OpenAI Chatbot-generated Installation Artwork concept on theme of "January 6th Insurrection" followed by OpenAI-generated criticism

On January 9, 2023, I posed a dozen questions (some encountered network errors and were repeated) to ascertain the extent to which the new AI bot at OpenAI could emulate the creation and criticism of a work of art, one about the January 6th Insurrection. The questions and results are unedited except for major network errors (removed). The critical frameworks summoned for this exercise were a mix of standard and less known to Anglophone criticism, and from different periods (in order): 

Ranciere, Derrida, Deleuze and Guattari, Badiou, Zizek, Kristeva, Laura Mulvey, Tosaka Jun, Nishida Kitaro, Carlyle, Nietzsche, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Habermas, Sloterdijk, N. Katherine Hayles, and Donna Haraway.

The results suggest that one can with minimal embodiment of a work of art still sound it out with theory in ways that seem both somewhat sophisticated (at least stylistically) and demonstrating the limits of critical theory. 

Can you offer suggestions for presenting an installation artwork (in any museum) on the January 6th insurgency in the US? 

Sure! Here are a few suggestions for presenting an installation artwork about the January 6th insurgency in the US:

1. Consider using a variety of media in your installation, such as video footage, audio recordings, photographs, and physical objects. This can help to create a multi-sensory experience for viewers and convey the complexity of the event.
2. Reflect on the impact of the insurgency on individuals and communities. How did it affect people's lives and sense of safety? Consider incorporating personal stories and testimonies into your installation.
3. Consider the role of social media and other forms of technology in the insurgency. How were these platforms used to spread misinformation and incite violence?
4. Explore the broader context of the insurgency, including the history of white supremacy and violence in the US, and the role that political leaders and institutions played in the events of January 6th.
5. Consider creating interactive elements in your installation that encourage viewer engagement and reflection. For example, you could include a discussion area or a space where visitors can write down their thoughts and reactions to the event.
6. Remember to include information about the aftermath of the insurgency and ongoing efforts to hold those responsible accountable.

I hope these suggestions are helpful!

Can you create a proposal for such an artwork, one rich in details and categorizable as "conceptual art"?

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testimonies from individuals who were present at the event or affected by it, and photographs of the aftermath. In addition to these elements, the installation will include physical objects that symbolize the themes and ideas being explored, such as broken windows or shattered glass to represent the violence and destruction of the day, or quotes from political leaders and community organizers on placards throughout the space.

Interactivity: To encourage viewer engagement and reflection, the installation will include interactive elements such as a discussion area where visitors can share their thoughts and feelings about the event, or a space where they can write down their own ideas for how to create a more just and peaceful society.

Overall Approach: The installation will take a conceptual approach, using a combination of multimedia elements and interactive elements to invite viewers to engage with the events of January 6th on a deeper level and consider their own role in shaping the future of the country. By bringing together a wide range of perspectives and experiences, the installation will offer a nuanced and thought-provoking examination of the insurgency and its aftermath.

Can you outline in detail an installation artwork (for any museum) on the topic of the January 6th insurgency in the US? 

Certainly! Here is a detailed outline for an installation artwork about the January 6th insurgency in the US:

Title: "January 6th, 2021: A Day of Reckoning"

Overview: This installation will explore the complex web of events and forces that led to the January 6th insurgency in the US, and the consequences that have followed in its wake. Through a combination of video, audio, and physical elements, the installation will create a multi-sensory experience that invites viewers to engage with the events of January 6th and consider their own role in shaping the future of the country.

Section 1: Setting the Stage

• This section will provide background information on the events leading up to January 6th, including the role of social media and other forms of technology in spreading misinformation and inciting violence, as well as the broader context of white supremacy and political polarization in the US.
• The section will feature video footage of political rallies and speeches, as well as audio recordings of discussions and debates leading up to the insurgency.
• To provide a sense of the emotions and tensions leading up to the event, this section will also include quotes and statements from individuals on both sides of the political divide, displayed on placards throughout the space.

Section 2: The Insurgency

• This section will focus on the events of January 6th itself, using video footage, audio recordings, and photographs to document the violence and destruction that occurred.
• To provide a sense of the chaos and confusion of the day, this section will also feature audio recordings of personal testimonies from individuals who were present at the event, describing their experiences and reactions.
• To convey the scale and impact of the insurgency, this section will include physical objects such as broken windows or shattered glass, as well as quotes from witnesses and victims displayed on placards.

