All entries for February 2010

Brainwashing techniques

The brainwashing techniques I used in my talk on Ballard last week are readily available at Cracked.com.

I also picked up an interesting article about how the brain plays to simplicity. The article extends one of the Cracked techniques - #3, keeping you in line with shame - which points to an evolutionary security developed through tribal conformity:

Psychologists have determined, for example, that shares in companies with easy-to-pronounce names do indeed significantly outperform those with hard-to-pronounce names. Other studies have shown that when presenting people with a factual statement, manipulations that make the statement easier to mentally process - even totally nonsubstantive changes like writing it in a cleaner font or making it rhyme or simply repeating it - can alter people’s judgment of the truth of the statement, along with their evaluation of the intelligence of the statement’s author and their confidence in their own judgments and abilities. Similar manipulations can get subjects to be more forgiving, more adventurous, and more open about their personal shortcomings.

Relating this to Ballard's call, in an interview with V Vale for RE/Search, for individuals to establish a "moral microclimate", you could argue that post-surrealism's struggle for social progress involves resistance to the tribe. (This implies Dadaism's moral aesthetics also - non-conformity as a fundamentally optimistic activity, that originality leads eventually to the notion of a better society.)

There's a need to resist conformity in order to protect one's rights, the ability to decide for oneself whether, e.g. a given text is of value to society, or simply part of the herd buzz; and to resist government actions that are morally reprehensible. But there's also security to be had in finding like minds and some people just can't stand that. I've a feeling that if everyone had started thinking the way Ballard did, he'd have tried to a way out of that grouping, to keep individualising and criticising his social environment. He tried to write the present by keeping himself outside of it.

The article goes on:

A handful of scholars have already started to explore the ways that advertisers, educators, political campaigners, or anyone else in the business of persuasion can use these findings. And some of the implications are surprising. For example, to get people to think through a question, it may be best to present it less clearly. And to boost your self-confidence, you may want to set out to write a dauntingly long list of all the reasons why you’re a failure.

Happily, this reinforces my hatred of cliché. To be understood well, to force a cerebral engagement with creative writing, as well as an emotional connection, one has to write in a way that is original. I don't agree with the idea that the writing needs to be unclear - I hate trying to read badly presented critical texts with too much verbosity. They blind me. But clearly presented language, originally phrased, allows readers to engage with ideas in ways that cannot be lapped up and dismissed.

So to quote my favourite ever quote, ever, ever, by Ezra Pound:

The secret of popular writing is never to put more on a given page than the common reader can lap off it with no strain whatsoever on his habitually slack attention.

George Ttoouli : 23 Feb 2010 09:00 |  Tags: Brainwashing Creative Writing Jg Ballard Politics |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

A prize for slipstream fiction

Writing about web page http://blog.saltpublishing.com/2010/02/10/two-salt-authors-nominated-as-shortlists-are-announced-for-the-2010-adelaide-festival-awards-for-literature/

Just saw over at the Salt blog [*] that two of their authors have been shortlisted for the 2010 Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature. When I read the details of the price, I became intrigued:

Innovation award ($10,000) – for a published book which departs from the conventional use of genre by borrowing elements from a number of genres such as fiction, non-fiction, biography, autobiography, poetry or cultural criticism.

This almost seems like a new, or expanded definition of the slipstream genre; at least, it's one I'd buy into.

I first heard the term through Toby Litt, who, talking about China Miéville's work as well as his own, described it as literary fiction that borrowed aspects of genre, or mainstream fiction. There's something only a tiny bit niggling about that definition - there's an implication in the way I understood it that implies a dumbing down (which isn't really true at all - both those writers definitely have a genuine interest in seeing barriers between 'popular' and 'difficult' writing broken down).

And at the same time I had to acknowledge the subterfuge at play - trying to slip exciting cross-genre writing beneath the radars of taxonomising retailers, who put x books on x shelf, and y books on y shelf, and xy books on a shelf round the back with 'special interest' labels that no one ever sees, and ends up in the post back to the publisher, who gets blacklisted and their books never make it into the bookshop chain ever again. (Yeah OK, trying to turn my chip-on-shoulder-mode to OFF.)

It's great to see a prize that actually celebrates cross-genre work - even if the appear to have taken 'genre' to mean the medium of the written word, to the exclusion of marketing and critical genres. Worth noting that the Warwick Prize for Writing praised Naomi Klein's winning 'Shock Doctrine' for its ability to synthesise complex cross-discipline material into a readable format, which is what I think China and Toby do very well. So a kind of slipstream as well.

