tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31030337.post974892545682088889..comments2023-10-29T10:21:04.035-04:00Comments on Caught In The Stream: After Beckett, Words FailFrancis Scudellarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01008685302028451297noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31030337.post-65776871463555136422010-07-30T16:10:10.201-04:002010-07-30T16:10:10.201-04:00@hb Sometimes we have to make ourselves dizzy in o...@hb Sometimes we have to make ourselves dizzy in order to appreciate balance :).<br /><br />@Anon I agree for the most part that his work can be very positive and funny, but there are some rather bleak pieces mixed in too. Krapp's Last Tape, comes to mind first. Happy Days, despite the title and some very funny moments, would be considered depressing by a lot of viewers. He makes references to suicide in several of his pieces, and they all have an Existential quality that some people don't appreciate (though his world view is very much in line with my own, at times).Francis Scudellarihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01008685302028451297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31030337.post-26202088946113582372010-07-30T15:56:50.429-04:002010-07-30T15:56:50.429-04:00First 4 lines and last 2 might pass for Beckett. I...First 4 lines and last 2 might pass for Beckett. I stop there as I can't go on.<br /><br />Beckett wrote in English and turned to French as it was a language without style - probaly true and suited to his "style". He later returned to English at the suggestion of his American publisher in an effort to find renewed energy.<br /><br />Anyway he was, of course, Irish and fled the place for artistic freedom - ala Joyce whose daugther he sort of dated. Small world.<br /><br />But then again "the sun rose having no alternative on the nothing new". Happens all the time.<br /><br />He is one of the most positive and funny (in a way) writers of all time. Where's the depression????Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31030337.post-52638676674011228182010-07-30T03:33:19.384-04:002010-07-30T03:33:19.384-04:00there is always more sense in the nonsense... no?
...there is always more sense in the nonsense... no?<br /><br />when i was a child, we children had a nonsensical game... we opened our arms and turned round and round... spinning as fast as we could... then at one point we would lose our balance... and we'd fall down... then came the attempt to stand up... and boy! i really loved that part!<br /><br /><br />understanding is a sort of standing... no?<br /><br />:D<br /><br /><br /><br />well... i loved this work... for the same reason...human beinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09232419187783429903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31030337.post-12954040570626681672010-07-29T23:25:29.282-04:002010-07-29T23:25:29.282-04:00@Stan The banter of Didi and Gogo was playing in m...@Stan The banter of Didi and Gogo was playing in my head as I wrote this.<br /><br />@Barbara Beckett is definitely not everyone's cup o' tea, but I have a tendency to utter both monosyllables and complicated concepts in the same sitting.Francis Scudellarihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01008685302028451297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31030337.post-38584861890490143442010-07-28T21:40:26.903-04:002010-07-28T21:40:26.903-04:00I have trouble with the category of drama that see...I have trouble with the category of drama that seems to be about itself. it requires too much mental subtlety for me to simultaneously suspend disbelief and examine why there are people speaking in complex concepts and monosyllables.<br /><br />on the other hand, it makes for a good poem.barbarahttp://briarcat.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31030337.post-65345861171837847232010-07-28T21:18:31.953-04:002010-07-28T21:18:31.953-04:00Great similarity to Beckett's style. The excha...Great similarity to Beckett's style. The exchange put me in mind of Waiting for Godot but also with a hint of Endgame to it.Stan Skihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963655096635414472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31030337.post-60244868440660374122010-07-28T15:39:52.710-04:002010-07-28T15:39:52.710-04:00@Brenda I think it's mostly Beckett, but I sha...@Brenda I think it's mostly Beckett, but I share a little of his outlook.<br /><br />@Viv Thanks... after all these years, I've learned to accept it :).<br /><br />@Derrick Some are very dark, but some of his pieces have a lot of humor too. Godot, especially, is very intentionally comical. Some of his shorter pieces were inspired by Keaton and Chaplin.<br /><br />@Mark This was definitely inspired by the dialog in Godot. I'm only through the first two discs, but I look forward to checking out those two pieces. <br /><br />@Rall He wrote in both French and English. I think he lived most of his life in Paris (he was part of the Resistance during WWII). I'm drawn to his use of language, which he strips down to the bare essentials, and the brilliant psychological insights he draws out in pieces such as Not I. Then there's the dark sense of humor, which I always appreciate.Francis Scudellarihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01008685302028451297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31030337.post-78747791247862638322010-07-28T14:33:50.098-04:002010-07-28T14:33:50.098-04:00The only things I know about Beckett are that he w...The only things I know about Beckett are that he was good looking and was a francophile and wrote in French ( I think )Waiting for Godot stopped me in my tracks..actually your poem reminds me a little of that sort of dialogue. What draws you to Beckett?Rallentandanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31030337.post-22197730094188849642010-07-28T13:28:24.635-04:002010-07-28T13:28:24.635-04:00Your poem does indeed capture the musicality of on...Your poem does indeed capture the musicality of one of Beckett's exchanges, such as those in Godot. There was period when I tore my hair out trying not to write like Beckett. <br /><br />There's some gems in that film series. Two of my favorites are Rough for Theatre II and Rockaby.Mark Kerstetterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13307987573435067415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31030337.post-19465622493265863212010-07-28T12:14:19.562-04:002010-07-28T12:14:19.562-04:00Poor man! Maybe I should be ashamed to admit that ...Poor man! Maybe I should be ashamed to admit that I don't know Beckett's works. Perhaps I would find them too depressing?!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00861397533660827678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31030337.post-12992216123416314162010-07-28T11:58:54.568-04:002010-07-28T11:58:54.568-04:00I like the way your mind works, Francis.I like the way your mind works, Francis.vivienne blakehttp://vivinfrance.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31030337.post-12067186882316730392010-07-28T11:56:59.345-04:002010-07-28T11:56:59.345-04:00Funny. I smiled throughout the piece, Francis. T...Funny. I smiled throughout the piece, Francis. The eternal pessimist runs through this you. Is that you, or Beckett? :)<br />~Brendabrenda whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00846306414656375463noreply@blogger.com