Section 3: The Aftermath

• This section will explore the consequences of the insurgency, including the arrests and legal proceedings against those involved, the ongoing political fallout, and the impact on individuals and communities.
• The section will feature video footage and audio recordings of news reports and analysis, as well as personal testimonies from individuals affected by the events of January 6th.
• To highlight the ongoing efforts to hold those responsible accountable and work towards a more just and peaceful society, this section will include quotes and statements from community organizers and political leaders, displayed on placards throughout the space.

Interactive Elements: To encourage viewer engagement and reflection, the installation will include interactive elements such as a discussion area where visitors can share their thoughts and feelings about the event, or a space where they can write down their own ideas for how to create a more just and peaceful society.

Overall, the installation will offer a nuanced and thought-provoking examination of the January 6th insurgency and its aftermath, inviting viewers to consider their own role in shaping the future of the country.

 

 

Please situate an analyze such an artwork, as you described it, in two paragraphs, applying the theories of Ranciere and Derrida.

Sure! Here is an analysis of the installation artwork "January 6th, 2021: A Day of Reckoning," situating it within the theories of Ranciere and Derrida:

According to Ranciere, art has the power to disrupt the dominant narratives and structures of society, and to create spaces of "dissensual" dialogue where new ideas and perspectives can emerge. The installation "January 6th, 2021: A Day of Reckoning" exemplifies this approach by offering a nuanced and multifaceted examination of the January 6th insurgency and its aftermath, bringing together a wide range of perspectives and experiences. By incorporating video footage, audio recordings, and personal testimonies from individuals on both sides of the political divide, the installation creates a space for "dissensual" dialogue and invites viewers to consider the events of January 6th from multiple angles. At the same time, the installation's use of physical objects and quotes displayed on placards serves to challenge and disrupt the dominant narratives surrounding the insurgency, encouraging viewers to think critically about the forces at play and their own role in shaping the future of the country.

In contrast to Ranciere's emphasis on the disruptive power of art, Derrida's concept of "différance" suggests that all meaning is unstable and constantly shifting, as words and symbols are always deferring to other words and symbols in a never-ending chain of signification. The installation "January 6th, 2021: A Day of Reckoning" can be seen as embodying this idea through its use of multiple media and perspectives, which create a constantly shifting and open-ended dialogue about the events of January 6th. By bringing together a wide range of voices and experiences, the installation encourages viewers to consider the complexity and multiplicity of meanings at play, and to reflect on the ways in which their own interpretations and understandings of the event are shaped by the language and symbols they encounter. Overall, the installation serves as a powerful example of how art can create spaces for critical thinking and dialogue, inviting viewers to engage with the complexities of the January 6th insurgency and its aftermath in a nuanced and open-ended way.

 

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Please analyze such as artwork, as you have described and detailed it, in a two paragraph (minimum) assessment applying the ideas of Deleuze and Guattari.

Sure! Here is an analysis of the installation artwork "January 6th, 2021: A Day of Reckoning," situating it within the theories of Deleuze and Guattari:

According to Deleuze and Guattari, art has the power to challenge and subvert the dominant structures and ideologies of society, creating new lines of flight and possibilities for change. The installation "January 6th, 2021: A Day of Reckoning" exemplifies this approach by offering a multifaceted and nuanced examination of the January 6th insurgency and its aftermath, bringing together a wide range of perspectives and experiences to challenge the dominant narratives surrounding the event. By incorporating video footage, audio recordings, and personal testimonies from individuals on both sides of the political divide, the installation creates a space for critical thinking and dialogue, inviting viewers to consider the complexity of the events of January 6th and their own role in shaping the future of the country.

In addition to its focus on subversion and challenge, Deleuze and Guattari's concept of "desiring-production" suggests that art has the power to create new possibilities and visions for the future. The installation "January 6th, 2021: A Day of Reckoning" can be seen as embodying this idea through its use of interactive elements such as a discussion area and a space for visitors to write down their own ideas for creating a more just and peaceful society. These elements invite viewers to engage with the installation in a participatory way, encouraging them to consider the ways in which they can work towards positive change in the aftermath of the January 6th insurgency. Overall, the installation serves as a powerful example of how art can create spaces for critical thinking, dialogue, and action, inviting viewers to engage with the complexities of the January 6th insurgency and its aftermath in a meaningful and transformative way.

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Please analyze such as artwork, as you have described and detailed it, in a two paragraph (minimum) assessment applying the ideas of Badiou and Zizek.