And with a grimace I recall walking into the Waterstones in Covent Garden and seeing a table labelled 'Slipstream', which somehow managed to put JG Ballard and Stephanie Meyer together. I restrained myself from sweeping the books to the floor and assaulting the staff for allowing whatever marketing pleb had dreamt that up to get their way.

[*] NB: Salt are running their Just One Book campaign again - Just One More Book. Still not in the clear a year on, it seems. Go on, lend them a hand.

George Ttoouli : 22 Feb 2010 09:00 |  Tags: Australia China Mieville Creative Writing Prize Salt Publishing Slipstream Toby Litt |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Bluegrass Metallica

Writing about web page http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/s/Unforgiven/2Mi6r

After a while, it kind of grows on you...

George Ttoouli : 19 Feb 2010 09:00 |  Tags: Music |  Comments (2) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Things can only get better…

Writing about web page http://www.ucu.org.uk/stayupdated

From the UCU's latest campaigns update:

UCU warns of job losses as record number of students apply to university

Job cuts in higher education hit the front page of the Guardian this week as UCU warned on Monday that 15,000 jobs were at risk across higher education if punitive government funding cuts went ahead. The union said that the government had to understand that widespread cuts would mean serious consequences. Monday was also the day it was revealed record numbers of people had applied to university, which prompted UCU to warn that a whole generation could have their dreams shattered. UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: “You cannot make savage funding cuts without serious consequences, despite Lord Mandelson’s insulting efforts to sell the cuts as an opportunity. The government is abandoning a generation who, instead of benefiting from education, will find themselves on the dole alongside sacked teaching staff.” You can read the Guardian piece here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/feb/08/university-funding-cuts-crisis
For the union’s press releases, click here http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=4421&from=4404 and here: http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=4422&from=1676. The story was also picked up by the Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/7190949/University-admissions-students-being-abandoned.html

Higher fees a lazy option says UCU as Mandelson goes on the attack

UCU said yesterday that a report advocating higher fees from the think tank Policy Exchange spectacularly failed to add anything to the debate on funding higher education. Later in the day Lord Mandelson did very little to further his case in the debate by accusing universities of being set in aspic. Sally Hunt accused Policy Exchange of writing a report simply to justify fees and called on Lord Mandelson to listen to academics instead of rudely dismissing them. You can read more here: http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=4429&from=1676 and here: http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=4433&from=1676. The story featured in the Independent: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/universities-are-being-alarmist-says-mandelson-1897140.html and the Times: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/article7022657.ece

George Ttoouli : 18 Feb 2010 09:00 |  Tags: Ucu |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Ugandan govt. considering homophobic law – Avaaz

Writing about web page http://www.avaaz.org/en/uganda_rights_2/?vl

Message from Avaaz, about a law on the verge of being passed in Uganda:

Uganda’s parliament is preparing to pass a brutal new law that would punish gay people with prison -- even death.

Initial international criticism drove the President to call for a review. But after a well-funded and vicious lobbying effort by extremists, the bill looks set to be passed -- threatening widespread persecution and bloodshed.

Opposition to the bill is rising, including from the Anglican church. Ugandan gay rights advocate Frank Mugisha writes, This law will put us in serious danger. Please, sign the petition and tell others to stand with us – if there’s a huge global response, our government will see that Uganda will be internationally isolated by the proposed law, and strike it down.

With the decision expected in days, only an irresistible wave of worldwide pressure will be enough to save Frank's life and many others. Let’s build a huge petition to stop the gay death law -- click here to take action, then forward this email:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/uganda_rights_2/?vl

The petition will be delivered to President Museveni and the parliament at the end of this week by top Ugandan civil society and Church leaders. Pro-death penalty advocates have also planned a march this week, so our voices need to be louder than theirs!

The bill proposes life imprisonment for anyone convicted of having same-sex relations and imposes the death penalty for “serial offenders”. NGOs working to prevent the spread of HIV could be imprisoned for up to 7 years for “promoting homosexuality”. Even members of the public face up to three years in jail if they fail to report homosexual activity to the police within 24 hours!

The bill’s advocates claim that it defends national culture, but its strongest critics come from within Uganda. The Reverend Canon Gideon Byamugisha is one of many who’s written to us – he says,

It is violating our cultures, traditions and religious values that teach against intolerance, injustice, hatred and violence. We need laws to protect people -- not ones that will humiliate, ridicule, persecute and kill them en masse.

