An A+ paper.

I received an A+ on this paper I wrote. To flatter myself, I am going to post it on the blog. Our assignment was to read a chapter on the poet Adrienne Rich and write on a particular article she wrote dealing with her refusal to accept the National Medal for the Arts in 1997. We needed to state a response to the article and this paper was mine.

Response to Adrienne Rich’s “Why I Refused the National Medal for the Arts”

The article “Why I Refused the National Medal for the Arts” by Adrienne Rich is her explanation for taking the action of the title. The core theme of the article is how Rich feels about the importance of art to humanity, and how the government is stifling the arts and via this action, it stifles the humanity of the people that government should be serving. In the letter that starts off the article, Rich points out reasons for the refusal. She points out how art is incompatible with cynical politics and how her acceptance would compromise her feelings about art and the political state when whe was going to be awarded the medal. She states that concern for her county was inextricable from her concerns for art. The article goes on to illustrate her concerns. All the while she never disavows her loyalty to her country, but shows how the system in place was harmful to the states constituents.

Ms. Rich was well within rights to stand up against what she felt abhorrent in the system. Her declination of the medal, in my eyes, removed a very large platform that she could have manipulated to illustrate the ills she was addressing in a louder, more visible fashion. The onslaught of arts programs that she points out in the article has been well known for the past thirty plus years. Since before the conservative swell of the 1980s, government funded art programs have been on death watch. Narrow minded politicians such as James Watt, of the Department of the Interior in the first Reagan administration banning the Beach Boys from performing at the National Mall due to their drug use is an example of government stifling the arts through a lack of understanding and desire to control elements of society. Another illustration and one that was more threatening than Watt and that surely was a reference in the article is the late senator Jesse Helms of North Carolina and his attempts to cut funding to the National Endowment for the Arts because of his dislike for art generated by gay and lesbian artists, in particular, his distaste for the works of Robert Mapplethorpe. These two issues were front page headlines in their times. In opposition to this, Ms. Rich’s refusal was as she states in her article a “sidebar”.

In the prefacing letter of the article, Ms. Rich states “But I do know that art – in my own case the art of poetry – means nothing if it simply decorates the dinner table of power that holds it hostage.” I could not disagree with her more. Art in that state only means that it is insulting to the creative force that the art is held in that fashion. Once art is released to all, it is up to the individual what to make of the art and to either hold it dear, hold it as a possession or to discard it as distasteful to that individual’s palette. Her refusal did act as removing her art as decoration from the table. In removing that decoration, the art that she implies is or is not compatible with politics, she has squandered the opportunity of changing a mind in a positive direction towards her belief system. A hollow accolade can act as a flashlight to enlighten upon items shrouded in darkness. If she took a headline and made an outright statement and bit the hand that fed her, she just might have opened her own works that she deems socially important (and I do not dispute that they are important) to a larger audience than they currently are exposed to. Ms. Rich should have seized the opportunity to use the spotlight that the systems she opposed were offering her and used it to illuminate their weak points. It is much better to fight an enemy from within his fortifications than it is from the outside.

The article illustrates the societal ills that Rich identifies as harming humanity and the arts. Some of the high points are the political leadership’s failure to connect with people and the two major parties catering to corporate powers. She points out how art may be hindered in the current political climate of the United States, but despite efforts of oppressing it, new art will be born none the less. She attributes this through a quotation of Clayton Eshleman as “the need for a more profound and ensouled world.” Ms. Rich argues for noble things in our society that can nourish artistic talent. She argues for literacy amongst the people and public education that has arts as a core element. She argues for individuality and decency amongst the populace. These are all great virtues, but she does not say how we are to fight off the base instincts within many people such as greed, the lust for power and the desire for superiority over others. She also does not state how to combat the inherent racism in many people, an eternal opponent of those virtues. As an artist and educator she may suggest that education amongst the populace would combat this, but that ignores the fact that literacy rates in our less free America are higher now than when the nation supposedly was a more free and democratic society a century ago and at the foundation of this republic over two centuries ago. These issues may never have a solution, but mankind must stay vigilant against them as long as they survive.

