December 31, 2004
The Art of Fiction
Yes I know it's New Years Eve. I'm heading out to party in a little while. In the meantime, I have been reading a Christmas present from my Mum - a book I had intended to read anyway, and which was a delightful surprise on Christmas morning - the top-selling novel, The Da Vinci Code, by Dan Brown. Like many products of the past decade or so, The Da Vinci Code (TdVC) seeks to demystify the connections between modern religious movements and those of the past. In particular, TdVC uses a version of the detective narrative to expose the hypocrisy of the Catholic Church in oppressing pagan symbolism and thus, upsetting the balance of nature (equal importance of women to men) and the Divine Proporton of Phi.
While I am immensely enjoying the book, I am frequently reminded that this book is also written in code. As a student of literature, I have deconstructed texts and codes as a matter of course throughout my academic career, and many of the symbols, histories and artifacts referred to in the book are quite familiar to me. Indeed, a few months back at a staff meeting at BGSB, our Head of School fashioned a crude pentacle on the whiteboard merely as a means of illustrating a strategy he was promoting, saying that he really wasn't trying to worship Satan, whereupon I interrupted, correcting him that the pentacle had never been a sign of devil worship, but rather a pagan symbol of protection. When asked how I knew that, some colleagues suggested I had read TdVC. In point of fact, it's because I know several pagans, and have learned a great deal about Wicca, Druidism and other pagan belief systems. I would not align myself with pagan beliefs at all, but I have a great deal of respect for the beliefs of those who choose to follow these religions. So upon reading TdVC, most of the ideas presented as revelations about paganism are not new to me. But more to the point, most of the narrative instruments, designed to sustain the reader's interest - discussed at length in Roland Barthes' ideas on narrative striptease (1975) - are familiar to me. So Brown's strategy of encoding the writing for decoding on further reading are laid bare to me on my first reading. And in metatextual terms, it's obvious to me that Brown is emulating Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose, in his style, construction and narrative method. Only trouble is, that the characters in TdVC wouldn't behave as he has made them act. There are several points at which the code is clear and they fail to recognise it, and where the code of the text itself needs a little more careful construction. In the end, Brown appears more like Kurt Vonnegut than Umberto Eco (not that that's necessarily a bad thing; I'm a big fan of Vonnegut, and completed my honours thesis on Representations of Reality in the Fiction of Kurt Vonnegut), rather clumsily inserting himself into various points of the narrative, instead of sending the reader off to find the source of the material (as occurred extensively in Eco's Name of the Rose - most particularly Conan Doyle's works relating to Sherlock Holmes; a rather cute in-joke).
The effect of the hypertextuality, the subject of the work - codebreaking - and the inevitably self-serving aspects of TdVC provide a useful starting point for a fictional series, but Brown needs to recognise that a sophisticated reader requires the kind of narrative striptease you only get at Vonnegut clubs, where the code goes beyond the text; characters, symbols and styles are replicated - perhaps echoing the order of the Divine Proportion - across all his literature. Only then does the code truly befit the post-modernist canon of fictional art.
Posted by jj at 5:38 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
December 28, 2004
Roll on 2005
Let me be frank about this. Besides my brother and sister-in-law's magnificent wedding in April, the purchase of their home recently, and one or two other brief moments of glory for me this year, 2004 has not been a particularly good year for me or my family. And as the year draws to a close, without wanting to go in to much detail, I really can't quite believe how things just continue to go downhill for me.
In the extended entry to this post, I am probably revealing far too much about my character, but right now I'm going to be cathartic and do it anyway, because it's the season for reflection - and I've been doing a lot of that lately.
On a brighter note, I did have a great evening with friends yesterday, and I feel extremely blessed to have so many friends and family to love and to spend time with - even if only by text message, email or phone call - when things aren't perhaps going as well as I might wish. So thanks to all those who have been in contact of late. I love you all, and I'm hopeful that 2005 brings us all much peace, happiness and prosperity.
The extended bit....
I think I may be one of those rather unique people who finds de-stressing stressful. So far this Christmas season, and at the dawn of a new era of my life, I'm only managing an hour or two of sleep per night and I've lost three kilos. If I eat much Christmas fare my gut simply rejects it and I feel sick, and when I try and relax and watch the cricket, go for a walk or have a swim, my mind plays horrible tricks on me and makes me think about all the things I really should be doing rather than enjoying myself. Classic anhedonistic behaviour, I know, but I've been a perfectionist for most of my life, and I don't see things changing any time soon.
Of course I'm supposed to be de-stressing. But somehow even this quiet time by myself and without the constant stream of work piling up on my desk, I have created for myself a whole new range of sources of workload in the absence of the one I have had before.
The thing is, I'm not sure that life is going to change dramatically for me, regardless of the change to my career. I'd like for it to change. I'd like it a lot. I'd like nothing better than for most aspects of my life, professional and personal, to be revolutionised. It's just that I have a sneaking suspicion that I make my own fate, and that somehow, I will muddle on, striving for something out of my reach. Judy Garland was once recorded in a moment of alcohol-ridden weakness, saying that she'd spent her whole life trying to get to that place over the rainbow, and no matter what she tried and how she struggled, she just could never get there. Was horrible to listen to, but it struck me as I listened to the recording that most of us on this earth want the same thing - something more pure, more stable, more peaceful and more free. I guess for me though, while I'd like to achieve all those things, I am glad that at least I have the opportunity to strive for something more. And even if things don't change in future, I can take some heart in believing that I'm working for others as well as myself. And that in the end, I guess I'm just not wired to ever be truly satisfied with my lot.