Certainly! Here is an analysis of the installation artwork "January 6th, 2021: A Day of Reckoning," situating it within the theories of Badiou and Zizek:

According to Badiou, art has the power to reveal and embody the truth of historical events, serving as a catalyst for political change and transformation. The installation "January 6th, 2021: A Day of Reckoning" can be seen as exemplifying this approach through its multifaceted and nuanced examination of the January 6th insurgency and its aftermath. By bringing together a wide range of perspectives and experiences, including video footage, audio recordings, and personal testimonies, the installation serves to reveal the complexity and truth of the event, inviting viewers to consider the events of January 6th from multiple angles and to reflect on their own role in shaping the future of the country.

Zizek's concept of "ideological fantasy" suggests that individuals use ideology to avoid confronting the harsh realities of their situation, creating a gap between their beliefs and the way things really are. The installation "January 6th, 2021: A Day of Reckoning" can be seen as challenging and subverting this process through its use of multiple media and perspectives to reveal the truth of the January 6th insurgency and its aftermath. By bringing together a wide range of voices and experiences, the installation encourages viewers to confront the harsh realities of the event and to consider the ways in which their own ideologies and beliefs may be shaping their understanding of it. Overall, the installation serves as a powerful example of how art can create spaces for critical thinking and dialogue, inviting viewers to engage with the complexities of the January 6th insurgency and its aftermath in a meaningful and transformative way.

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Please analyze such as artwork, as you have described and detailed it, in a two paragraph (minimum) assessment applying the ideas of Kristeva and Laura Mulvey.

Certainly! Here is an analysis of the installation artwork "January 6th, 2021: A Day of Reckoning," situating it within the theories of Kristeva and Mulvey:

According to Kristeva, art has the power to challenge and subvert the dominant symbolic systems of society, creating a space for the "abject" and the "abnormal" to emerge. The installation "January 6th, 2021: A Day of Reckoning" exemplifies this approach through its focus on the voices and experiences of individuals who may be marginalized or excluded from mainstream narratives surrounding the January 6th insurgency. By bringing together a wide range of perspectives and experiences, including video footage, audio recordings, and personal testimonies, the installation creates a space for the "abject" and the "abnormal" to emerge, inviting viewers to consider the events of January 6th from multiple angles and to reflect on their own role in shaping the future of the country.

Mulvey's concept of the "male gaze" suggests that mainstream media often reinforces patriarchal power dynamics by objectifying and sexualizing women. The installation "January 6th, 2021: A Day of Reckoning" can be seen as challenging and subverting this process through its focus on multiple perspectives and experiences, including those of women and other marginalized groups. By bringing together a wide range of voices and experiences, the installation encourages viewers to consider the ways in which power dynamics and gender roles may have played a role in the events of January 6th and its aftermath, inviting them to engage with the complexities of the event on a deeper level. Overall, the installation serves as a powerful example of how art can create spaces for critical thinking and dialogue, inviting viewers to engage with the complexities of the January 6th insurgency and its aftermath in a meaningful and transformative way.

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Please analyze such as artwork, as you have described and detailed it, in a two paragraph (minimum) assessment applying the ideas of Tosaka Jun and Nishida Kitaro.

Certainly! Here is an analysis of the installation artwork "January 6th, 2021: A Day of Reckoning," situating it within the theories of Tosaka Jun and Nishida Kitaro:

According to Tosaka Jun, art has the power to transcend the boundaries of individual subjectivity and connect with the universal "Absolute." The installation "January 6th, 2021: A Day of Reckoning" can be seen as exemplifying this approach through its focus on the universal themes and consequences of the January 6th insurgency and its aftermath. By bringing together a wide range of perspectives and experiences, including video footage, audio recordings, and personal testimonies, the installation creates a space for viewers to consider the events of January 6th from multiple angles and to reflect on their own role in shaping the future of the country. By transcending the boundaries of individual subjectivity, the installation invites viewers to connect with the universal themes and consequences of the event, and to consider the ways in which it reflects and impacts the broader human experience.

