A Literary Document of Great Worth.

A Review and comment on "Jack Kerouac Selected Letters 1957 - 1969".

For any biographer or historian the original letters of the subject is a valuable and extremely important source of information in order to gain insight into the time period, and/or the person under study.

In part 2 of Kerouac's Selected Letters, the text truly gives the student or curious, a penetrating look into this enigmatic and ultimately tragic American author. For many, Jack Krerouac represents an important shift in American literature but also a significant historical (literary) mark of an entire generation. Ann Charters, (Kerouac's first biographer) editor of this volume, has done a pain-staking and beautiful job with this book - we come to know him as a man, the artist and his concerns; generosity, relationships; his struggle with the demon drink and, most importantly, the development of his unique prose style, leading to his now iconic status.

The letters begin in the year (1957) when "On the Road" was published. At this stage of Kerouac's life, from the tone and content of his letters, he is excited, finishing incomplete manuscripts, organizing "get- togethers', writing his publisher and working on new projects. As the years progress, sadly, his drinking accelerates, he becomes more and more misanthropic and, in the end, paranoid. It is true - it was the booze that killed his body but it was fame as an author that murdered his soul. More than likely, it was both.

Ann Charters suggests that these letters were experiments in style and possible new ideas for future projects, his friends perhaps 'sounding boards' where the reader can see his development of what is famously known as "spontaneous prose".

Kerouac was also a prolific poet. Some call his "novel", Mexico City Blues, one long, epic poem. This particular book, for me, was difficult to read, until viewing the piece as poetry - it was then the penny dropped and the book became much easier to read.

An example of a little poem written for Stella Sampas to Gary Snyder from Japan:

"A poem to Stella Sampas?"

"After the shower,
Among the drenched roses,
The bird thrashing in the bath

After the shower,
my cat meowing
On the porch"

It has always been my opinion that Jack's poetry is underrated, but that's neither here nor there.

Kerouac wanted his letters to be published thus he kept copies in neat files by year.

Close to the end of Jack's life just prior to writing and eventually publishing "Vanity of Dulouz" (1968), he narrates that by day he would write like a demon possessed, and by night, almost akin to some strange ritual, burn his day's work, page by page, only to start again the next morning. One can interpret this action in many ways: the Art fot Art's sake sensibilty; a process of purification as an artist or perhaps an experiment with the creative process itself. Who knows? However, the images in my minds eye of this action, are strong with an unidentifiable meaning.

Anyone interested in American literature, pursuing a research project or wanting greater insight into the man, these letters are an invaluble historical document revealing the inner workings of the "Beat Generation" that continues to affect most modern writing to present time.

Icon of Modernism - Review of Marc Chagall (Bio) by Jonathan Wilson

The reader turns the first page of this little book to see the 1929 oil on canvas painting, "Lovers" by Marc Chagall. The painting depicts a man and woman seated and embracing; the woman's head turned inward on the man's breast, while the man, an expression of calm and contentment, peers upward, watching a winged angel flying overhead, across a deep purple sky. The painting has the deep and rich signature colour of all Chagall's work, though lacks the intense emotional suffering and ambivalence that makes up so much of his oeuvre, however this painting evokes a mystical love, a true love which, in my opinion, expresses the relationship between the artist and his beautiful wife, Bella.

As part of the Jewish Encounter project, Marc Chagall by Jonathan Wilson is one contribution devoted to the promotion of Jewish literature, culture, and ideas.

It can be observed that most of Chagall's work, according to the author, is an expression of his philosophy, his religious sensibility if you will, in the form of the "literalization of metaphors", deeply grounded in the mystical and symbolic Hasidic world and Yiddish folktales, which include in their writings the "repository of flying animals and miraculous events." (P. 13)

It is impossible to label Chagall's work as "Expressionism", but the representation of an acute imagination, coloured in fantasy, depicting highly charged religious symbols, including in several works, Christs Crucifixion in a variety of contexts. What I love about Chagall is the viewer is drawn into the work by its striking colour and busy subject matter and is compelled to study it, because the meaning of the painting must be discovered as it is not apparent on a superficial viewing.

