“When I write I am trying to express my way of being in the world. This is primarily a process of elimination: once you have removed all the dead language, the second-hand dogma, the truths that are not your own but other people’s, the mottos, the slogans, the out-and-out lies of your nation, the myths of your historical moment - once you have removed all that warps experience into a shape you do not recognise and do not believe in - what you are left with is something approximating the truth of your own conception.”
Zadie Smith
In pondering books, I sometimes think about writing; and here I think Zadie Smith expresses some of what it takes to be an authentic writer. I like the last line about being left with "something approximating the truth of you own conception". The same could abs aid for any finished work of art as well.
I imagine that well written books have been pruned and edited; been challenged along the way to determine if what is said is any of the above, or rather and honestly, the conception of the author.
The hard yards necessary to remove the 'out and out lies of your nation and the myths of your historical moment' - are just that, hard yards. To questions and challenge and ensure you are not simply repeating or parroting these things is a significant responsibility.
Reading a book that has undergone this process of consideration and elimination is a joy. It is easier to read, it doesn't distract; it does not linger too long; it does not frustrate or infuriate with inconsistencies and hypocrisy. It may well still challenge you, but it also feels authentic; internally consistent and a representation of the author's truth.
Not all slogans are bad! Melbourne laneway graffiti 2019.
Zadie Smith
In pondering books, I sometimes think about writing; and here I think Zadie Smith expresses some of what it takes to be an authentic writer. I like the last line about being left with "something approximating the truth of you own conception". The same could abs aid for any finished work of art as well.
I imagine that well written books have been pruned and edited; been challenged along the way to determine if what is said is any of the above, or rather and honestly, the conception of the author.
The hard yards necessary to remove the 'out and out lies of your nation and the myths of your historical moment' - are just that, hard yards. To questions and challenge and ensure you are not simply repeating or parroting these things is a significant responsibility.
Reading a book that has undergone this process of consideration and elimination is a joy. It is easier to read, it doesn't distract; it does not linger too long; it does not frustrate or infuriate with inconsistencies and hypocrisy. It may well still challenge you, but it also feels authentic; internally consistent and a representation of the author's truth.
Not all slogans are bad! Melbourne laneway graffiti 2019.
this quote reminds me of Brett Whiteley's advise to the aspiring artist;
ReplyDelete"aim at virtually whatever is in front of you... and then one day you'll see something that you have truly never seen before and that is the beginning of yourself & that heralds the beginning of difficult pleasure."
http://aso.gov.au/titles/documentaries/difficult-pleasure/clip3/
oooh Mo - the heralding the beginning of difficult pleasure - what a great turn of phrase to describe the exquisite agony of what we do sometimes. Go well.
ReplyDelete