By rejecting this dangerous bill and supporting the breadth of opposition to it, we can help set a crucial precedent. Let’s build massive support for Uganda’s human rights defenders, and save lives by stopping this bill -- sign now here, then tell friends and family:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/uganda_rights_2/?vl

With hope and determination,

Alice, Ricken, Ben, Paul, Benjamin, Pascal, Raluca, Graziela and the whole Avaaz team

SOURCES

African letter to Ugandan President to throw out Anti-Homosexual Bill:
http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=22761

Ugandan church leader brands anti-gay bill 'genocide':
http://www.guardian.co.uk/katine/2009/dec/04/gideon-byamugisha-homosexuality-bill

Human Rights Impact Assessment of Uganda's Anti-homosexuality Bill By Sylvia Tamale, The Dean of Law at Uganda's Makerere University:
http://www.zeleza.com/blogging/african-affairs/human-rights-impact-assessment-ugandas-anti-homosexuality-bill-sylvia-tamal

George Ttoouli : 17 Feb 2010 09:00 |  Tags: Avaaz Politics |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

National Student Survey – for Finalists

Writing about web page http://www.thestudentsurvey.com/

Had an important message from the CAPITAL Centre:

As you may know the National Student Survey is doing the rounds.

Let me be clear, both the Government and the University take this survey VERY seriously. By filling it out you are lending your voice to something which carries a lot of influence with the powers that be. This survey is a way to make things happen.

If you've experienced and enjoyed CAPITAL's approach to teaching and learning then this is a hugely important platform to make those feelings heard - not to mention any other issues you've encountered whilst being a student.

If you want to take ownership of your Higher Education experience, then filling out this survey is vital. Whether you're a 1st year with years at Warwick ahead of you, or a 3rd year hoping to influence HE positively before you leave - this is one of the most effective weapons you have.

Here's the link.

Have a good weekend,
thank you

the CAPITAL team

It's always easier to criticise when you're annoyed with something, but when the opportunity comes up to say good things, it's important to speak out.

My own experience of working in the CAPITAL Centre, with the support of Open Space Learning development and a generally wonderful atmosphere, is that it's not only changed the way teaching and learning happens, but strengthened the student-staff community and allowed a tremendous amount of student-led activities to take place. I don't think there'd be an Ugly Cousins Club without the Writers' Room, nor exciting opportunities like the resident theatre ensemble, Fail Better, without CAPITAL as a whole.

So if you have a moment to support CAPITAL by saying what you think of the centre, please do mention them in the survey. Of course, if you've criticisms (really?! is that possible of CAPITAL?) then it's an opportunity too.

George Ttoouli : 16 Feb 2010 09:00 |  Tags: Capital Politics |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

An exercise in point of view/perspective

Writing about web page http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzpPFirpVcU

George Ttoouli : 15 Feb 2010 09:00 |  Tags: Creative Writing Video |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

He's not in the car

Writing about web page http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pD3_9yd72Ks

George Ttoouli : 11 Feb 2010 09:00 |  Tags: David Lynch Lost Highway Nine Inch Nails |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Untitled entry

Writing about web page http://vimeo.com/6605263

Just had this fired at me. Brilliant. Not least because it seems to be filmed in real time. My favourite bit has to be when the fish eats the head and a real hand with a kitchen knife appears and slices into the drawings.

VIDEOGIOCO by Donato Sansone from Enrico Ascoli - Sound Design on Vimeo.

George Ttoouli : 10 Feb 2010 09:00 |  Tags: Animation |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Diary of a Permaculturalist 18: Avaaz vs. the Amazon (Jungle)

Follow-up to Diary of a Permaculturalist 17: Palm Oil from George Ttoouli, Warwick Writing Programme

Avaaz have set their sights on rallying people again oil company Chevron. Sign the petition here.

Oil giant Chevron is facing defeat in a lawsuit by the people of the Ecuadorian Amazon, seeking redress for its dumping billions of gallons of poisonous waste in the rainforest.

But the oil multinational has launched a last-ditch, dirty lobbying effort to derail the people’s case for holding polluters to account.

George Ttoouli : 09 Feb 2010 09:00 |  Tags: Creative Writing Permaculture |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Trackbacks (1) |  Report a problem