Nishida Kitaro's concept of "pure experience" suggests that individuals can access a deeper understanding of reality through a state of "pure" consciousness, beyond the limitations of language and thought. The installation "January 6th, 2021: A Day of Reckoning" can be seen as embodying this idea through its use of multiple media and perspectives, which create a multi-sensory experience that invites viewers to engage with the events of January 6th on a deeper level. By bringing together a wide range of voices and experiences, the installation encourages viewers to consider the complexity and multiplicity of meanings at play, and to reflect on the ways in which their own interpretations and understandings of the event are shaped by the language and symbols they encounter. Through its use of multiple media and its focus on personal testimony, the installation creates a rich and nuanced exploration of the January 6th insurgency and its aftermath, inviting viewers to access a deeper understanding of the event through a state of "pure" consciousness.

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Please analyze such as artwork, as you have described and detailed it, in a two paragraph (minimum) assessment applying the ideas of Carlyle and Nietzsche.

Certainly! Here is an analysis of the installation artwork "January 6th, 2021: A Day of Reckoning," situating it within the theories of Carlyle and Nietzsche:

According to Carlyle, art has the power to inspire and uplift individuals, helping them to overcome the challenges and struggles of daily life. The installation "January 6th, 2021: A Day of Reckoning" can be seen as exemplifying this approach through its focus on the consequences and aftermath of the January 6th insurgency, and the ongoing efforts to create a more just and peaceful society. By bringing together a wide range of voices and experiences, including video footage, audio recordings, and personal testimonies, the installation creates a space for viewers to consider the events of January 6th from multiple angles and to reflect on their own role in shaping the future of the country. Through its use of interactive elements such as a discussion area and a space for visitors to write down their own ideas for creating positive change, the installation invites viewers to engage with the event in a meaningful and uplifting way, and to consider the ways in which they can work towards a better future.

Nietzsche's concept of the "Übermensch" suggests that individuals have the potential to transcend their limitations and create their own values and meaning in life. The installation "January 6th

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Please analyze such as artwork, as you have described and detailed it, in a two paragraph (minimum) assessment applying the ideas of Nietzsche.

Certainly! Here is an analysis of the installation artwork "January 6th, 2021: A Day of Reckoning," situating it within the theories of Nietzsche:

According to Nietzsche, art has the power to inspire and uplift individuals, helping them to overcome the challenges and struggles of daily life. The installation "January 6th, 2021: A Day of Reckoning" can be seen as exemplifying this approach through its focus on the consequences and aftermath of the January 6th insurgency, and the ongoing efforts to create a more just and peaceful society. By bringing together a wide range of voices and experiences, including video footage, audio recordings, and personal testimonies, the installation creates a space for viewers to consider the events of January 6th from multiple angles and to reflect on their own role in shaping the future of the country. Through its use of interactive elements such as a discussion area and a space for visitors to write down their own ideas for creating positive change, the installation invites viewers to engage with the event in a meaningful and uplifting way, and to consider the ways in which they can work towards a better future.

In addition to its focus on inspiration and uplift, Nietzsche's concept of the "Übermensch" suggests that individuals have the potential to transcend their limitations and create their own values and meaning in life. The installation "January 6th, 2021: A Day of Reckoning" can be seen as embodying this idea through its focus on the consequences and aftermath of the January 6th insurgency, and the ongoing efforts to create a more just and peaceful society. By bringing together a wide range of voices and experiences, including video footage, audio recordings, and personal testimonies, the installation encourages viewers to consider the events of January 6th from multiple angles and to reflect on their own role in shaping the future of the country. Through its use of interactive elements such as a discussion area and a space for visitors to write down their own ideas for creating positive change, the installation invites viewers to transcend their limitations and take an active role in creating their own values and meaning in the aftermath of the January 6th insurgency. Overall, the installation serves as a powerful example of how art can inspire and uplift individuals, inviting them to engage with the complexities of the event in a meaningful and transformative way.

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Please analyze such as artwork, as you have described and detailed it, in a two paragraph (minimum) assessment applying the ideas of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King.

Certainly! Here is an analysis of the installation artwork "January 6th, 2021: A Day of Reckoning," situating it within the ideas of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King:

According to Malcolm X, art has the power to expose and challenge the injustices and inequalities of society, serving as a catalyst for social change. The installation "January 6th, 2021: A Day of Reckoning" can be seen as exemplifying this approach through its multifaceted and nuanced examination of the January 6th insurgency and its aftermath. By bringing together a wide range of perspectives and experiences, including video footage, audio recordings, and personal testimonies, the installation serves to expose the complexities and injustices of the event, inviting viewers to consider the events of January 6th from multiple angles and to reflect on their own role in shaping the future of the country.

