Destructive Anachronism

10.28.2009

Publishing & E-Publishing

Barnes & Noble recently released the Nook -- its new e-reader -- as a direct competitor to Amazon's Kindle. The folks at Wired are pretty excited about it and its shiny new features, which you can read all about in their review. I'm one of those cranky young men who will never be caught dead with an e-reader so long as I live (and have the option of dead tree). My opposition to them is mostly personal -- I enjoy the sensual experience of holding a physical book, turning its pages, feeling the grain of the paper, scribbling notes in the margins, underlining here and there. For the books I love best (or which came with a paper assignment), you can trace the dialogue I had with the author, characters, and/or ideas through those marginalia and exclamations of approval or puzzlement. I like having a desk cluttered with books in various states of completion. I love having bookshelves stocked with color and inviting leisurely perusal. For me, an e-book is anathema to the experience of reading, which encompasses far more than the text.

Which is not to say that I think e-readers are the end of the world. I think it's likely that e-literature (or whatever you want to call it) is going to become much more popular, but I highly doubt that it will eliminate the dead tree model. E-readers and bookstores will probably end up in some sort of uneasy coexistence. I just think it's too early (as a book "traditionalist") to freak out about the end of print, just as it's too early for the futurists (for lack of a better term) to gloat about the inevitablity of virtual print.

I bring this up in response to a really thoughtful and fascinating post by Two Dollar Radio's publisher Eric Obenauf over at The Rumpus about the difference between the two models. As good as Obenauf's essay is, the comment section opens up a wide-ranging discussion about the role of the artist in contemporary society, the monetary value of art versus its personal and aesthetic value, and what the future of publishing will signify for writers' art and wallets. Stephen Elliott, Brian Spears, Andrew Altschul and other writers and Rumpus editors join the fray. Definitely worth a full read!

Oh Dear Heavens

Politicians sometimes use naughty language!

I'm sure this deeply-researched analysis will help stave off print media's looming demise.

Attn: Sens. Lieberman, Landrieu, Lincoln et al

There are, uh, real people who will be affected by your bought-and-paid-for wankery. DougJ's rant pretty much nails the sick world in which our oligarchy sips its martinis:

I realize that if you’re poor in this country, then everything is your fault. If you take out a loan you shouldn’t have taken out, it’s proof that you’re too much of an idiot to handle money, whereas when rich people are fleeced by Bernie Madoff it’s proof that Madoff is a super-genius monster. If you’re hit by a stray bullet, you were probably in a gang. If you’re sick, it’s because you smoke and you’re overweight. And whatever trouble you have getting a job, it’s all because of your genetically determined low IQ. And if you weren’t poor, overweight, genetically deficient and so on you wouldn’t have trouble getting disqualified because of preconditions and you’d never get scammed by bogus insurance outfits.

In Which the New York Times Book Section References Us...

Major slacking on my part around here apparently hasn't stopped someone from noticing us. I just about fell off my chair when I read this article in the New York Times about Electric Literature. Check out the second paragraph:

In its first two issues, this year, the magazine showcased some of the country’s best writers — Michael Cunningham, Colson Whitehead, Lydia Davis, Jim Shepard — and created the kind of buzz that is a marketer’s dream. With a debut issue in June and an autumn issue out last week, each consisting of five stories, the magazine has racked up complimentary reviews everywhere from The Washington Post to a blogger on Destructive Anachronism, who wrote, “High quality content + innovative marketing + multimedia could just equal the new model for literature, post-print.

Guess that's some kind of sign I should take this more seriously. I'm pretty humbled and kind of stunned. Thanks Felicia Lee, whomever you are!

9.06.2009

I Can't Live Without Hope, Can You?

One of the most powerful interviews I've come across, whether or not you agree with everything he has to say. The fact of the matter is that there are alternative approaches to living one's life. Utah Phillips might chuckle at me for that realization, but as a survivor of the data/consulting age, it's somewhat of a revelation.

Bad link, but go to the podcast site on iTunes for monday 09.07 and you can get the audio. i'll post it when it's up on the site.

8.27.2009

And Stay Classier Taliban! Err... Batshit Insane Evangelicals

God is love!

No One Could Have Predicted

"Conservatives warn of 'Wellstone Effect'" -- remind me again why anyone gives a shit what Congressional conservatives think. They're completely irrelevant.

Tip to Atrios, whose headline I have filched.

Gooey Daydreams about Merge

Though I completely share this sentiment.

Pelecanos, Price, Friedman, McCullough, and Haruf Step On Down

If you're lucky, maybe you'll even get the magical sticker of presidential wonder. (Ok, I searched for quite some time for the magical sticker of presidential wonder, but basically the newest printing of Netherland has a red sticker with a quote from Obama on it where the "A Novel" sticker is now.)

I Don't Get it Either

Re: John Cole: All I know about Leon Wieseltier is that he's done more disgrace to the English language and logical reasoning than just about anyone this side of Donald Rumsfeld.

8.26.2009

At Least They Didn't Bother With Bukowski

The Times Higher Education supplement submits literary giants to faculty review for department hires. Kek.

Can't Wait for the U.S. Tour

Jello Biafra -- pretty much the musician for whom I have the most respect -- is back with a new band (Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine) touring the U.K. this fall. The Quietus has a great interview with him about the new band, the old band (THE old band, that is), Obama's policies, Bush's legacy and more. Looking forward to hearing these guys live.

Shinies

I've been off the grid for a couple weeks/getting everything through Google Reader, so I had not noticed the lovely redesign of The Millions.

Just For the Dark Crystal Reference...

The Top Ten Geekiest Constructed Languages of all time.

We Just Want Our Single Payer

Gotta agree with Atrios on this -- forcing my generation into the welcoming claws of the medical-industrial-insurance complex isn't a great way to cement our support of the good 'ol DP.

Slowing Down with Charles Baxter

Great Rumpus interview with Charles Baxter on the obsession with speed/acceleration and the consequent distrust of slow life and silence that characterizes so much of contemporary American social culture. I'm not all that familiar with Baxter's work, but this interview definitely makes me more inclined to pick up his collection of essays under discussion, Burning Down the House (any Talking Heads reference is also a major plus, in my book).

Does the Dream Still Live?

I'm really filled with sadness right now because of Teddy... I'm fortunate enough to have become a constituent in the last year of his life, and am grateful that I met him once briefly. He was one of the few who had the courage to stand for a vision of a different and better America, and as the reality of the dream drifts slowly out to sea, I wonder how we will ever replace him.