Another Review: The Synchronicity of Indeterminacy*
"Indie," as he has come to be known, posts vignettes inspired by found photographs on weekdays and asks readers to write their own vignettes on weekends. As he explains in his first post, which is linked to his sidebar, The Synchronicity of Indeterminacy is an avant garde experiment inspired by John Cage's recording, "Indeterminacies," stories read to random sounds, and by Carl Jung's concept of synchronicity as "meaningful coincidence."'
When I first encountered Indie, I was struck by the thought that had gone into his blog concept, and by his attempt to use blogging in a novel way. The creative potential of this medium has not even begun to be tapped, and so few are really trying. On the other hand, as the daughter of a neo-Romantic composer I am no fan of John Cage's rehashed Da-Daism (though I am not familiar with "Indeterminacies"), and as a rationalist I believe a coincidence is just a coincidence. So initially I was skeptical.
Two things have made me a fan of Indie, though not necessarily of Cage or Jung. First, he cares about quality. Despite the pressure entailed in his project, his work is never canned or predictable. Each post makes a transition from the two-dimensional image to an unexpected surreality with its own rules. Often these worlds are amusing, but they may be haunting or even tragic on occasion, and they are never commonplace. The fact that the people and objects in his stories are always more magical than they were in the photograph reminds me of the magical associations we all make when we assign roles in our own unfolding dramas to the people and objects around us. Can anyone say "Verfremdungseffekt"? I don't think Pansi can.
The second reason I appreciate Indie is that he is a wonderfully generous interactive blogger. Not only does he open his own blog to submissions each week and then post these in their own blog, but he always comments on each submission and finds something helpful and complimentary to say about it. When he comments on other blogs he is kind and witty. He links to anyone who interests him, and since his interests are wide-ranging, browsing through his links is always an adventure. Indie also took the time to e-mail me on how to set up links in my sidebar when I was even stupider about that part of blogging than I am now. Exchanges with him are invariably positive and intellectually stimulating.
We are honored that Indie once dedicated a post to The Pansi Files, and glad that he is enjoying his current role here as the terrorist, "Mr. Indecency." We can only hope that Pete's goons will fail to track him down, and he will be able to bring the bizarre into our lives for many years to come.
*After Saturday's post this blog will be on vacation until mid-June. I am featuring three alternative venues for your blogging pleasure, the first three who showed an interest in The Pansi Files. This is my second review.
When I first encountered Indie, I was struck by the thought that had gone into his blog concept, and by his attempt to use blogging in a novel way. The creative potential of this medium has not even begun to be tapped, and so few are really trying. On the other hand, as the daughter of a neo-Romantic composer I am no fan of John Cage's rehashed Da-Daism (though I am not familiar with "Indeterminacies"), and as a rationalist I believe a coincidence is just a coincidence. So initially I was skeptical.
Two things have made me a fan of Indie, though not necessarily of Cage or Jung. First, he cares about quality. Despite the pressure entailed in his project, his work is never canned or predictable. Each post makes a transition from the two-dimensional image to an unexpected surreality with its own rules. Often these worlds are amusing, but they may be haunting or even tragic on occasion, and they are never commonplace. The fact that the people and objects in his stories are always more magical than they were in the photograph reminds me of the magical associations we all make when we assign roles in our own unfolding dramas to the people and objects around us. Can anyone say "Verfremdungseffekt"? I don't think Pansi can.
The second reason I appreciate Indie is that he is a wonderfully generous interactive blogger. Not only does he open his own blog to submissions each week and then post these in their own blog, but he always comments on each submission and finds something helpful and complimentary to say about it. When he comments on other blogs he is kind and witty. He links to anyone who interests him, and since his interests are wide-ranging, browsing through his links is always an adventure. Indie also took the time to e-mail me on how to set up links in my sidebar when I was even stupider about that part of blogging than I am now. Exchanges with him are invariably positive and intellectually stimulating.
We are honored that Indie once dedicated a post to The Pansi Files, and glad that he is enjoying his current role here as the terrorist, "Mr. Indecency." We can only hope that Pete's goons will fail to track him down, and he will be able to bring the bizarre into our lives for many years to come.
*After Saturday's post this blog will be on vacation until mid-June. I am featuring three alternative venues for your blogging pleasure, the first three who showed an interest in The Pansi Files. This is my second review.
Labels: Dad, Indeterminacy, Pansi, Pete
posted by Hobbes at 7:39 PM
9 Comments:
Mrs. Weirsdo, you are fired!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How dare you communicate with that EVILDOER?
We are investigating the Friendly's Effect. We will crack you're code, never fear.
I'm sorry you got fired, Mrs. Weirsdo, especially after writing such an expert review. You can always have a job over at my blog. That would be the very least I could do for you.
Indie: Thanks for the offer, and I'd happily trade guest spots with you, but don't worry. For the time being I can post from an undisclosed location. I was planning a blog hiatus soon anyway. After that, we'll see.
I'll miss you while you're on hiatus, but I'm glad it's only temporary. Thanks again for the wonderful review. I'm still so overwhelmed by it I hardly know what to say. It means a lot to me that I reached you in the way you describe.
I agree with Pansi. Inde signed my guestmap from the very place the 9/11 terrorists were incubated. Coinidence, Mr. Jung? Who do you think you are, Mrs. Weirsdo, Bill Maher?
That said, Synchronicity of Indeterminacy and The Pansifiles are two of the best, most creative sites on the web. I'll drop by daily while you're gone to pick up the paper and make sure Indeterminacy and Mr. Doo-doo aren't tearing the place up.
Hey Doug, I didn't know those ip addresses could be traced so easily. But even if the Stormtroopers do figure it out, they're liable to look for me in New Hamburg, Missouri.
I'll do my best to live up to the review, Doug. Thnks for that compliment.
Doug: No I think I'm Dick Cheney. Must be that stuff Dr. Doo-Doo gave me.
Hey, Inde, you put the dot on the guestmap. I just put my sextant and compass to the task. I think we're all pretty safe from the stormtroopers. The folksingers have them pretty well tied up.
Mrs. Weirsdo, I thought you were Dick Cheney, too. Not to fear.
I am in complete agreement with the tribute you paid to Indie's site. I think Mr. Indecency is just his dark side, and he has to express that part of himself somehow.
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