A Work of Art
Art is in the eye of the beholder -- yes, beauty too.
They all seem to love the candelabra -- too much. (Liberace, anyone?)
Female nudes kept in an office or the home -- might not be apropos back then.
Surely, that has changed.
We are beyond all that type of prudishness.
Right?
Taking my six- year old son to the Metropolitan Museum of Art the other day -- walking by the ancient Greek statues he had three words to describe all those amazing sculptures the guide was brilliantly describing to a group of sophisticated tourists: Pee pee, butt, and boobs.
How childish. Not one of those sophisticated tourists was thinking the same thing. They were transfixed in the subtlety of the stone and the impressive use of angles and realism and making comparisons to the different uses of styles to represent the fusion between . . .
Chekhov is of course poking fun at us and cleverly uses our mores to fashion a witty story which reminds me a bit of O.Henry's story: The Gift of the Magi.
(Don't ask me why. The stories have absolutely nothing in common.)
There is an interesting article in the New York Times today about whether or not art can still shock.
It can.
If it's truly art.
Chekhov, as usual, is ahead of his time.
The Goal: Read. Reflect. Respond. Over two hundred Chekhov stories. Constance Garnett translations.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Saturday, September 15, 2012
NERVES
Nerves
He sees dead people.
She sees a horny man.
Vaxin, the architect, has just come back from a séance and the ghosts have followed him home.
Rosalia Karlovna, the German governess, knows what men want. Her.
And the wife is out all night praying.
Vaxin can't sleep.
Boo.
Rosalie Karlovna is snoring.
Vaxin is sweating.
Now you have all the ingredients.
Mix them up.
Stir for about five minutes.
Pour and enjoy.
Unless, of course, you're Vaxin's wife.
Boo!
He sees dead people.
She sees a horny man.
Vaxin, the architect, has just come back from a séance and the ghosts have followed him home.
Rosalia Karlovna, the German governess, knows what men want. Her.
And the wife is out all night praying.
Vaxin can't sleep.
Boo.
Rosalie Karlovna is snoring.
Vaxin is sweating.
Now you have all the ingredients.
Mix them up.
Stir for about five minutes.
Pour and enjoy.
Unless, of course, you're Vaxin's wife.
Boo!
Sunday, September 9, 2012
CHORISTERS
Choristers
The Count is coming!
The Count is coming!
To Yefremovo.
Which he owns.
Get ready the music.
Sacristan, is the choir ready?
Yes, sir.
Yes, sir.
Answers, Alexey Alexeitch the conductor and sacristan.
Practice makes perfect.
And practice they do.
Day and night.
Day after day.
Impressive thinks the little priest with the lilac cassock.
But not the deacon.
The deacon thinks the sacristan is wasting his time.
The count is an atheist.
He doesn't care for church music.
The sacristan hates the deacon.
The deacon thinks the sacristan is a fool.
The count is here!
The count is here!
Father Kuzma, the little priest with the lilac cassock, is knocking on the door of the sacristan.
What's going on?
No choir.
No Choir?
No choir.
The deacon is right.
The sacristan will never hear the end of it.
And then . . .
The deacon is also rejected.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
The Count is coming!
The Count is coming!
To Yefremovo.
Which he owns.
Get ready the music.
Sacristan, is the choir ready?
Yes, sir.
Yes, sir.
Answers, Alexey Alexeitch the conductor and sacristan.
Practice makes perfect.
And practice they do.
Day and night.
Day after day.
Impressive thinks the little priest with the lilac cassock.
But not the deacon.
The deacon thinks the sacristan is wasting his time.
The count is an atheist.
He doesn't care for church music.
The sacristan hates the deacon.
The deacon thinks the sacristan is a fool.
The count is here!
The count is here!
Father Kuzma, the little priest with the lilac cassock, is knocking on the door of the sacristan.
What's going on?
No choir.
No Choir?
No choir.
The deacon is right.
The sacristan will never hear the end of it.
And then . . .
The deacon is also rejected.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
A DAUGHTER OF ALBION
A Daughter of Albion
Gryabov, the landowner, seems to have it in for the Englishwoman, Wilka Charlesnova Fyce. He keeps insulting her while he fishes with her. Then he strips naked in front of her. A bit kinky, I'd say.
As much as Gryabov says he despises the daughter of Albion, you wonder why he is alone with her fishing. He also professes to hate fishing and he sits all day at the beach fishing.
What's going on?