Wilson does a wonderful job of narrating Chagall's life in terms of the major events that the artist experienced, spanning through the Russian revolution, two world wars, the Holocaust and the establishment of the State of Israel. Wilson suggests that in viewing Chagall's paintings against the backdrop of these major historical events will see the artist's work as a response to them, and his personal inner conflict between his "Jewishness" and his focus on Christ's Crucifixion, and also his attempt at secularism in many of his paintings.

My favourite paintings by the artist are his various representations of love that display an ethereal, mystical quality, a sublimeness that to me captures love in their most revealing forms, as Wilson comments, "Chagall's vision of love, so appealing to the human soul, frequently involves a merging of two faces, or bodies, into one. In this regard he is Platonic, as his figures pursue their other halves in an apparent longing to become whole again. Over and again he paints the myth that Aristophanes recounts in The Symposium." (P.174)

Chagall's life Wilson suggests was an attempt through his art at the reconciliation between two worlds, a genuine effort universalizing or merging opposites, he writes, "In his paintings, past and present, dream and reality, rabbi and clown, secular and observant, revolutionary and Jew, Jesus and Elijah...all commingle and merge in a world where history and geography but also the laws of physics and nature have been suspended." (P. 210)

Wilson's Marc Chagall is an erudite biography and insightful critical work. Although relatively short in length, manages to capture the artist who is considered along with Picasso and Matisse, one of the icons of Modernism.

Homage to Apollinaire. 1911-1912. Oil on canvas, 209x198 cm.

Originally published on Amazon, 2007

C. Middleton

Australian Live Rock Hits the Suburbs

If you are a young reader or a bit older, stories and eye witness accounts about simple pub bands getting their start to then move to the Big Time has almost reached the status of ' Australian Rock and Roll Urban Legend.'

To name only a few: Cold Chisel, AC DC, The Screaming Jets, Noise Works, INXX, Jet... and the list continues.

Then something occurred in the early nineties with the Liberal government introducing Pokie Machines; suddenly, live music disappeared (almost) or it took a lot of effort to find a venue to catch a good rock band.

Pubs and the government made heaps of money, good for the city, but Melbourne's music scene almost died.

A few venues dug their heels in and remained true to Melbourne's traditional live band scene seeking out new talent – The Esplanade and The Palace, etc.

Those of us in the outer suburbs had to put up with Top Forty cover bands and it seemed true talent had no where else to go – until recently.

One such venue outside the city centre that provides a platform for new talent is the Casablanca Tavern in the Eastern suburb of Ringwood.

Del Fischer, proprietor and owner, wanted a place where new bands and mucical acts would have the opportunity to perform their music live to audiences.

Open just over two and a half years, Fischer, (coming from a family of entertainers and a musician himself) had the idea to expose new talent and began doing so since Casablanca's opening.

Standing behind the bar in the late afternoon, immersed in a chess game with a customer, Del becomes reticent when my barrage of questions over a lite beer interrupt his game:

What is your view on exposing new music?

“The government almost destroyed live music with the pokies, but my love of music pushed me in this direction, and the Casablanca was born.”

Quite a few venues in the city are offering “Open Mic Nights” giving amature singers and musicians a chance – do you have this type of thing?

“Read the sign outside, mate. Every Wednesday night anybody can stand on that stage a play their stuff. Some acts are a little average but once in a while a great talent appears. And as you know, this business is about word of mouth and followings – popularity can happen almost over night.”

As Del Fischer finishes his answer, he 'check mates' his opponent, who groans, smiles, shakes Del's hand and orders another beer.

As he pours a beer for his lost opponent, I ask, What talent have you helped to promote since opening your doors?

He comes around the bar an leads me to various promotional posters that just about cover every wall of the club.

“Tatto Rose, Riff Raff, Hard Copy, Motion19, Mark Phillips, Alice Platt and Sharon Hawker.”

(This is merely a quarter or less of the bands and performers displayed on the walls.)

There's a hint of pride on Del's face as we walk back to the bar but soon disappears as he silently calculates the night's business and entertainment.

There's more questions I need to ask him though his staff begin to arrive and the hard work begins, expecting a good crowd because a band with a 'big' following is due to arrive by 7:00 to set up and play by 8:30.

A night of blazing, original Rock & Roll in the eastern suburbs.

I decide to stay, notebook in my back pocket as I can already feel the tension mounting, because instinctively, I feel a great night of music to come.