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Backtracking
Sep. 5th, 2001 03:32 pmMy sister abhors silence. I have never been certain why -- there is no great horror in her past, no tragedy without sound. Perhaps it drowns out the voices I sometimes catch her talking to. I don't know.
Regardless, the upshot is that she speaks very loudly and very often, leaves radios switched on wherever she goes, and watches a good deal of television. That last is not as true as it used to be, but for at least twelve years of my life, the telly was never turned off. (And the programmes were rarely my choice, but that's a remonstrance for another time.)
As a result, REL relates almost all relevant phenomena to movies we watched as kids. For example, she calls my wardrobe "Star Wars," and says that on any given day I either look as though I belong in the movie or ought to be waiting in line to see the 1977 release. When I protest that she often borrows my clothes and she certainly doesn't look "Star Wars," she rolls her eyes and says it's the way I wear them. She refuses to elaborate, even though I make the argument that you can connect anything to anything.
My demeanor in general, especially whilst drinking, she describes as Athos -- and while I know that she refers to the Disney movie with Kiefer Southerland, I can't help but think of the original serial. I love Dumas, and must have read those books a dozen times. In fact, Athos is the character in all of literature to which I most highly relate. I even have the tendency to run in feuding triumverates, pick up a younger fourth member, and develop a close relationship with him or her than with the rest.
I find myths very useful for exploring interpersonal dynamics. That said, I'm very glad the Arthurian Saga has finally finished playing out; Avalon is much more comfortable than Camelot. However, I'm not sure where I find myself now -- although I suspect, (through the shamelessly intentional influence of Valancy,) that it's a Jane Austen novel.
Bugger. I vastly prefer legends.
Of course, Valancy says that my versions of legends are different from everyone else's, that I rewrite them to suit myself and then assume that they're a common part of the cultural dialogue. (She includes in this my versions of Greek mythology, Taoism, Christianity, Arthurian Legend, grail lore, Robin Hood, and most history.) I think this is more honest to the stories, to the mutable nature of an oral tradition -- the Truth of the tale instead of the repetitions that have been garbled by the unenlightened (how tragic it is to lack understanding!). I love the characters, the people, too much to allow these untruths, these twisted controls and socializations.
Then again, it's very difficult to talk about things like Truth, because only details are factual and facts are rarely True.
Valancy hates it when I say shit like this.
Regardless, the upshot is that she speaks very loudly and very often, leaves radios switched on wherever she goes, and watches a good deal of television. That last is not as true as it used to be, but for at least twelve years of my life, the telly was never turned off. (And the programmes were rarely my choice, but that's a remonstrance for another time.)
As a result, REL relates almost all relevant phenomena to movies we watched as kids. For example, she calls my wardrobe "Star Wars," and says that on any given day I either look as though I belong in the movie or ought to be waiting in line to see the 1977 release. When I protest that she often borrows my clothes and she certainly doesn't look "Star Wars," she rolls her eyes and says it's the way I wear them. She refuses to elaborate, even though I make the argument that you can connect anything to anything.
My demeanor in general, especially whilst drinking, she describes as Athos -- and while I know that she refers to the Disney movie with Kiefer Southerland, I can't help but think of the original serial. I love Dumas, and must have read those books a dozen times. In fact, Athos is the character in all of literature to which I most highly relate. I even have the tendency to run in feuding triumverates, pick up a younger fourth member, and develop a close relationship with him or her than with the rest.
I find myths very useful for exploring interpersonal dynamics. That said, I'm very glad the Arthurian Saga has finally finished playing out; Avalon is much more comfortable than Camelot. However, I'm not sure where I find myself now -- although I suspect, (through the shamelessly intentional influence of Valancy,) that it's a Jane Austen novel.
Bugger. I vastly prefer legends.
Of course, Valancy says that my versions of legends are different from everyone else's, that I rewrite them to suit myself and then assume that they're a common part of the cultural dialogue. (She includes in this my versions of Greek mythology, Taoism, Christianity, Arthurian Legend, grail lore, Robin Hood, and most history.) I think this is more honest to the stories, to the mutable nature of an oral tradition -- the Truth of the tale instead of the repetitions that have been garbled by the unenlightened (how tragic it is to lack understanding!). I love the characters, the people, too much to allow these untruths, these twisted controls and socializations.
Then again, it's very difficult to talk about things like Truth, because only details are factual and facts are rarely True.
Valancy hates it when I say shit like this.
