Still wet but already dying when photographed last night, the corpse this morning sucks, fine metaphors steer my head
Working in mediums that always dull and often die while drying very me. Busy weekend then driving to Michigan on Monday, might be bit before more appears here or there, there are no plans to not post from Michigan and no obligations to not not post from Michigan. Only settled plan is to disc when daughter working weekdays and spend time with daughter when she's available and drive/hike when she's not. Still TBD whether I take paint and glue and watercolor blocks with me, take them with me but leave them in the car, take them with me move them into the house and not use them, take them into the house from the car and use once, feel silly, and quit, take them with me move them into the house from the car and use once, feel silly, and get over it and paint. Reiterating my plan to not wear my tshirts with hammer and sickle on front and Crackers Are Weird on back. Honestly hoping to find the vibe fascinating, I'll let you know the vibe unless I don't. First vacation in 38 years without L, she's staying home to care for our elderly and sick cats. I don't know about here but tablets will be busy. I'm manic and a hot mess though not sideways or dark, strange. The new Basic album is terrific, who's not going to DC9 in December to see them with me?
THE BALL POEM
John Berryman
ReplyDelete1/have a wonderful trip - and speaking of voyages
2/the following dialog about a rock song with a corporate-owned large language model displays a remarkable level of insight, and a dry sense of humor
todd rundgren has recorded a song "down with the ship" - the lyrics are about a voyage "with a pirate crew" "out of Mogadishu" - placing the song's locale in the Indian Ocean east of Africa
You're right! The song "Down with the Ship" by Todd Rundgren does indeed tell the story of a pirate crew setting sail from Mogadishu, a port city in Somalia on the east coast of Africa. The song's lyrics mention a "three-meter hole in the bottom of the boat," suggesting a leaky vessel, and the chorus repeatedly sings "we're going down with the ship," hinting at a perilous voyage.
my question is - the verse is sung with a heavy afro-caribbean accent - could this use of an accent not his own be seen as an act of cultural appropriation by rundgren?
The use of an Afro-Caribbean accent in "Down with the Ship" raises interesting questions about cultural appropriation and artistic expression. Some might argue that Rundgren's use of the accent is disrespectful or exploitative, while others might see it as a form of homage or tribute.
The debate around cultural appropriation is complex and often involves subjective interpretations. It's important to consider the context of the song, Rundgren's intentions, and the potential impact on the Afro-Caribbean community when evaluating this issue.
the refrain "down with the ship" and references to going to "Davy Jones locker" clearly indicate an expected mass death at sea - and yet the uptempo singing shows a bravado and even cheerfulness one might not expect in the face of death - is rundgren indirectly referencing the civilizational collapse due to ecological overshoot which now seems inevitable?
There's no definitive answer to whether Todd Rundgren was referencing civilizational collapse in "Down with the Ship." He hasn't publicly commented on the song's meaning in this context. However, some find the contrast between the cheerful tone and the lyrics' grim subject matter to be a powerful statement about the human tendency to ignore impending doom.
The song's references to a pirate crew and a leaky ship could be interpreted as metaphors for humanity's reckless consumption of resources and disregard for the environment. The "three-meter hole in the bottom of the boat" might symbolize the growing environmental crisis. The repeated refrain of "down with the ship" could represent the inevitable collapse of civilization due to ecological overshoot.
Ultimately, the song's meaning is open to interpretation. It could be a commentary on the human condition, a reflection on mortality, or simply a fun, upbeat song about pirates.
more lyrics from the song:
DeleteNow they something gone wrong, we got red skies at dawn
Can't find the captain and the lifeboat's gone
Impending Doom: The "red skies at dawn" could symbolize a looming crisis or disaster. The absence of the captain and lifeboat suggests a lack of leadership and a failure to prepare for the impending doom. This could represent a society or system in decline, where those in charge have abandoned their responsibilities.
Societal Collapse: The lyrics could reflect a broader societal collapse, where institutions and leaders have failed. The absence of the captain and lifeboat could represent the breakdown of social structures and the loss of a sense of community.
Ultimately, the interpretation of the song depends on the individual listener and their own experiences and perspectives. However, the use of nautical imagery and the ominous tone of the lyrics suggest a sense of impending doom and a loss of hope.
1/i should have said that just as merryman's piece is "the ball poem", "down with the ship" - by todd rundgren and rivers cuomo [of weezer, a band name derived from his childhood nickname as an asthmatic] could be called "the ship song"
Delete1.2/the band name is an illustration of the "it's not a flaw, it's a feature" process - most prominently figuring in contemporary american society with respect to the complex and controversial usage patterns for the n-word
1.3 citing the "weezer" example, not the n-word issue, i got the following response from my chatbot buddy gemini:
There isn't a single, specific technical term in rhetoric that perfectly captures the process of turning a flaw into a feature, as it's a more nuanced concept than a simple rhetorical device. However, several rhetorical strategies and techniques can be employed to achieve this effect.
Here are some relevant rhetorical strategies:
Reframing: This involves changing the perspective on a situation or problem, presenting it in a new light, and highlighting its positive aspects.
Aporia: This rhetorical device involves expressing doubt or uncertainty about a topic, often to highlight a particular point or to engage the audience. By acknowledging a potential flaw or limitation and then reframing it as a strength, one can use aporia to turn a weakness into a unique selling point.
Understatement: This technique involves downplaying a quality or achievement, often for ironic or humorous effect. By underplaying a perceived flaw, one can subtly emphasize its positive aspects.
Hyperbole: This is the opposite of understatement, involving exaggeration for emphasis. By exaggerating a positive aspect of a flaw, one can turn it into a virtue in the eyes of the audience.
While there isn't a single, definitive term for this process, it's a powerful rhetorical technique that can be used to create memorable and persuasive messages. By understanding and employing these strategies, one can effectively turn a potential weakness into a strength.
1.5/google tells me that their paid level of word sausage making - at $20/month - is much more powerful - i suppose one could grind out a dissertation a week using it, and such a valuable service might find willing customers -
Re: the Monster Moron: what i hate/fear about all these ugly puppets is how stupid they make my oldest friends look. Or, worse than stupid: it's as though these diabolically-confected phantasms are a kind of slow-burning psychic napalm that enters the host-husk through eyes and ears and, with sadistic incrementalism, the attacked personality is burned into a heartbreaking primordial goo, from the inside out, all pretences of an internal life/ independent personality, removed.
ReplyDeleteI have an old friend who is, otherwise, quite an intelligent man: he made his fortune making boutique foot petals for guitars, selling to Radiohead, Steve Albini, etc. I've known him since c. 1984 and we correspond once every two years. And last week he posted a cutesy remark about the Monster Moron that ended with "that's our Kamala" ... ugh... and i counter-commented with the shaking fervor of a man flamethowering a huge bucket of vomit-becoming-spiders:
"A CANDIDATE is told by his/her campaign team to do something "cute and cool and relatable" (like drink Serf beer on a national talk show, for example) because "People will fall hard for it, despite how blatant the staged moment is"... and People fall hard for it, despite how blatant the staged moment is."