Comments on: Mythology of the Modern World: The Arrogant Writer and the Beached Mermaid http://banter-latte.annotations.com/2007/08/13/mythology-of-the-modern-world-the-arrogant-writer-and-the-beached-mermaid/ Creative Mung from Eric A. Burns Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:06:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: selphie_trabia http://banter-latte.annotations.com/2007/08/13/mythology-of-the-modern-world-the-arrogant-writer-and-the-beached-mermaid/#comment-1043 selphie_trabia Sat, 27 Oct 2007 05:27:22 +0000 http://banter-latte.annotations.com/2007/08/13/mythology-of-the-modern-world-the-arrogant-writer-and-the-beached-mermaid/#comment-1043 Being not pretentious in the sense that would leave me mulling over the possible references for quite some time.... (I'm rather happy in my foolish ignorance. It is bliss, or at least they say it's bliss. Lalala.) My only comment can be. "Please reword your curses carefully. It's rather mean when you don't." Being not pretentious in the sense that would leave me mulling over the possible references for quite some time…. (I’m rather happy in my foolish ignorance. It is bliss, or at least they say it’s bliss. Lalala.)

My only comment can be.

“Please reword your curses carefully. It’s rather mean when you don’t.”

]]> By: hellfury http://banter-latte.annotations.com/2007/08/13/mythology-of-the-modern-world-the-arrogant-writer-and-the-beached-mermaid/#comment-525 hellfury Wed, 15 Aug 2007 03:38:59 +0000 http://banter-latte.annotations.com/2007/08/13/mythology-of-the-modern-world-the-arrogant-writer-and-the-beached-mermaid/#comment-525 One which I, for one, would like to hear told (or read written, as the case may be). One which I, for one, would like to hear told (or read written, as the case may be).

]]> By: Eric A. Burns http://banter-latte.annotations.com/2007/08/13/mythology-of-the-modern-world-the-arrogant-writer-and-the-beached-mermaid/#comment-508 Eric A. Burns Tue, 14 Aug 2007 05:47:51 +0000 http://banter-latte.annotations.com/2007/08/13/mythology-of-the-modern-world-the-arrogant-writer-and-the-beached-mermaid/#comment-508 Ahhh... the selective blindness of some artists and writers over their own work (which includes me, I fear) is a very different story. Ahhh… the selective blindness of some artists and writers over their own work (which includes me, I fear) is a very different story.

]]> By: Joel Wilcox http://banter-latte.annotations.com/2007/08/13/mythology-of-the-modern-world-the-arrogant-writer-and-the-beached-mermaid/#comment-507 Joel Wilcox Tue, 14 Aug 2007 05:44:55 +0000 http://banter-latte.annotations.com/2007/08/13/mythology-of-the-modern-world-the-arrogant-writer-and-the-beached-mermaid/#comment-507 Hmm ... This explains a lot. All it fails to explain is why writers are incapable of identifying the good in their own writing. I must have written something good at some time, but I've never figured out what it was. Either critics or editors tell writers that, but as I recall, you already explained why critics exist in another one of these stories. Hmm … This explains a lot. All it fails to explain is why writers are incapable of identifying the good in their own writing. I must have written something good at some time, but I’ve never figured out what it was. Either critics or editors tell writers that, but as I recall, you already explained why critics exist in another one of these stories.

]]> By: Eric A. Burns http://banter-latte.annotations.com/2007/08/13/mythology-of-the-modern-world-the-arrogant-writer-and-the-beached-mermaid/#comment-496 Eric A. Burns Mon, 13 Aug 2007 22:33:59 +0000 http://banter-latte.annotations.com/2007/08/13/mythology-of-the-modern-world-the-arrogant-writer-and-the-beached-mermaid/#comment-496 The T.S. Eliot bits are layered. On the one hand, there are several references to <em>The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock</em>: <blockquote>In the room the women come and go<br />Talking of Michelangelo<br /><br />[...]<br /><br />I grow old… I grow old…<br />I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled.<br /><br />Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare to eat a peach?<br />I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach.<br />I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each.<br /><br />I do not think that they will sing to me.<br /><br />I have seen them riding seaward on the waves<br />Combing the white hair of the waves blown back<br />When the wind blows the water white and black.<br /><br />We have lingered in the chambers of the sea<br />By sea-girls wreathed with seaweed red and brown<br />Till human voices wake us, and we drown.</blockquote> Further. Eliot married a woman named Vivian who (some say) he essentially abandoned, ultimately committing her for the rest of her life in a mental institution. A marriage Eliot claimed gave Vivian no happiness, and led Eliot to compose <em>The Wasteland</em>. While it is oblique, Edward abandons a creature of intellect and conversation who needs him, and ends up in a wasteland of his own devising. ...look, I didn't say all of these things <em>worked</em>. The T.S. Eliot bits are layered. On the one hand, there are several references to The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock:

In the room the women come and go
Talking of Michelangelo

[...]

