities
AD Hope Building
The Australian National University
Canberra  ACT  0200  AUSTRALIA

T: +61 2 6125 2660
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