I never realized he was a writer!😂He was just English guy with the hat (can’t recall how I heard of him as a teen, maybe that Sting song). Hm, tempted to check out that anthology. Currently have a slight fascination with mermaids.
Thanks for another great video! For a long time, I've loved Maurice Blanchot's "Encountering the Imaginary", from the short part I of _The Book to Come_ entitled "The Song of the Sirens". It's a gripping essay. On another note, my favorite love song of all time is "Song to the Siren" - not so much the original by Tim Buckley as the version done by Elizabeth Fraser and Robin Guthrie of the Cocteau Twins. The fact that Fraser sings it suggests to me that it's sung *by* the siren, while also being addressed to the siren, as if the siren is singing the sailor's own thoughts into being - those that move him to seek her out, come what may. That image, at least, seems to fit many of the things Blanchot says in his was of using the siren as a figure for all art.
My pleasure! Thanks for another very thoughtful comment. I'm currently listening to Elizabeth Fraser's gorgeous rendering of the song you mentioned. I love the very spare, but protean accompaniment. You just get submerged in it, don't you? I must explore the Blanchot essay. I've never read it, I'm afraid, but it sounds extraordinarily relevant.
Having recently discovered your channel and podcast, I’ve been marinating in your offerings. Among the many themes and ideas therein which have captured, obsessed, and haunted me is that most beguiling piece of music underscoring the readings as in this video or in the Vernon Lee episode of the podcast. I can’t seem to identify the piece. Can you share the composer or the performance information for this piece? Against its charms I have no defenses, as it’s living rent-free in my mind with no signs of vacating. Thank you for the stimulating thoughts and music.
Very happy that you found the channel! The piece is 'Polifemo: Alto Giove' by Nicola Porpora. I've manipulated it a little bit in the version I used here and on the Vernon Lee episode, but it should still be very recognisable when you play the original. Thanks again for watching and for the kind words. 😊
In awe of your brilliant mind ! your work cannot be categorised as the work of either a critic or an academic. Because while it dabbles in both, it very easily manages to be MORE than both genre put together. What a passionate reader you are - you ability to make connections across texts explains your deep relationship with your reading. Also- the descriptions of Sicily in this video essay reminds me so much of India … specially that section where the author talks about sea being the source of both death and immortality….i haven’t been to Sicily yet but I do hope that you might come ‘down here’ to visit India sometime someday …🙂 All my best wishes 🌸
Priyanka! Boy it made my day to read this. Thank you so much! It means a lot to hear this. I love observing the way that texts are in conversation with one another. It's one of the most rewarding things about reading for me. Which part of India are you in? I visited once many years ago, but would love to get "down there" to visit again. :) Again, thanks so much for your endless kindness.
@@SherdsTube thanks to YOU for your insightful work which helps me to see the universality and interconnected-ness in texts. New ways of seeing and reading excite me … I have been moving around India since I grew up. As a consequence I have grown roots everywhere in the country and also become rootless. But I currently live in Shimla in northern India…it’s a small mountain town in the lap of Himalayas. Please ping whenever you plan to come this side …keep your wonderful work up 🙌🌸
Two works that come to mind are the short story "A Touch of Strange" (1958) by Theodore Sturgeon, and the film _Night Tide_ (1961) written and directed by Curtis Harrington.
Great! Thanks for these. Both new to me! I've ony read 'More Than Human' by Sturgeon and that was a very long time ago. To add one of my own - 'The Mermaid' from Quentin S. Crisp's collection, 'Morbid Tales', is wonderful.
Have you ever listened to Tim Buckley's 'Song to the siren' ? If not, I highly recommend that you do. There's a beautiful acoustic version on RUclips, introduced by Micky Dolenz, taken from the final Monkees TV series episode. Once heard, never forgotten. Something deep was using Tim as a vessel to give us that haunting song.
A brilliant examination. One wonders about the notion of divinity and mortality inherent within man and the crossing of that boundary, especially as Easter has just passed. Can an apotheosis, of sorts, be apprehended through the study of transcendent literature, art, or music, if but for a short moment? Incidentally, as a boy I lived in Brindisi, Italy. Not quite Sicily, but you could sense the proximity down there. Southern Italy and Northern Italy seemed quite different to me, even at that young age. The quoted passages brought some memories out of hiding for me: the scent of rotting urchins on the beach, the taste of the tomatoes down there (which I am convinced are imbued with something unique from the soil), the hot air from the inland wrestling with the cool sea air. So many memories. Thank you.
Many thanks for your thoughtful and thought-provoking words! I thought I mention Horkheimer and Adorno's well-known Dialectic of Enlightenment, and specifically the 2nd chapter which considers Odysseus and the Sirens as emblematic of the very dialectic of rationalism and irrationalism that they consider be inherent in enlightenment thought.