Ms. Rich overall is right. America needs the arts. The government and it’s injustices to its constituents is contrary to the spirit of the arts. Ms. Rich took a bold step in refusing a great honor as a statement of her dissatisfaction with the government’s policy towards its constituents and the arts. As an American, she has the right to exercise her will in that fashion. As a member of the human race she has that right. Ms. Rich, in my opinion mismanaged an opportunity that may never come her way again. Ms. Rich threw away her bully pulpit and the chance to win converts to her way of thinking. In going and making a statement illustrating the injustices she was attempting to address, she just might have changed a mind in the congress that could have become a groundswell. The media attention she would have received had the potential to inspire some future legislators to feel strongly about addressing those issues, notice corporate influence and think of how to avoid it’s corrupting influence. She may have gotten a small visibility in the “sidebar” of her refusal, but the headline of her acceptance despite all the things she could have addressed in a speech, and with new focus on her past and future writings would have made a stronger, longer lasting impression.

My Favorite Album of 2008... So Far

My favorite album for 2008 was not released in this year. My favorite album was not reissued in this year. Unfortunately I am over forty years too late for the release of this album, and how it has not touched my life in so long a time, I can not explain.
The album is "A Love Supreme" by John Coltrane. You don't need to be told by me the unnerving talent that was in the heart of Coltrane. His praises have been sang for over half a century by writers far greater than myself.

I have heard this album in the past. I most certainly heard it in my days working as a technician in a consumer electronics store during the 1980s. Most of my exposure to jazz created prior to the Fusion period of the 1970s came working in that environment. The yuppies of the time needed to piss cash that they were making hand over fist, and consumer electronics was one of their favorite piss pots. I just happened to be working for one of the elite consumer audio/video establishments of NYC at the time in Brooklyn Heights, Innovative Audio. If you get a chance to visit them in their latest location on 58th Street you should. The environment itself is a treat. The yuppie tastes in music would go to 50s and 60s jazz and classical. Monstrous sized components singing with horns and sax would make the yupsters hair stand up on end (not to mention the chills that would go up my spine). Here is where these sounds would permeate my heart. I was a victim of arrested development most of my life as far as my maturity and taste is concerned. In my early twenties, I was just beginning to get out of my "that shit sucks" mentality. I have always had a love of music. I have always had a love of powerful music. Back then I was just beginning to discover that the requirements of powerful music were not exclusively loud, or lead by piercing, screaming electric guitars (even though they usually are a plus). I first heard Coltrane in this atmosphere.

As mentioned in prior posts, I have recently returned to complete my Bachelors degree. I needed to take a course to fulfill my Humanities Requirement with a course that had a heavy writing component involved with the course. My last bout of schooling in the 90s had developed a mild appreciation of poetry. So in looking for a course to meet the requirement I found English 140 W (the w stands for writing), Introduction to Poetry. The course is an intro to poetry and every week we must write an essay on various poems and topics related to them. In this course I was introduced to the poem "Dear John, Dear Coltrane" by Michael Harper. Harper's poetry lit a spark in me with it's incorporation of "A Love Supreme" in it's theme. I had the rhythm throbing in my mind for days. After being tormented, I had to run out and buy the CD. I was enthralled upon the first listening of my purchase.

Coltrane referred to this album as a gift to God. I don't know about that directional flow. I think it may be more accurate to call this collection of music one of God's many gifts to humanity, with this gift being delivered via his vessel that was named John Coltrane.

The opening fanfare of sax lines in "Acknowledgment" seem to announce the arrival of joy. Then starts that enveloping rhythmic theme coming through the fingers of Jimmy Garrison on Acoustic Bass. You can here the words "a love supreme, a love supreme, a love supreme" pumping through in all their low frequency glory from the bass. Music as replacement for voice. It sounds like a heartbeat. McCoy Tyner's piano underscoring the soaring sounds of Coltrane's sax playing accentuated by Elvin Jones' tink tink of the cymbals and the sharp rap of his snare create what may be one of the most perfect layered constructions withing a recording studio. Towards the end of the piece, Coltrane's chant of the album title accentuates further the theme now entering in to crescendo and the final ending throbs of the bass at the conclusion.

The next selection "Resolution" soars for another seven and a half minutes. It begins with a slow bass introduction and then from out of nowhere, Coltrane jumps in with a sax line that is nothing but uplifting and sets the melodic tone for the rest of this composition. Once again, the sound is layered a base block carrying the next block carrying the next block supporting the topping, which is the sheer genius of Coltrane's playing.