Martin Luther King's concept of nonviolence suggests that individuals have the power to achieve social change through peaceful means, such as civil disobedience and nonviolence. The installation "January 6th, 2021: A Day of Reckoning" can be seen as embodying this idea through its focus on the consequences and aftermath of the January 6th insurgency, and the ongoing efforts to create a more just and peaceful society. By bringing together a wide range of voices and experiences, including video footage, audio recordings, and personal testimonies, the installation encourages viewers to consider the events of January 6th from multiple angles and to reflect on their own role in shaping the future of the country. Through its use of interactive elements such as a discussion area and a space for visitors to write down their own ideas for creating positive change, the installation invites viewers to engage with the event in a meaningful and peaceful way, and to consider the ways in which they can work towards social change through nonviolence. Overall, the installation serves as a powerful example of how art can expose and challenge injustices, and inspire individuals to work towards a more just and peaceful society.

Please analyze such as artwork, as you have described and detailed it, in a two paragraph (minimum) assessment applying the ideas of Habermas and Sloterdijk.

Certainly! Here is an analysis of the installation artwork "January 6th, 2021: A Day of Reckoning," situating it within the ideas of Habermas and Sloterdijk:

According to Habermas, art has the power to create spaces for critical thinking and dialogue, promoting the development of a more rational and democratic society. The installation "January 6th, 2021: A Day of Reckoning" can be seen as exemplifying this approach through its multifaceted and nuanced examination of the January 6th insurgency and its aftermath. By bringing together a wide range of perspectives and experiences, including video footage, audio recordings, and personal testimonies, the installation creates a space for critical thinking and dialogue, inviting viewers to consider the events of January 6th from multiple angles and to reflect on their own role in shaping the future of the country. Through its use of interactive elements such as a discussion area and a space for visitors to write down their own ideas for creating positive change, the installation promotes the development of a more rational and democratic society by encouraging viewers to engage with the event in a meaningful and thoughtful way.

Sloterdijk's concept of "spheres" suggests that individuals create and inhabit a wide range of social, cultural, and intellectual spaces, or "spheres," which shape their experiences and understanding of the world. The installation "January 6th, 2021: A Day of Reckoning" can be seen as embodying this idea through its focus on the consequences and aftermath of the January 6th insurgency, and the ongoing efforts to create a more just and peaceful society. By bringing together a wide range of voices and experiences, including video footage, audio recordings, and personal testimonies, the installation encourages viewers to consider the events of January 6th from multiple angles and to reflect on their own role in shaping the future of the country. Through its use of interactive elements such as a discussion area and a space for visitors to write down their own ideas for creating positive change, the installation invites viewers to engage with the event in a meaningful and transformative way, and to consider the ways in which their own "spheres" may be shaping their understanding of the event. Overall, the installation serves as a powerful example of how art can create spaces for critical thinking and dialogue, inviting viewers to engage with the complexities of the January 6th insurgency and its aftermath in a meaningful and transformative way. 

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Please analyze such as artwork, as you have described and detailed it, in a two paragraph (minimum) assessment applying the ideas of N. Katherine Hayles and Donna Haraway.

Certainly! Here is an analysis of the installation artwork "January 6th, 2021: A Day of Reckoning," situating it within the ideas of N. Katherine Hayles and Donna Haraway:

According to Hayles, art has the power to explore and challenge the intersections between technology, culture, and the human body, offering new insights and perspectives on contemporary society. The installation "January 6th, 2021: A Day of Reckoning" can be seen as exemplifying this approach through its use of multiple media and perspectives to explore the January 6th insurgency and its aftermath. By bringing together a wide range of voices and experiences, including video footage, audio recordings, and personal testimonies, the installation invites viewers to consider the events of January 6th from multiple angles and to reflect on the ways in which technology and media may have played a role in shaping their understanding of the event. Through its use of interactive elements such as a discussion area and a space for visitors to write down their own ideas for creating positive change, the installation encourages viewers to engage with the event in a meaningful and transformative way, and to consider the ways in which technology and media may be shaping their own experiences and perspectives.