Thanks so much. I've only read excerpts of that book, I'm afraid, and some time ago, too. Thanks for bringing it up, though - it sounds like it would be worth exploring in relation to my topic.
What is the eerie subtle background music you use? By yourself? I've noticed you used it in another video as well... anyway enjoying your videos quite a lot - keep up the good work! thanks!
Hello! Although I make most of the music myself, this one is not my own. This is a sample from the aria, 'Alto Giove', from Nicola Porpora's opera, 'Polifemo'. It's a bit slowed down and chopped up, but more or less intact. ;) Thanks so much for watching the videos - really glad to hear you're enjoying them.
One aspect I struggled to know what to think of is, what where the mermaid’s intentions towards the professor, and by extension all men? She explains that all the myths are wrong, as her kind only love, but was that a deliberate lie with the intention of deceiving him? What does happen to a man that follows a mermaid to her land?
The way Sirens and Poe's Ligea claim to have all knowledge makes me want to compare the situation with that of Faust and Mephistopheles. Faust is lead by his desire, as is Latura, as is Odysseus(in that encounter with the sirens atleast). Though I dont think you should follow the sirens. Desire(especially for hidden knowledge) can lead us to dark places. If the siren is literature, than Odysseus responded to her better than Latura, because Odysseus came close to her, but by tying himself down, allowed himself to not be sucked into literature, and thus bring the knowledge to Ithaka, instead of just enjoying sirenic bliss for ever in a escapist wonderland.
![Yeat & Quavo - 5BRAZY [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/4XxnTAwyxus/mqdefault.jpg)
Your videos are incredible on so many levels. Thank you so much for taking the time to put these tranquil and informative visual essays together, sir!
It's my pleasure, Chris. Thanks for being so supportive, and for continuing to inspire with your work! :)
I recommend Quentin S. Crisp's story The Mermaid from his collection Morbid Tales... so amazing and powerful
Yes, a terrific story! It was the first thing I read by him. Was hooked from that point onwards.
I never realized he was a writer!😂He was just English guy with the hat (can’t recall how I heard of him as a teen, maybe that Sting song). Hm, tempted to check out that anthology. Currently have a slight fascination with mermaids.
Great content as always. Thank you.
Thanks so much!
Thanks for another great video! For a long time, I've loved Maurice Blanchot's "Encountering the Imaginary", from the short part I of _The Book to Come_ entitled "The Song of the Sirens". It's a gripping essay. On another note, my favorite love song of all time is "Song to the Siren" - not so much the original by Tim Buckley as the version done by Elizabeth Fraser and Robin Guthrie of the Cocteau Twins. The fact that Fraser sings it suggests to me that it's sung *by* the siren, while also being addressed to the siren, as if the siren is singing the sailor's own thoughts into being - those that move him to seek her out, come what may. That image, at least, seems to fit many of the things Blanchot says in his was of using the siren as a figure for all art.
My pleasure! Thanks for another very thoughtful comment. I'm currently listening to Elizabeth Fraser's gorgeous rendering of the song you mentioned. I love the very spare, but protean accompaniment. You just get submerged in it, don't you?
I must explore the Blanchot essay. I've never read it, I'm afraid, but it sounds extraordinarily relevant.
@@SherdsTube I'm glad you liked the song! I'll be curious to know what you think of the Blanchot essay when you read it!
Having recently discovered your channel and podcast, I’ve been marinating in your offerings. Among the many themes and ideas therein which have captured, obsessed, and haunted me is that most beguiling piece of music underscoring the readings as in this video or in the Vernon Lee episode of the podcast. I can’t seem to identify the piece. Can you share the composer or the performance information for this piece? Against its charms I have no defenses, as it’s living rent-free in my mind with no signs of vacating. Thank you for the stimulating thoughts and music.
Very happy that you found the channel! The piece is 'Polifemo: Alto Giove' by Nicola Porpora. I've manipulated it a little bit in the version I used here and on the Vernon Lee episode, but it should still be very recognisable when you play the original. Thanks again for watching and for the kind words. 😊
Great to see more work from you mate! This gels nicely with my current reading as I'll be reading The Odyssey in preparation for Ulysses in June
It's about time I read both of them again. Reading them side by side as a young man was a formative experience for me!
It probably doesn't need to be said here, but Lampedusa's The Leopard is a fantastic modern classic.
Agreed. A sublime book.
