War Talk
At the risk of inciting another left/right political argument, I read Arundhati Roy’s collection of essays entitled War Talk this weekend while I was in San Francisco (Berklee actually, hence the reading material). Whether or not you agree with her, she is a passionate and beautiful writer who is inspiring in her ability to communicate ideas in a poetic and yet very clear way. Some of you may have read her novel The God of Small Things (which I loved) but I think her speeches and essays are almost more powerful because they are more immediate and trenchant. Has anyone else here read any of her writing and what did you think? Dissenting views encouraged!
DS
April 20th, 2005 at 9:06 am
Very interesting Duncan! I do love ready her essays with a handy devils advocate near by! heheh
Duncan on a totally different subject.. I wondered if there was a way to reach you privately with regards to getting a demo to you? I met your manager back in 1997 via my writer friend Aidin Vizari. I was then introduced to you as well in San Francisco at your gig at Bimbos.
I’ve since been signed to London Records, and wanted to pursue chatting with you myself initially and then maybe our respective managers about us working on new material for myself.
I can be reached alternatively at goldenchic66@yahoo.com. If you have time to give me a shout or let me know how I can reach you?
Cheers mate!
Jaq Gallier
April 20th, 2005 at 9:08 am
Though I am not too familiar with Arundhati’s work, as I understand it she uses her novel ” The God of Small Things” as an instrument of rebellion against the caste system in India, and all of the things it encompasses….
If you are interested in her books, there is another great writer from India; Vikram Seth, whose work ” A Suitable Boy” also aims to dissect the nature of government and how it transforms what can be pure, into something that is seen as highly immoral and unbalanced…
Perhaps his novel is a bit more frivilous in nature, to be sure.. it is still beautifully written, and allows the common westerner a peek into an otherwise unknown world.
The caste system is not so very different from our own system. Sure, we are not labled, ( Brahman… etc..) externally; it is certain, however that our “class” system can be looked at in the same way- and the
ever-widening gap between those who are rich, and those who are poor allows for an indefinite internal lable, perhaps reinforcing, and even widening this gap…. as these people pass along their self-fulliling prophecies onto their children, etc.. It is a viscious cycle; one not to be ignored.
I have strayed way beyond your commentary on Mrs. Roy-
but do check out that book by Seth… excellent and poetic too.
April 20th, 2005 at 11:25 am
Arundhati Roy is an eloquent and courageous writer. Love this line:
“When George Bush says ‘Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists,’ we can say ‘No thank you.’ We can let him know that the people of the world do not need to choose between a Malevolent Mickey Mouse and the Mad Mullahs.”
I don’t think she presents anything dramatically different from what others have said about corporate globalization and religious fascism. But her rhetorical command and prose make her analysis so important.
If she continues to upset the “globalization applecart,” she will either be greatly honored or thrown in jail.
- THL
April 20th, 2005 at 3:58 pm
Easy there on the books Duncan, right now I’m reading Confessions of an Economic Hit Man that you recommended earlier. So far it is just very very good. If I get a chance before dental school starts, I will read this as well.
April 20th, 2005 at 11:25 pm
Hey Duncan - thanks for the reading suggestions!… unfortunately I’ll have to wait until trips to the beach this summer, so I can’t comment at all now. But I appreciate your thoughts since I don’t get a chance to read much (except my ‘learning Spanish’ textbook and a cool intro book on Zen that someone recently gave to me).
Message to other posters:
I hope it doesn’t bother Duncan when people send requests for personal contacts on this message board. I found the same thing happened on two other musician’s message boards that I check in on — it got to be really distracting when people start promoting themselves and their careers. No offense meant to jacquelerock, but I think we have to be careful in here. Duncan is kind enough to be in touch with his fans in this way (very rare), and we don’t want to take advantage of it. I think there are many musicians and performers who post in here (myself included), and we can’t make it too much of a habit. Maybe I’m overreacting, but I just wouldn’t want it to get out of hand. Enough said on my part… I’ll drop it now. thanks.
April 21st, 2005 at 12:50 am
Duncan,
Thank you for mentioning “War Talk.” I have had that on my list of things to buy, but hadn’t yet. I loved “The God of Small Things,” and will most certainly enjoy her essays.
The internet continues to amaze me. I was just looking up your name to make sure I had it spelled right (I mix up “ie” and “ei” all the time, for some reason), and I found your blog! Is there nobody that can’t be reached through a blog nowadays?
Thank you for your music and for keeping in touch with your fans.
April 21st, 2005 at 2:53 am
hey striver…:)
i think you are overreacting.. and really i should just have my management get hold of duncan through normal channels..
even artists who are signed these days to major or indie labels have to “work it” and “promote” themselves in some way on their own.
anyway enough said.. at ease private… hehehehh
-jaq
April 21st, 2005 at 9:47 am
Hey Duncan,
Funny you mention “War Talk,” my friend had me read a couple of pages a month or two ago. I agree with some of her criticisms but I’m kind of turned off by the writing. I work on a school literary magazine and newspaper so I sift through boxloads of op-ed pieces, most of them being pretty poorly written. Roy’s work is obviously more enlightened, but in terms of style, I’ve read better.
On second thought, if they were actually spoken, in her voice, with her emotion, I’d probably be more open-minded to her ideas. Do you think it’s wrong to shut your ears if you don’t like the way something is said, even if you agree with it? I find it’s always easier for me to thoughtfully consider someone else’s opinion if they’re a smooth, eloquent speaker. Or even in music. When I write a song that’s edgey, I always want to find ways to nuance or reword certain things to avoid turning off listeners. Sorry to drift off topic.
Thanks for keeping in touch and recommending such great books and shows(I watch Black Books now).
-Steve
April 21st, 2005 at 10:01 am
A note off topic… Are there still going to be two records coming out? I remember there being talk of a “Band” Record, which I thought would not be called “Duncan Sheik.” Just wondered if that’s still in the pipeline.
April 22nd, 2005 at 5:55 pm
Off topic note #2 …
Glen Phillips and Blue Merle are playing tonight at the Roxy in La…. I’m not going. *sigh* I’m so not ‘hardcore’ … why am I always tired at the end of the week. If anyone else gets a chance to go, let me know what I missed.
Note to Duncan: Please write a song and send it to the producers of Deadwood… (HBO Series: Best on TV in my humble opinion) that would be a perfect place to showcase the return of folk. :)
April 23rd, 2005 at 5:35 pm
Off topic note #3…
I just got my new Entertainment Weekly today and there’s a review for the long delayed ‘Death of A Dynasty’ written by Roc-A-Fella CEO Damon Dash. Duncan has a cameo and is even mentioned in the list of ‘celebs playing themselves or characters just like themselves.’
It’s good to see your name in Magazines. I wish it happened more.
Josh
April 26th, 2005 at 11:44 am
God of Small Things was such a beautiful and stirring book. I’ll need to check out the War essays and her speeches too. I’d love to see “small things” made into a film, actually. But, I have a recommendation for you! Everything is Illuminated, by Jonathan Safran Foer. An amazing book that challenges the genres of novel, history and biography. It will wrap its lyrical arms around you and have you laughing, crying and philosophizing all at once. I can’t recommend it highly enough. I’m so glad to hear you’re coming back to chicago! I first saw you when you opened for Jewel at Metro in June 1996 and I’ve been at every Chi-town show since. You’re the best!
D