Haraway's concept of the "cyborg" suggests that individuals are shaped by the intersections of nature and culture, technology and biology, and that this hybrid identity has the potential to challenge and subvert dominant power structures. The installation "January 6th, 2021: A Day of Reckoning" can be seen as embodying this idea through its focus on the consequences and aftermath of the January 6th insurgency, and the ongoing efforts to create a more just and peaceful society. By bringing together a wide range of voices and experiences, including video footage, audio recordings, and personal testimonies, the installation encourages viewers to consider the events of January 6th from multiple angles and to reflect on their own role in shaping the future of the country. Through its use of interactive elements such as a discussion area and a space for visitors to write down their own ideas for creating positive change, the installation invites viewers to engage with the event in a meaningful and transformative way, and to consider the ways in which their own identities as "cyborgs" may be shaping their understanding of the event. Overall, the installation serves as a powerful example of how art can explore and challenge the intersections between technology, culture, and the human body, inviting viewers to engage with the complexities of the January 6th insurgency and its aftermath in a meaningful and transformative

Post-Anthropocentric Implications of “World-Expression” in Nishida’s “Life”

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Published: Jul 18, 2022

Keywords:

Nishida Kitarō (西田幾多郎 1870–1945) Kyoto School modern Japanese philosophy posthumanism world-expression biosemiotics ecological thought philosophy of science philosophy of biology J. S. Haldane (1860–1936)

Main Article Content

Dean Anthony Brink

National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University

Abstract

This paper examines Nishida Kitarō’s (1870–1945) late essay, “Life,” which develops the process of “world-expression” (世界表現) to situate human and nonhuman agency in ways drawing his thought closer to concerns of posthuman ideals of inter-species commensurability and biosemiotics today. Here he extends his philosophy of a site-specific matrix or basho (場所) so as to incorporate arguments from J. S. Haldane’s The Philosophical Basis of Biology (1931), which poses questions concerning the coordination of organisms and environments. Nishida finds in Haldane support for his own situating of selves, even engaging questions concerning how animals count as selves.

Jounal Editor-in-Chief: Monika Kirloskar-Steinbach

Links to Article:

via Academia.edu 

via Publisher (OPEN ACCESS)

Sein und Werden / Spring/Summer 2022

Themed 'Being & Becoming' - an online literary magazine of experimental prose, poetry and artwork that seeks to merge and modernise the ideas behind Expressionism, Surrealism and Existentialism.

Edited by Rachel Kendall 

Included in new issue of weird/sf/experimental poetry and fiction:

"The Harvest"

Representing Taiwan in Slovakia's international Vertigo fest 2021: On Poetry without Borders and "Toy Drone,"

  On Poetry without Borders

“Poetry without Borders” on the one hand suggests language that engages others in our (necessary) misunderstandings across borders. But like doctors without borders making house calls, poets without borders need good bedside manners, need to be kind. But the highest kind of kindness would be not to have to read a poem in the first place, and that is the aim of poetry without borders: borders without the need for poetry.

On the other hand, borders are points forced into lines, and the points are lives interrupted in their happy crisscrossing.

Personally, borders make one nervous, wait, suffer. 

Poetry becomes sexual release diverted to borders. It’s not fair to the poet. 

If not for border interruptus forcing poetry, life without borders would drastically reduce the need for doctoring at checkpoints and that means poetry. 

Poetry for me is minutiae, not of one scene, but many. Metonymy. Line to line and even within a line borders are crossed; metaphors are driven away. The metaphors poets drive doctor the minutiae of far-flung places. 

Thus, poems pivot upon possibilities for infiltrating infrastructures so as to inoculate borders before one even nears one. 

Poetry ushers in hopes of borderlessness and ideal translations so that we may turn around anywhere and move on from the business of kindness to love. 

 

TOY DRONE

 

Does it matter whose searchlights

lifted off the ridge to pin us down?

 

Bulldogs lent their gruff legs

under beaming magnolias.

 

Now you ask how we lost 

our favorite clown point-blank

 

just passing through sidelines in the sand

of slogans set in motion.

 

It feels like it feels

to swivel at twenty paces

 

only to find yourself surrounded

ear to ear with the wind.

 

It creeped us, the way sunrise fondles foothills

as the fog burns off. 

 

I know we vowed never to open that box again

and never close it. 

 

The idea stands on relays,

what swings the axe,

 

which particles blink in the fiber

of ether grinding to an act.

 

I mean mobs still assemble

but ghosts of what burned out

 

to correct incursions, bruises, 

kid-gloves and valley talk

 

flicking fingers in order, silence broken 

in peanut galleries a sense of an ending rose

 

with the moon, tipping the back-story

held sway, doing its thing, those daffodils

 

were really poppies crossing the fertile bank

where everyone spread out, taking cover

 

to look for the ninth planet

crawling on elbows, then tumbling on board,

 

knees to chests, squeezing in

for the long haul, hoping

 

to reach the pass with us

of all people, before a second snow.