I grow old… I grow old…
I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled.

Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare to eat a peach?
I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach.
I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each.

I do not think that they will sing to me.

I have seen them riding seaward on the waves
Combing the white hair of the waves blown back
When the wind blows the water white and black.

We have lingered in the chambers of the sea
By sea-girls wreathed with seaweed red and brown
Till human voices wake us, and we drown.

Further. Eliot married a woman named Vivian who (some say) he essentially abandoned, ultimately committing her for the rest of her life in a mental institution. A marriage Eliot claimed gave Vivian no happiness, and led Eliot to compose The Wasteland. While it is oblique, Edward abandons a creature of intellect and conversation who needs him, and ends up in a wasteland of his own devising.

…look, I didn’t say all of these things worked.

]]> By: LurkerWithout http://banter-latte.annotations.com/2007/08/13/mythology-of-the-modern-world-the-arrogant-writer-and-the-beached-mermaid/#comment-495 LurkerWithout Mon, 13 Aug 2007 22:00:29 +0000 http://banter-latte.annotations.com/2007/08/13/mythology-of-the-modern-world-the-arrogant-writer-and-the-beached-mermaid/#comment-495 When I devour your soul Burns, this is why. Seriously, a short story with FOUR Sturgeon references in it? Dude... When I devour your soul Burns, this is why. Seriously, a short story with FOUR Sturgeon references in it? Dude…

]]> By: RedHalo http://banter-latte.annotations.com/2007/08/13/mythology-of-the-modern-world-the-arrogant-writer-and-the-beached-mermaid/#comment-494 RedHalo Mon, 13 Aug 2007 21:36:13 +0000 http://banter-latte.annotations.com/2007/08/13/mythology-of-the-modern-world-the-arrogant-writer-and-the-beached-mermaid/#comment-494 The joys of random readings on the internet. Theodore Sturgeon's original name was actually Edward Hamilton Waldo. I remembered that much from a course I took a while ago. After research, though, it also turns out his first wife's name was Dorothe. I'm also feeling stupid since I have no idea what the TS Elliot reference is. ...you know, at some point I suppose I should get to work instead of reading, but really, this is just more fun. The joys of random readings on the internet. Theodore Sturgeon’s original name was actually Edward Hamilton Waldo. I remembered that much from a course I took a while ago. After research, though, it also turns out his first wife’s name was Dorothe. I’m also feeling stupid since I have no idea what the TS Elliot reference is.

…you know, at some point I suppose I should get to work instead of reading, but really, this is just more fun.

]]> By: Eric A. Burns http://banter-latte.annotations.com/2007/08/13/mythology-of-the-modern-world-the-arrogant-writer-and-the-beached-mermaid/#comment-493 Eric A. Burns Mon, 13 Aug 2007 20:16:47 +0000 http://banter-latte.annotations.com/2007/08/13/mythology-of-the-modern-world-the-arrogant-writer-and-the-beached-mermaid/#comment-493 We shall see. We shall see. :) We shall see. We shall see. :)

]]> By: Michael Weaver http://banter-latte.annotations.com/2007/08/13/mythology-of-the-modern-world-the-arrogant-writer-and-the-beached-mermaid/#comment-492 Michael Weaver Mon, 13 Aug 2007 20:14:29 +0000 http://banter-latte.annotations.com/2007/08/13/mythology-of-the-modern-world-the-arrogant-writer-and-the-beached-mermaid/#comment-492 Well, I figured out Theodore Sturgeon at the least ("Yes, ninety percent of science fiction is crud. But you don't understand: ninety percent of <em>everything</em> is crud!") But with the others? Not a chance. The only connection I can find between Edward and Feynman is "Surely you're joking Mr. Feynman!" with Edward <em>Hutchings</em>. I really doubt that's it. I almost missed the TS Elliot reference, too, so it's probably staring me in the face. Well, I figured out Theodore Sturgeon at the least (“Yes, ninety percent of science fiction is crud. But you don’t understand: ninety percent of everything is crud!”) But with the others? Not a chance. The only connection I can find between Edward and Feynman is “Surely you’re joking Mr. Feynman!” with Edward Hutchings. I really doubt that’s it.

I almost missed the TS Elliot reference, too, so it’s probably staring me in the face.

]]> By: Eric A. Burns http://banter-latte.annotations.com/2007/08/13/mythology-of-the-modern-world-the-arrogant-writer-and-the-beached-mermaid/#comment-491 Eric A. Burns Mon, 13 Aug 2007 18:57:11 +0000 http://banter-latte.annotations.com/2007/08/13/mythology-of-the-modern-world-the-arrogant-writer-and-the-beached-mermaid/#comment-491 Five points for someone who can explain the naming conventions in the story, not using a conspiracy regarding Moe's middle name as any part of it. :) Five points for someone who can explain the naming conventions in the story, not using a conspiracy regarding Moe’s middle name as any part of it. :)

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