Gone, daddy, gone

4 thoughts on “Gone, daddy, gone”

1. Michael February 17, 2005 at 4:31 pm

   Looks like we have a few days to take over the blog. I’m declaring this an open thread, for starters. Does anyone know how to start a new entry when this one fills up?

   Reply ↓
2. david February 18, 2005 at 1:07 am

   here, i was emailed this piece on BS, maybe we could have a “write like vardibidian” contest. or maybe it’s too long.

   Reply ↓
3. Michael February 18, 2005 at 9:16 am

   I’m not sure I could identify enough of vardibidian’s writing idiosyncracies. The surface level of discussing his Best Reader and Perfect Non-Reader, addressing his Gentle Readers, sure. But it’s difficult (for me) to differentiate among generally discursive styles. I suppose there’s the perpetual optimism — a uniquely American trait, if I remember correctly. A tendency to focus on political news and consumed media rather than furniture styles and consumed food. A habit of completing his thoughts, and using complete sentences to do so with only occasional interjections. Hmph.

   Reply ↓
4. david February 18, 2005 at 1:53 pm

   i’m not sure where to place the tone – it’s slightly out of context – a mix of pre-modern, modern, and post-modern – both progressive and historical – belief in prestige culture, and in individual equality – with lots of humility to pull it off. tricky to imitate because distinctive points on which you can usually hang a parody or theft are carefully sanded down, or they’re personally intimate. as a method of talking about stuff, it’s very useful.

   it owes some to john carroll, which is excellent, very good taste; but less hurried, less catchy, i like this, too. where else v. has plundered i have no idea, but i’m sure they are also excellently tasteful thefts.

   what i like most though is – hmm, i sense an uncertainty principle moment coming – that there is always a sense that a sentence is about to burst out laughing, either at the public joke, or some private thought.

   Reply ↓