Rules to live by and other phenomena
Rules to live by and other phenomena
Rauschenberg’s Dogs
There is a documentary on Robert Rauschenberg in which he accompanies the director around a new house he built on the coast. The house stands on four poles above the water. A staircase leads from the shore to the front door. Rauschenberg tells the director that he really likes his new home, but can’t live there because of his dogs. Every time there is a storm, the dogs bark at the waves and out of fear they jump into the water. America has a similar approach to its war on terror. Last year a Brazilian lawyer who lives in Zurich complained that she was attacked by right wingers who tattooed the initials of their party onto her hip. After a few days it turned out she had invented the whole story. I’m filing her under this category:
The Glorification of Fighting
On YouTube there is an interview between David Letterman and Marat Safin (a Russian tennis player who had just won the Australian Open). Letterman asks the cause of Marat’s victorious turnaround after a string of losses.
‘Lack of motivation.’
‘So what has changed?’
‘Something changed in my attitude.’
‘What?’
‘I started fighting.’
The audience cheers.The audience cheers.
The Glorification of Peace
In 1947, because of economical problems and fear of civil war, the British Empire decided to desert their colonies in the Middle East and India. Over the next two decades they withdrew from their remaining colonies.
The Glorification of Peace
In 1947, because of economical problems and fear of civil war, the British Empire decided to desert their colonies in the Middle East and India. Over the next two decades they withdrew from their remaining colonies.
Is it possible that the glorification of Mahatma Ghandi’s pacifism comes from an imperialism which encourages the best way to fight imperialism is by not fighting? Is it possible that the glorification of Mahatma Ghandi’s pacifism comes from an imperialism which encourages the best way to fight imperialism is by not fighting?
A Few Facts
When I’m silent, there is no hate in me.
A Few Facts
When I’m silent, there is no hate in me.
When I’m talking, my opinions are revealed to me. When I’m talking, my opinions are revealed to me.
I discover who I hate and who I like.I discover who I hate and who I like.
I support my words and my opinions. I support my words and my opinions.
I hate people I understand I hate people I understand
and people I’m not interested in. and people I’m not interested in.
I like people who think differently from meI like people who think differently from me
and support my opinions. and support my opinions.
The Ridicule in Competition
Being first is more important than being second.
The Ridicule in Competition
Being first is more important than being second.
Last place is a source of shame.Last place is a source of shame.
(Although there is a chance that the last place(Although there is a chance that the last place
didn’t make any effort.)didn’t make any effort.)
Disrespecting Reality
The news agencies feed off
Disrespecting Reality
The news agencies feed off
messengers from all around the worldmessengers from all around the world
who send reports short as a twitter. who send reports short as a twitter.
Each day the newspapers must fill a certain Each day the newspapers must fill a certain
amount of pages with words based on these reports. amount of pages with words based on these reports.
And although the citizens of the world know all of this,And although the citizens of the world know all of this,
they still believe that reality is they still believe that reality is
the war in Iraq and the economic crisis!the war in Iraq and the economic crisis!
Random Rules
– If the poem is too long, make it longer.
Random Rules
– If the poem is too long, make it longer.
– If the painting is too colourful, add more colour. – If the painting is too colourful, add more colour.
– If the footage is amateurish, don’t edit. – If the footage is amateurish, don’t edit.
– If you’re late for an appointment, walk slower. – If you’re late for an appointment, walk slower.
– If the appointment is boring, stay. – If the appointment is boring, stay.
– Never judge an artist by his work. – Never judge an artist by his work.
– Don’t think while you’re talking. – Don’t think while you’re talking.
– Never try to express yourself through art. That’s why you have friends.- Never try to express yourself through art. That’s why you have friends.
– Identifying with the pain of others results from a political opinion. Or the opposite.- Identifying with the pain of others results from a political opinion. Or the opposite.
– Whoever advises to accept suffering as a part of life is identifying with the pain of others. – Whoever advises to accept suffering as a part of life is identifying with the pain of others.
– Don’t be fooled by the future, it’s just the past backwards. – Don’t be fooled by the future, it’s just the past backwards.
– True art can exist only by banishing the word ‘art’.- True art can exist only by banishing the word ‘art’.
Tennessee Williams was once asked, ‘Don’t you sometimes have writer’s block?’Tennessee Williams was once asked, ‘Don’t you sometimes have writer’s block?’
He answered, “All the time.’He answered, “All the time.’
‘So how come you write so much?’‘So how come you write so much?’
‘That’s why I write so much.’‘That’s why I write so much.’
Keren Cytter (1977, Israel) is a visual artist based in BerlinKeren Cytter (1977, Israel) is a visual artist based in Berlin
Keren Cytter
