Oh, but I do love that Vegan Vaudeville! But you fellas are so earnest! While I've given up many of my bad habits (except for the cigarettes, and I'm about to try another quit - sigh...) I have no regrets for having overindulged in my mispent youth. I still eat meat (when I can afford it) and I am a staunch supporter of much of what is deemed "porn". Take a look at what Chris and Cosi (late of Throbbing Gristle) are doing in this vein. Even Annie Sprinkle (before she became a "big name") has done some interesting (and very, very funny) things in this arena. As for Uncle Al - Do What THou Wilt doesn't mean do whatever you want and fuck the repercussions. It means do what YOU feel is right and be aware of (and accept) the repercussions. Of course, this isn't going to come across in a stupid little catchphrase, and why should it? My mistake for not unpacking the meaning a little more. I am certainly no longer in the bloom of youth, but still, eventually one has to stop worrying. Health concerns are valid, I'll grant you that, but regarding many other issues...let's all relax a little. Viewed from the right angle, this life is a second-rate Las Vegas floorshow, a Tristan Tzara gameboard, the longest television commercial ever, the worst sort of dog and pony show. I find it all very useful and endlessly fascinating. Have a slow, careful walk through your local supermarket and tell me if that's not the funniest thing you've done all week. I spent the day on the boardwalk at the "Jersey Shore" earlier this week. The too-muchness of it was unbelievable. Also, I think all that fresh salt air has had an effect (for good or ill I can't yet say) on me so I beg your kind indulgence of all my ranting. Now I'm off (in so very many ways) to spend the next 3 days explaining modern sculpture to 5 rather confused people. So, try not to be vexed with me until Sunday morning. insert clever sign-off here Badgergirl ---------- >From: Eryk Salvaggio <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: FLUXLIST: Vegan Fluxus Events for RA >Date: Thu, Aug 24, 2000, 4:14 AM > > > > VEGAN VAUDEVILLE (FOR REED ALTEMUS) > 1. Abandon animal products. > 2. Lose half of your weight. > 3. Lose half of your remaining weight. > 4. Continue wearing the same sized pants. > > ----------------- > > FLUXUS FOR VEGANISM > > 1. Perform any given fluxus piece. > 2. Replace all nouns with "Tofu" or "Soy." > > > > [as a fellow vegan, I have performed script 1] > > > > > > > > > Reed Altemus wrote: > >> meryl wrote: >> >> > You're right though, people (Americans in particular)are taught very early >> > on that pleasure is "bad" and that self indulgence is always a sign of >> > weakness. All the flux artists I know of (particularly those most active in >> > the 50s and 60s) seemed to understand this or faked it remarkably well. I >> > >> >> There were definitely some drinkers in the crowd- Emmett Williams with his "In >> Vino Veritas" and Dick Higgins with a borderline alcohol problem. >> >> > believe that pleasure is at the heart of most good art (well, pleasure and >> > vaudeville to be painstakingly accurate). I believe in total hedonism as a >> > valid "lifesytle" (insofar as I believe in "lifestyles"). Crowley had it >> > right you know, "Do What Thou Will Shall be the Whole of the Law." Good old >> > Uncle Al...one of the last men to know the value of a good sideshow. >> > >> >> I used to practice total hedonism. I smoked, I ate meat, watched porno etc.It >> did bore me after a while though. Now I'm a bit older and I realize that >> there's was something missing i.e. taking care of my health! So I quit smoking >> which definitely would have killed me eventually considering how much I smoked. >> And went vegan for a diet and started excercising. I guess you reach a certain >> point where you say "Whoa!" I still hate excercising though. One Fluxus >> proposal by the mail artist Mark Bloch was to walk on a jogging paths and offer >> the joggers cigarettes. I thot that was very funny. >> >> There's always Max Stirner "The Ego and His Own" too. >> >> > >> > Indeed, blah, blah, blah, woof, woof, woof. >> > Clearly too much time on my hands today. >> > >> > Exactly under the sun >> > Badgergirl >> > >> > (it was Beuys who changed my life. i get the feeling that people don't >> > realize how funny he was.) >> >> YEEEEEEESSSS! Beuys definitely. I just purchased a set of his postcards and >> they're really terrific. I did a mock version of his Fluxus Zone West rubber >> stamp not too long ago. >> >> > >> > ---------- >> > >> >> RA > >