 

(First appeared in New Writing: The International Journal for the Practice and Theory of Creative Writing)

New book in comparative poetics out: Poetics and Justice in America, Japan, and Taiwan : Configuring Change and Entitlement

Dean Anthony Brink. Poetics and Justice in America, Japan, and Taiwan: Configuring Change and Entitlement. Lanham: Lexington Books, An imprint of The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, 2021.

Available now at local bookstores or...

Book Depository

Amazon

Philosophy of Science and The Kyoto School An Introduction to Nishida Kitaro, Tanabe Hajime and Tosaka Jun

Dean Anthony Brink. Philosophy of Science and The Kyoto School: An Introduction to Nishida Kitarō, Tanabe Hajime and Tosaka Jun. London: Bloomsbury, 2021.

At local bookstore or at...

Book Depository

Amazon

Accidental Glitch 2D Visual

How to make the most of your bread machine: some pointers toward healthier, nuttier and raisin-packed bread

The instructions that came with my wonderful Japanese bread machine turned out to be overly cautious, though basically helpful in determining hackable parameters. Here are a few time-saving pointers that might help others make even better bread with confidence. They are arranged from simple to risky and nuanced.

1) Is your bread too dry? add extra water, about 10cc more than recommended to start with. Adjust after a vote. (If it is unbaked, too much was added; if it doesn't make you want to tear a piece off and lay it across your tongue, try adding more.)

2) Add extra yeast when the weather is colder or you add exotic low-gluten ingredients (such as soy flour, whole wheat flour, oats, anything). (You may also use high-gluten bread flour to offset the difficulty in using whole wheat flour, though I know I'm not swimming with the tide on this one. In Taiwan, we actually each pickled gluten with peanuts. Try it, if you are allergy-free on this one.)

3) Is your bread texture or taste too boring, too bland? Or do you want to sweeten it up? Add one or more of the following ingredients, or mix and match (heck, add them all, to taste: go for it--it won't be the end of the world--you might be pleasantly surprised!):

Bland-busting options:

• finely shredded coconut (not too coarse, not coconut flour)
• really makes it more filling (stick to your ribs) as well as offer a second texture
• cinnamon (at least a tablespoon and you won't regret it)
• nutmeg (be more cautious with this one)
• I destroyed a pie once by adding the recipe's standard dosage. It all boils down to respecting freshly ground nutmeg, whether slivered off the nut or spooned out of a tin.
• chopped or slivered almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds
• dried fruit/raisins: grape or cranberry raisins; chopped figs 

The sweetening subset:

• vanilla
• cocoa powder (to taste: two tablespoons to a quarter cup)
• extra butter (double or triple your bread machine's recommended amount)
• If you go too far with the butter, hold back on adding extra water will help keep the dough from becoming dense and uncooperative with the yeast. 
• extra sugar (cane sugar recommended) (double, triple, or quadruple bread machine's recommended amount)

4) When to add the extras like nuts and raisins? While coconuts flakes, soy flour, cocoa powder goes in with the mix from the get-go, the big stuff comes later. My machine beeps and gives me a couple minutes to dump in a measly 50g of it--intolerable and defeating the purpose of having a bread machine! Instead, in order to make as healthy, moist, and nutritious as one dreams, I suggest adding the extra big stuff about 10 or 15 minutes after pressing start--the ball of dough should already have been formed and smooth. Dump it all in, and before it rattles around too much, with a sturdy spatula press down on the ball so that it is torn from below by the moving blade (be careful and use judgement). Repeat this until most of the dry extra big stuff is on its way to being integrated in the ball of dough. Don't worry; it will still rise (fingers crossed).

5) Don't forget salt! I'm not a fan myself, but you need it for bread to stay tasty, and the yeast needs it (for whatever yeast do with it when they aren't gorging on the sugar).

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Disclaimer: Though I've used the above techniques dozens of times, I don't know your bread machine, so I can only offer a few ideas about what makes for great bread for me and my family. What works for me might tank in your machine for all I know. Use your own judgement as I take no responsibility for mishaps or damaged teflon.

"Quantum Dialectics" (essay) open access at Philosophy Today

Philosophy Today

DOI: 10.5840/philtoday2020128311
Quantum Dialectics
PDF opens in new window

Dean Anthony Brink

Quantum Dialectics

Philosophy Today, Volume 63, Issue 4 (Fall 2019).
Pages 1069-1080

Abstract: This brief examination of treatments of nothingness-oriented dialectics in Kyoto School philosophers Nishida Kitarō and Tanabe Hajime engages questions of space from Hegel to quantum mechanics. It begins to situate their work in light of Emmanuel Levinas’s writings on empty space and as overlooked contributions to the philosophy of science.