The third piece, "Pursuance" opens with Elvin Jones performing a drum solo that must have been outstanding in it's day. I am not denigrating his talent, but after being bombarded with 30 minute arena rock drum solos in so much of my formative years, I have to say drum solos can get heavy handed and I usually shy away from listening to them. Jones though had great taste in the delivery of the feel from the solo and then cut it at just the point that it was about to lose effectiveness of holding my attention. I guess that makes him a damned good artist besides a damned good drummer. And that gets topped off by Coltrane's entry in to the piece, once again on top of Tyner, who then goes in to his own piano solo while Coltrane stands down. McCoy Tyner's playing really is great. I have not heard enough of this man. I have to put him on my list. His movements through the piece are exhilarating and then the final build of his solo seems to elevate the reentry of Coltrane to the piece. It's flying to the sky feel is simply exhilarating. Then we return to Jones doing a brief solo that segues in to Jimmy Garrison once again reintroducing the "love supreme" melodic theme with his bass while taking a solo that introduces us in to the climax of the album.

Psalm is a tone poem. The English language of the poem are written in the liner notes, but there are no English words on the recording. All verbalization is performed by John Coltrane's saxophone. Once again, a layered underscoring of the music by his accomplices in this masterpiece. Jones on drums is adding deep rolls of thunder and majesty that Tyner's piano swells upon. Garrison thumping in the layer while Coltrane sings his praise to an ever enveloping deity whom has given his life such meaning. All with his saxophone. At at the conclusion he closes with the same saxophone theme that he opened the album with.

Of the four pieces, my personal favorite is "Resolution". The melodic theme that Coltrane plays at the beginning just lifts me up. It forces me to just internally sing with it's flow. I could just imagine myself following it with a guitar (I play guitar and relate to music by imagining myself performing in the music). The smooth rising sensation that I get from hearing the melody makes me imagine a person dancing with arms outstretched in joy and fulfillment. Not too many musical passages make me contemplate images like that. The passage of music, to my soul, smacks of euphoria. It feels like lovers at climax. It is as if you have entered in to paradise, and all that is about your senses is pure joy and elation. I could write more sentences. I could use a greater selection of adjectives. I would still miss hitting the nail on the head. You would do yourself great service to listen, and then you most likely would understand my lack of description. So I will stop here.

And with the joy, I get sad thoughts. An artist dead before I could revel in the midst of receiving their arts whilst new and fresh. Unable to discover it while in it's proper context of time and place in history. Unable to know if this alters my perception of something I already feel is just joyful. I was three years old when Coltrane et al. were recording this masterpiece in late 1964. John Coltrane would be gone from this plane of existence within another four years. Dead at the age of forty, it is already longer since the recording than the man had years.
Trane, you died long before I knew who you were. I can only thank God for recorded music so I can hear you forty four years later in what must have been your prime. Thank God that you were thanking God in such a grand way that has just filled ears with joy for years. And with great optimism for the survival of humanity, you will fill our ears with joy for eternity.

School Daze

After a long absence, I have decided to continue my education and complete the courses for a Bachelors Degree. I should have done this twenty years ago, but I was a sap. I completed the course work for an Associate in Applied Science degree in the Fall of 1987. Ronald Reagan was still president. George Bush the Elder was ratcheting up his campaign for the presidency. Gary Hart was still viable. Bill Clinton? Still needed to make the keynote at the 1988 Democratic Convention. I did a stint of jury duty, and began working in February 1988 for an Electrical Instrument manufacturer in Rockville Centre, NY. The game plan was I was going to go to engineering school at night. I was running late in my education, I had already changed majors three times and took a two year break between two of those majors. I wanted to work, I wanted to get married.

I started looking to school in '90, but I did not do anything about it. Then in 1994, I took a leap. I registered for Fall '94 to take Computer Science Courses. I had to do that at night. I went until Fall of '97. In between those points, my marriage collapsed and I was a basket case. I didn't manage to screw up all my courses, but I did have some unproductive time. I was forced by circumstance to withdraw from my courses in the Fall of '97. I also got my current position in that fall, and time marched on. Fall 2000 arrived. My son was entering High School. I thought it would be cute if the two of us would both be going to school at the same time, and we could have study time together on weekends. That was good for a few chuckles. Workload and responsibilities and the coursework, first math course in 14 years...
Totally frazzled, I threw my hands in the air and surrendered.