In awe of your brilliant mind ! your work cannot be categorised as the work of either a critic or an academic. Because while it dabbles in both, it very easily manages to be MORE than both genre put together. What a passionate reader you are - you ability to make connections across texts explains your deep relationship with your reading. Also- the descriptions of Sicily in this video essay reminds me so much of India … specially that section where the author talks about sea being the source of both death and immortality….i haven’t been to Sicily yet but I do hope that you might come ‘down here’ to visit India sometime someday …🙂 All my best wishes 🌸
Priyanka! Boy it made my day to read this. Thank you so much! It means a lot to hear this. I love observing the way that texts are in conversation with one another. It's one of the most rewarding things about reading for me.
Which part of India are you in? I visited once many years ago, but would love to get "down there" to visit again. :)
Again, thanks so much for your endless kindness.
@@SherdsTube thanks to YOU for your insightful work which helps me to see the universality and interconnected-ness in texts.
New ways of seeing and reading excite me …
I have been moving around India since I grew up. As a consequence I have grown roots everywhere in the country and also become rootless. But I currently live in Shimla in northern India…it’s a small mountain town in the lap of Himalayas. Please ping whenever you plan to come this side …keep your wonderful work up 🙌🌸
Two works that come to mind are the short story "A Touch of Strange" (1958) by Theodore Sturgeon, and the film _Night Tide_ (1961) written and directed by Curtis Harrington.
Great! Thanks for these. Both new to me! I've ony read 'More Than Human' by Sturgeon and that was a very long time ago.
To add one of my own - 'The Mermaid' from Quentin S. Crisp's collection, 'Morbid Tales', is wonderful.
Always good. Thank you for this.
Thanks so much!
Have you ever listened to Tim Buckley's 'Song to the siren' ? If not, I highly recommend that you do. There's a beautiful acoustic version on RUclips, introduced by Micky Dolenz, taken from the final Monkees TV series episode. Once heard, never forgotten. Something deep was using Tim as a vessel to give us that haunting song.
Incredible work, Sir! I hope you had a wonderful Easter.
Thanks for the kind words. I had a sumptuous, very Polish Easter, thank you. Hope you had a good one, too!
A brilliant examination. One wonders about the notion of divinity and mortality inherent within man and the crossing of that boundary, especially as Easter has just passed. Can an apotheosis, of sorts, be apprehended through the study of transcendent literature, art, or music, if but for a short moment?
Incidentally, as a boy I lived in Brindisi, Italy. Not quite Sicily, but you could sense the proximity down there. Southern Italy and Northern Italy seemed quite different to me, even at that young age. The quoted passages brought some memories out of hiding for me: the scent of rotting urchins on the beach, the taste of the tomatoes down there (which I am convinced are imbued with something unique from the soil), the hot air from the inland wrestling with the cool sea air. So many memories. Thank you.
I think that's what I'm constantly chasing in art. Maybe one has to believe it's possible. Thanks for sharing these memories!
Many thanks for your thoughtful and thought-provoking words! I thought I mention Horkheimer and Adorno's well-known Dialectic of Enlightenment, and specifically the 2nd chapter which considers Odysseus and the Sirens as emblematic of the very dialectic of rationalism and irrationalism that they consider be inherent in enlightenment thought.
Thanks so much. I've only read excerpts of that book, I'm afraid, and some time ago, too. Thanks for bringing it up, though - it sounds like it would be worth exploring in relation to my topic.
What is the eerie subtle background music you use? By yourself? I've noticed you used it in another video as well...
anyway enjoying your videos quite a lot - keep up the good work! thanks!
Hello! Although I make most of the music myself, this one is not my own. This is a sample from the aria, 'Alto Giove', from Nicola Porpora's opera, 'Polifemo'. It's a bit slowed down and chopped up, but more or less intact. ;)
Thanks so much for watching the videos - really glad to hear you're enjoying them.
One aspect I struggled to know what to think of is, what where the mermaid’s intentions towards the professor, and by extension all men? She explains that all the myths are wrong, as her kind only love, but was that a deliberate lie with the intention of deceiving him? What does happen to a man that follows a mermaid to her land?
Great video! I really enjoy listening to your video essays. I really want to read Lampedusa now, but I fear my tbr stack is too big...
Thanks! Don't worry - Lampedusa didn't publish much, so he won't raise your tbr stack's altitude by too much. ;
A new upload! I'll take the beeswax out for this one.
Haha! :)
The way Sirens and Poe's Ligea claim to have all knowledge makes me want to compare the situation with that of Faust and Mephistopheles. Faust is lead by his desire, as is Latura, as is Odysseus(in that encounter with the sirens atleast). Though I dont think you should follow the sirens. Desire(especially for hidden knowledge) can lead us to dark places. If the siren is literature, than Odysseus responded to her better than Latura, because Odysseus came close to her, but by tying himself down, allowed himself to not be sucked into literature, and thus bring the knowledge to Ithaka, instead of just enjoying sirenic bliss for ever in a escapist wonderland.