This is a strange story. What exactly is the relationship between Gryabov and Fyce? You have to think that although he insults her, he is also drawn to her. But what about the daughter of Albion? What is she all about? That's what makes this story so strange. She sits there like some statue not understanding a word of Russian -- although she's been there for years. Does she not want to learn Russian or is she pretending not to understand? If she doesn't speak Russian -- then what is she doing in Gryabov's home? Can she take care of children without being able to communicate? There is a mystery surrounding these events.
Otsov, the Marshal of Nobility, seems to represent the common wisdom. He tells Gryabov to quit fishing and come home and start drinking some vodka -- but Gryabov is addicted. To fishing and to the Englishwoman. Despite of himself. He's been hooked and is stuck under a stone and there's no one that could lift him up and set him free except himself. However, right now his inclination is to stay hooked.
The crooked nose of the Englishwoman has got him by the balls.
Gryabov, the landowner, seems to have it in for the Englishwoman, Wilka Charlesnova Fyce. He keeps insulting her while he fishes with her. Then he strips naked in front of her. A bit kinky, I'd say.
As much as Gryabov says he despises the daughter of Albion, you wonder why he is alone with her fishing. He also professes to hate fishing and he sits all day at the beach fishing.
What's going on?
This is a strange story. What exactly is the relationship between Gryabov and Fyce? You have to think that although he insults her, he is also drawn to her. But what about the daughter of Albion? What is she all about? That's what makes this story so strange. She sits there like some statue not understanding a word of Russian -- although she's been there for years. Does she not want to learn Russian or is she pretending not to understand? If she doesn't speak Russian -- then what is she doing in Gryabov's home? Can she take care of children without being able to communicate? There is a mystery surrounding these events.
Otsov, the Marshal of Nobility, seems to represent the common wisdom. He tells Gryabov to quit fishing and come home and start drinking some vodka -- but Gryabov is addicted. To fishing and to the Englishwoman. Despite of himself. He's been hooked and is stuck under a stone and there's no one that could lift him up and set him free except himself. However, right now his inclination is to stay hooked.
The crooked nose of the Englishwoman has got him by the balls.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
THE LION AND THE SUN
The Lion and the Sun
Kutsyn, the mayor, loves medals.
He lives for them.
Persian, Serbian.
But no matter how many he receives he'll always want more.
Recipe for unhappiness.
Kutsyn might want to look up The Second Noble Truth.
Again, when I read Chekhov I notice how many of his stories align themselves with the teachings of Buddhism.
Coincidence?
Kutsyn, the mayor, loves medals.
He lives for them.
Persian, Serbian.
But no matter how many he receives he'll always want more.
Recipe for unhappiness.
Kutsyn might want to look up The Second Noble Truth.
Again, when I read Chekhov I notice how many of his stories align themselves with the teachings of Buddhism.
Coincidence?
Monday, September 3, 2012
MARTYRS
Martyrs
So you're sick and need to feel better -- what do you ask for? Jew jokes. And the husband obliges.
I have to say after reading most of Chekhov stories, I am still amazed about the way the society of the time looks at Jews. If I had the time or inclination -- I would write a thesis about Jewish life in Russia during the 19th century using only Chekhov stories.
This story is about a very spoiled wife who needs a lot of attention and the schmuck husband that attends to her and who feels the more he gives the better man he is.
She will keep taking and he will keep giving.
Oy vey!
So you're sick and need to feel better -- what do you ask for? Jew jokes. And the husband obliges.
I have to say after reading most of Chekhov stories, I am still amazed about the way the society of the time looks at Jews. If I had the time or inclination -- I would write a thesis about Jewish life in Russia during the 19th century using only Chekhov stories.
This story is about a very spoiled wife who needs a lot of attention and the schmuck husband that attends to her and who feels the more he gives the better man he is.
She will keep taking and he will keep giving.
Oy vey!
Sunday, September 2, 2012
AN INQUIRY
An Inquiry
Money talks.
Bullshit walks.
Some things never change.
A harsh look at a government office.
Everything is dirty.
The fly feels right at home.
Voldyrev, a country gentleman (who is there because of some lawsuit -- so he may not be so clean either), feels invisible.
Takes three roubles to be noticed.
I'd call it a bargain.
Have you ever had to negotiate with a five year old?
Money talks.
Bullshit walks.
Some things never change.
A harsh look at a government office.
Everything is dirty.
The fly feels right at home.
Voldyrev, a country gentleman (who is there because of some lawsuit -- so he may not be so clean either), feels invisible.
Takes three roubles to be noticed.
I'd call it a bargain.
Have you ever had to negotiate with a five year old?
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