In the summer of 2007, I began feeling like I wanted to go back and finish what I started. I would need to prep myself. I still had a shit load of math to look forward to and I needed to learn a new programming language. I decided, January 2008 was when I was going to return. Finances forbade that at that moment. OK, we will prep and go fall '08. I slacked off. Sometime this spring I decided I wanted to get serious. I started prepping. OK, I tell myself, January '09.

Procrastination and self defeat building up.

Thursday, I am speaking with my gal. We I mention my plans for January, and she tells me that I am foolish. I should just shit or get off the pot. Don't wait if I am going to do it. See if I can get in for the fall and if not, just get the ball started. The fire is lit under my ass.
I make a call to admissions...
"Come in, but move fast. Classes start in two weeks."
Friday I am off from work. I go and apply for readmission.
Saturday, I get general academic advisement. There are issues with my computer account at the school with regards to online registration. The college help desk assures me that Monday morning, the problems will be solved. Monday morning comes, problems solved. I am going to start off by taking one course in the humanities towards my core requirements. Any course that would satisfy the requirements are filled.
Call to the registrar office redirects me to the English department. Over tally granted and I am registered for my preferred course. Go to online billing. Pay bill after reassuring discussion with my girlfriend to overcome my nerves (I am sacrificing money that is scarce, and time that is also scarce, the nerves kick in).

I am now going to Queens College starting August 28. I have a hard road ahead of me, besides the work, but conquering my self doubt.

But I'm there. And I am upbeat about doing this. I have shame for not doing it when I should have, but I have to keep that buried so it does not throw me off.

And I need to think of this as fun.

My Fishing Trip on August 1st.

Friday, I got to the fishing piers of Jones Beach about 8:45. That’s about an hour later than I wanted to get there. No great loss. It wound up that nothing was biting there so the extra zzzzs were appreciated. It was a beautiful hot sunny day and the smell of the ocean salt was invigorating.

That and views that I saw were like this:

Pure relaxation was written all over those crests in the bay.After about an hour of just familiarizing myself with my new reel (yes I finally used my new Abu Garcia Ambassadeur 7000i after two months) and casting out something happens. I was doing some slow bottom dragging of my bucktail looking for fluke. I feel something take on my line.

Usually if you snag any structure under water, you can’t pull any more line in without getting all tight on the line and either breaking loose or cutting your line loose. That was not the case here. I was retrieving something heavy. There was no fight to whatever I had on the line, so I think to my self ‘what the hell is this you got’. Usually a live fish, no matter how small will give you a fight that you will feel on the rod. That was not the case here. I am retrieving dead weight. I am thinking ‘ what dead animal have you pulled up Louie’?

I reel in some more and what do I have?

A string of some awful looking mussels is what I pulled up. Mind you, I love eating mussels, but these were not very delectable looking to me. And I eat practically any shell fish. These mussels attached themselves to this old lost or discarded fishing rig in the water. It had lines and hooks and weights that the mussels were all attached to. It seemed like they grew around it. Like when a tree grows completely around a power line.

I looked over the mussels and thought that I may clean out the line and give them back to the bay. After a careful review of how they were on the line, and seeing a squadron of gulls and kingfishers surrounding the local area, I opted to leave the mussels out by the trash can on the pier. Let the birds have them if they felt they wanted them. I was in a rush to get at fishing seeing the aviary activity on the waters. I did not want to return the fishing debris to the waters, so I would let nature have her way with them. Placed them in an empty disposal can that I knew the birds would be at once all the humans came off the pier. I just made sure there were no hooks by yanking the two our of the mussels shells. This stuff was all rusted. This tangle was under for quite a while, it was not fresh.

So after the mussel incident I stayed at the lot 10 piers for about another hour to an hour and a half. No fish were to be had on any of the four piers with the exception of the fisherman to my left who pulled in a Sea Robbin with the longest set of sings I have ever seen on one of the beasts (well it really isn't a beast, it’s one ugly fish). I packed up my gear, and then went for a drive to Captree state park. I went to their café, caught a bagel, some water and diet 7up. I was real thirsty and did not want any caffeine at that point. I was perfectly at ease and did not want any stimulants other than the two cups I had prior to heading out in the morning. I strolled down the pier checking out the party boats and charters that were still in. I then went in to my car and headed back to Queens. All in all I was home by 1:30 in the afternoon. It was a peaceful relaxing Friday for me. Hope every one else had a relaxing one.