Key words: Kyoto School, quantum physics, space

Three Penny Space Opera in print

My Threepenny Space Opera, a libretto in mostly poetry/song, though in need of being put to music, is now out thanks to Jennifer Lee Rossman and Brian McNett:




Or on my Amazon author page:
https://www.amazon.com/Dean-Anthony-Brink/e/B07PP1HQ3G?ref_=pe_1724030_132998060

Three Poems (somewhat satirical with respect to John Ashbery) first appearing in Exquisite Corpse (May 2008)

Three Poems, selected by Andrei Codrescu for Exquisite Corpse (May 2008), with these lines set off:

As you become your friends your furniture must become you,
stand for the real you, and something on each shelf
and wall so the friends feel friendliness.

Dancers Winding Down

They just want balanced diets
my friend’s wife points out
adding: if I don’t get cable how can I level the playing ground?
I’m tired of always keeping up so that the horizon doesn’t get to me.
That’s what the new burgers are all about for instance.
Says he can’t even smell microbes anymore
though others say they find their way into ducts and canals
he leaves the stray door ajar
and hopes a breeze ‘ll kick in uncontrollably flushed,
Brownian motion or at least whiffs of osmosis on their way.
One of the two will be the planet’s undoing.
If we talk it through, what more to discover
in the visible world after the third grade or so,
but get a load of those quanta rest notes
filling in where others left off in a huffy—
Bach’s fugues so marvelously Marx Brothers, basements of footnotes
and clunky dice reduced to the usual runways
thanks to Pythagorean theorems and an aviary of recorders.
The radius of loses still subtracted from the gravity of wombs,
and the magic that plumps an ark threatens the land with colonies of flowers
busy undergirding planks tendered firmly in our way.


E Pluribus Bananas

Choosing the right pieces to surround oneself is an ongoing burden.
As you become your friends your furniture must become you,
stand for the real you, and something on each shelf
and wall so the friends feel friendliness.
Then striking poses comes naturally too,
people love you for the real you
and all the clippings and bookmarks to back it up.
These days fashion is brushed metal bending over us
from the steel toes of laboring hours
on up to the finest platinum barrettes on daughters,
the clean future foretold in sci-fi misses us,
the very moral impulse to tweak the onrush lost
in a dampening of fun, as focused hording,
while our main product - simple, disembodied gore –
is censored courtesy of servants embedded in a Westward caravan
ticking off each peak of bison leveled to pass further
from memories off camera, tossed
into the much-feared salads of history, kooky beyond all bearings
of automated feelers our men sent out last week,
let's count sales and consumer confidence
after the initial one was rolled out, spells roping it back.
It’s anyone’s guess who quoted what; what said not important as
we - so far - always duck in in time,
jets angling favorite songs from hi-tech heated toilet seats
so that steering down here finds a modicum of comfort in all the effort.

Twilight of Good Graces

Across the bay, helpless neighbors snarl the commute
and moodiness lowers the general bar
to shoulder-padded mumbles—
who rules, who shows who.
Air superiority is the talk of the town.
Waiting for them we head off
to see herring feed themselves to seals—
riveting kersplashes in a hierarchy unseen since
since ape stood up in the evolution to man,
only a bony tail there, a patch of fur here,
vegetarians and hawks—the idea of balance
     indelible in the circus.
Wells dropped to hit-and-miss after the heat,
then summer showers kicked in minimally.
The only real hope lie in alien saucers
forming a holding pattern over Mt. Rainier,
smoke-signaling rain—
even my green Oma from the lovely Schwarzwald knew
days blue enough to send us to the lake in the foothills
and sit in the sun until a freckle spread
and we felt like a Nutty Buddy after the hard work of splashing around half naked.
The onslaught of cumulonimbus hardly crossed our minds,
was something cyclical, shapes in the sky barometric.

Although hard to prove, John Ashbery seems to have written “Upstate Dancers” (collected in Planisphere, 2009) as a bitter reply to someone emulating him. He even includes the line "Sometimes a stench decides everything", an image that indeed closes the second poem above.

Exquisite Corpse (which closed shop in 2015) seems offline now, so I though I'd put the poems up here.