Posted by jj at 9:04 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
December 27, 2004
Quick announcement re: blogspam plus more
Due to problems with comment spam, I have had to partically close off comments from this blog. You can still post a comment, but it won't appear to be posted until I approve the post. I'm not moderating what you say, I'm just trying to stem the flood of blogspam, and while the latest Blacklist software isn't installing on my server, I have to deal with what tools I have to cope.
Also, *hugs and thanks* to all those who sent messages over Christmas. As it turns out, it was a good Christmas Day, but I was a bit lonely and missed my family and friends terribly.
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December 24, 2004
Christmas Eve!
I'm so looking forward to Christmas!
I've copped a lot of flack recently about my decision to stay at home and have a big, beautiful Christmas dinner on my own, but I guess for me, it's just a matter of glorying in the peace and quiet of Christmas at home.
I have a bright red damask Christmas tablecloth on my table, all the best dinner and glassware out, fresh red roses on the table, all the food and trimmings all ready, Christmas crackers at my place, my puddings, fresh veges and leg of pork in the fridge, all my cards bright around the house, Christmas candles and lights sparkling, and even a lovely Christmas dress for me out to wear and enjoy the special day! Yes I know I'm a dag, but being able to do all this and enjoy the fact that I made everything myself gives me a great sense of achievement. All I have to do now is finish cleaning the place and tomorrow will be just a matter of sitting back and enjoying the day!
As I've noted before, the only sad thing will be missing my Mum and brother and sister-in-law on Christmas Day, but of course they will be in my thoughts all day, and I'll be sending them my love and my very best wishes when I speak to them all through the day!
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December 23, 2004
Christmas catch-ups and event announcement
At the behest of my fellow coven-members, I have the duty of announcing that the Witches of Eastwick (commonly known as Shannon, Camilla and Jo) shall be convening a girls night at the Striker Bar (Wintergarden Level 3, Brisbane city) on 20 January 2005 from around 6pm. All girls looking for a good night out in Brisbane should take note (that means YOU, Liz & Mel!).
And before my mother gets concerned about my drinking, and everyone else gets concerned about our taste, yes, we know the Striker Bar is a bowling alley. That's the point. Fun with large black balls hitting little white pins. It can be fun. Trust me on this.
Thanks to Shan and Cam for drinks tonight - was lovely to see you both! Happy Christmas & much love!
Posted by jj at 8:29 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
December 22, 2004
That time of year thou mayst in me behold
Okay so Shakespeare was referring to advanced age in this sonnet, but in this post, I'm referring to Christmas, and to the aspects of Christmas to which I find myself irresistibly attracted when I have a chance to enjoy them. I'm wearing little Christmas tree earrings today and have worn a splash of red every day for the past week or so. There's a lovely scent of fruit, cinnamon and cloves wafting from my kitchen as my two basin plum puddings happily boil away on the stove. Whilst I could do without the pubescent girls at the shopping centre, barking Christmas carols about holy signs, whilst wearing crop tops and uber-mini skirts that are probably better suited to street walking, the more traditional carols from children's choirs, or even the old Sinatra and Bing Crosby songs do provide a touch of class.
I really do love Christmas, and whilst this year will hold a degree of sadness, because I won't be spending it with my Mum & brother, I do intend to enjoy the simple pleasures of Christmas this year on my own here in Brisbane. So you will have to excuse me if you are an anti-Christmas type. I do intend to enjoy every moment of my Christmas traditions.
Having said that, I'd like to point out here, that the fact that it's called "Christmas" doesn't mean I actually am terribly religious. Indeed, I find it highly amusing when Christians talk about the "true meaning" of Christmas. Christmas, in my humble opinion, is just the current tag given to a time of year that across dozens of religions and cultural groups, holds special meaning. And our current traditions - from the Christmas tree, to kissing under the mistletoe, to decorations and gifts, and to the Christmas feast itself - are all MUCH older and much more meaningful than anything that happened to have occurred a couple of thousand years ago.
In the northern hemisphere, the mid-winter festival (Yuletide), Saturnalia and several other cultural festivals were celebrated to denote the ending of one year of agrarian production, and the beginning of a new year. Primarily because of the bitter weather, families and friends came together to give thanks for the harvest, and in the spirit of peace and reflection for the year ahead. Now, thousands of years later, we have mostly-forgotten memories of symbols and traditions that somehow keep reappearing, and that we still observe and enjoy. Some are subsumed by other religious holidays, some survive in spite of any rational reason for their survival.
Perhaps as a race, we have a degree of sameness that is just charmed by the magic of a vividly lit pine tree, nestling in a corner of our homes, and whispering secrets of gifts, tantalisingly bright at its base. Or, perhaps there is a higher reason for the survival of these traditions, beyond our understanding. Either way, I just love the fact that they do survive, and I plan to observe and reflect on these traditions as I spend a very quiet and very personal Christmas here in sunny Brisbane.
A very happy and peaceful Christmas to you all.
Posted by jj at 7:31 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
December 18, 2004
Oops
Really should have exported all my old entries from this blog before replacing the files with the newer software. Seems I have lost all my comments and can't import the old blog entries because I didn't export them before loading on the new software. I've managed some damage control, with all old entries now accessible from the Archived section of my site, but all comments are closed and deleted. *cries*
Anyone who might know how I could possibly fix this - please let me know!
Posted by jj at 4:15 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Updating the interface
Okay after dealing with the frustration of a now-malfunctioning blog spam system, I've finally decided to upgrade my Movable Type installation, and I suspect there will be a great deal of stuff that doesn't work over the next little while. If you come across something that isn't operating as it has done before, please let me know at joanne@joannejacobs.net.
Ta.
Posted by jj at 12:40 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack