* (restored)

1.
Wolf presents … A Defense of Brutalism.

For some reason Brutalism gets a lot of hate, and since I happen to really love a large number of Brutalist buildings, and think that it was, is, a great architectural movement, I thought I’d give you a little tour of Brutalism’s mind, life, likes and dislikes, etc.

Brutalism doesn’t give a shit (much like the honey badger).

Brutalism knows you don’t like it. It doesn’t care.

Brutalism doesn’t fuck around.

Brutalism tells it like it is.

Brutalism doesn’t hide.

Brutalism doesn’t put on airs.

Brutalism doesn’t correct its elaborate hairdo with a delicate hand every ten seconds.

Brutalism doesn’t read Cosmo.

Brutalism doesn’t do bling. It doesn’t really do real gold either, although it would if it could afford it. Gold does not tarnish.

Brutalism doesn’t wear its grandfather’s brogues.

Brutalism knows the periodic table by heart.

Brutalism scratches its butt when it itches, regardless of who’s around.

Brutalism is refreshingly true to itself.

Brutalism shows you what it’s made of, just like that. “BLAM”.

Brutalism’s skin is too thick for the bad rep to hurt. Well, it’s not skin, it’s concrete.

Brutalism really has your best interests at heart.

Brutalism is proud, not arrogant.

Brutalism is heavy, not fat.

Brutalism erodes with style, and does not go for that chronophobic botox nonsense.

Brutalism does have a sense of humour.

Brutalism takes its duty with dedication.

Brutalism is not diplomatic, but not warmongering either.

Brutalism does what needs doing.

Brutalism will still stand there when you’re ash.

Brutalism is not smug, it’s self-assured.

Brutalism does not have nightmares.

Brutalism does not believe in fairies.

Brutalism has style, substance, and what goes in between.

Brutalism is what humans would be like if they knew they were gonna die tomorrow and cut the crap.

Brutalism is not totalitarian, it is totality.

Brutalism has no issues with its more graceful neighbours, it just doesn’t have time for that cocktail party on Friday.

Brutalism drives half a mile below the speed limit, and barely notices when you fishtail it.

Brutalism has read Sartre, it’s read Camus, it’s read Hegel and it’s also read Nietzsche. In fact, Brutalism has read everything. And processed it.

Brutalism is not trying to prove a point, it’s letting the point that it is prove itself to you.

Brutalism does not get into arguments in public transport, it stares at them with a smirk.

Brutalism is sometimes very gentle. With kittens, for instance.

Brutalism would go for colour if concrete came in cerulean blue, but it doesn’t, so grey will do just fine.

Brutalism plays with texture, shadows, angles, parallax. But it’s a serious game.

Brutalism’s favorite animal is the bear. Bet you saw that one coming huh? Good for you.

Yes, of course it likes elephants too. I mean come on.

Brutalism’s favourite dish is thai green curry. Bet that surprises you huh? Well, it is.

Brutalism’s favourite movie is Salker. Make of that what you will.

Brutalism doesn’t do drugs. It wants its brain sharp as a tack.

Brutalism doesn’t drink. It wants its reflexes sharp as a tack.

Brutalism likes doing funny faces and likes the fact that no-one even notices even more.

Brutalism likes the idea that if Shit comes to hit the Fan, it’ll fit right in that dystopian landscape.

Brutalism knows that if Shit never hits the Fan, it’ll still look good. You know, as a warning.

Brutalism had trouble fiding shoes in its size so it just goes barefoot now.

Brutalism used to hang out and drink tea with J.G Ballard. Sometimes with milk and sugar, sometimes black. It even tried a slice of lemon once. It was ok. Brutalism is not fussy.

Brutalism doesn’t think the truth should be concealed. Not because it would be Bad, but because, why bother?

Brutalism’s favourite word is Impervious. Brutalism’s favourite people are Impervious, too. It also very much likes Pragmatism, and Pragmatic people.

Brutalism is not responsible for the excesses perpetrated in its name. It is not responsible for the great ideas, either. It is base material, neutral.

Brutalism likes to remind people that the shortest trajectory from A to B a a straight line. We are mortal, and like is short – why lose time?

Brutalism does not put on a silly patronizing voice when it talks to children. Or anyone, for that matter. Brutalim assumes you know what the deal is. If it’s wrong, that’s your problem.

Brutalism has a dream…

Brutalism thinks there’s something weird about the way some people take pictures of every place they go with themselves in them, as if to prove something.

Brutalism never had anyone walled in alive. As it were.

Brutalism might be heavy-footed but its posture is impeccable.

Brutalism knows who killed JFK.

Brutalism once believed space could make the man, but is now content with the many-times proven axiom that space is neither made not making. It just is.

Brutalism knows how much everything costs and sees no point in driving a city bankrupt just to look pretty. Not that looking pretty is a goal it has much respect, let alone desire, for.

Brutalism knows a Building is a Building and a Forest is a Forest. Yeah, ok, so what, you say? Well… THINK, it says.

Brutalism likes pecan in its ice-cream. Well you never.

Brutalism is the kind of dude you want on your side in a fight. If you try and punch it, you’ll just break your hand.

For more technical, historically correct details, as well as YET MORE images, see:
Wiki, of course…
Architizer
Brutalismus
Fuck Yeah Brutalism! (HA!)

 

2.
Tender Prey presents… EXPERIMENTAL DOMESTIC CELLS

With a few exceptions (nos 5,8,9 and most notably no 1) these interiors only ever existed as prototypes conceived and built for architecture & design fairs or exhibitions. They are projections of possible interiors, without a concrete relation to an exterior, which is part of what appeals to me about them. All the images apart from 8 and 9 were scanned from the book ‘Model Apartments – Experimental Domestic Cells’ (Editorial Gustavo Gili, 1997)

 

2. Alan Wexler ‘Crate House’
New York, 1991

 

3. Joe Colombo ‘Total Furnishing Unit’
produced for the exhibition Italy: The New Domestic Landscape, MOMA, New York, 1972

 

4. Gio Ponti ‘La Casa Adatta’
produced for Eurodomus 3 (Pilot exhibition of the modern house), Milan, 1970

 

5. Joe Colombo
Joe Colombo’s apartment, Milan 1969-70

 

6. Ettore Sottsas
produced for the exhibition Italy: The New Domestic Landscape, MOMA, New York, 1972

 

7. Alison & Peter Smithson ‘The House of the Future’
produced for the Ideal Homes Exhibition, London, 1955-56

 

8. Sabina Lang & Daniel Baumann ‘Everland’
travelling one-room pod hotel, originally produced for the Swiss Expo 2002

 

9. Staffan Berglund ‘Villa Spies’
Toro, Sweden, 1969

 

10. Joe Colombo ‘Visiona 69 futurist habitat’
produced for the Interzum Salon, Cologne, 1969

 

11. Ugo La Pietra ‘The Telematic House’
produced for the 61st Milan International Trade Fair, 1983

 

12. Archigram ‘Living 1990’
produced for the Weekend Telegraph Exhibition, London, 1967

 

 

*

p.s. Hey. ** David Ehrenstein, Hi. Oh, yes, I remember your Sonbert piece appearing there. Everyone, Do you remember when the blog recently welcomed Mr. Ehrenstein and Bill Reed’s ‘Photo Ops’ into the world? Well, there’s a sequel/’greatly expanded’ version entitled ‘Son of Photo Ops’ that is newly in the world as we type/read. Get it here.Plus, the very same Mr. E directs anyone who wishes to a new documentary about Oliver Sacks that I think is a total freebie to watch, in fact. OLIVER SACKS: HIS OWN LIFE, Directed by Ric Burns: https://vimeo.com/480819197, Password: kinolorber. So how about that? ** Sypha, My pleasure, and I hope to have the actual pleasure of listening later today. Ah, curious source for the image. Excellent repurposing move, man. I promise I will never go to Pittsburgh in the summer. Summer heat is my Satan. Oh, I do still like his piss paintings. ** _Black_Acrylic, It’s a goodie. Speaking of, I was transformed into a wildly gyrating teeter totter of a fella by your new episode, sir. I’d be sentient without you. Thank you! Well, then I will and do take your word for it. Glad it was fun. ** Wolf, Oh my god, I’m so flexible. You are ‘flow’ backwards, which is pretty damned cool. Maybe not as cool as being ‘sinned’ backwards, but who’s counting? So, remember the golden oldie up there? So good. Vegan pastries for you and Marc until further notice. ** Bill, Hi. Nah, I’m pretty accustomed to the current restrictiveness. Not that I have a lot to speak for, weekend-wise, as a result, but wtf. It’s a wonderful novel. And short! The S.D. Stewart is free?! Well, that’s sorted. In fact, it is now on my desktop and waiting for me. Thanks, Bill, you’re such a brain saver or enhancer or both or something. What’s on your plate? ** Damien Ark, Cool, very glad that worked out. I’m excited to do the blog’s part. Dude, take very good care of yourself and your health. Now’s not the time to fuck around with that stuff. And fuck your roommate. ** Jeff J, Hi, Jeff! Thanks, man. I was surprised by how many Warhols were online too, and I notice at least one of them was deleted before the weekend was out. I think the only film in the post I didn’t know already was the one that got deleted: ‘Soap Opera’, which I stupidly waited to watch until it was too late. I like ‘These Demented Lands’ a lot too. Yes, Warner’s books have become less and less exciting of late, sadly. The last novel of his that I thought was great was ‘The Sopranos’. Memory tells me it’s very worth reading. Oh, man, I’m so sorry to hear you guys are having to deal with those deaths. What a horrible time this is just kind of in every way. Though possibly brightening just slightly by the day, maybe. Yes, you remind me that I haven’t gotten the new Julien Calendar yet. I’ll do that today. Everyone, Mighty Jeff Jackson’s band Julien Calendar has a new and 4th EP just out, ‘Crimson Static #4’, and you can hear and score it both by pressing down lightly on this word. And you should, if you ask me. I’m doing all right. As I’ve mentioned before, we’ve had stellar news about our new film that I can’t lay out quite yet but which all but assures we’ll get to make it, so we are diving into thinking/working on the preliminaries and very relieved and happy. The premiere of Gisele’s Walser play got cancelled/delayed due to you-know-what. Macron gives a big COVID-related announcement, I think tonight, and maybe she’ll know when the premiere will end up happening after that. She says the early response has been good. I last saw it in its rehearsal state a couple of weeks ago, but not since. All else? Pretty okay. I hope everything improves instantly for you and yours. ** Steve Erickson, The film is interesting, but the novel its really, really something. Good luck with the ophthalmologist, or I guess good luck getting through today if I’m right that your appointment is tomorrow. (I’m never sure whether the time stamp on the comments is dated your time or mine.) ** Okay. I’ve restored a wondrous post from the blog’s storied past for you today made by the extraordinary d.l.s Wolf and Tender Prey. Enjoy the hell out of it, and I will see you tomorrow.

* (restored)
—-
During the 20th and 21st centuries, a record chart was a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of prominent record charts include the NME Singles Chart and the Billboard Hot 100, which were compiled and published on a week-by-week basis by popular magazines.

This man has “loads of CDs”. Could he have been a chart compiler?

 

There were lots of different criteria used in different charts used to reflect popularity, commonly: sales of records, cassettes and compact discs; the amount of radio airplay; and, latterly, the number of downloads.

Some charts were specific to particular musical genres and most to a particular geographical location. The most common period of time covered by a chart was one week, with the chart being printed or broadcast at the end of this time. Summary charts for years and decades were then calculated from their component weekly charts. Prior to the event, component charts had become an increasingly important way to measure the commercial success of individual songs.

 

The New Metaphysical Enquirer record chart for the week ending 2nd October 2002.

 

During the 1940s and 1950s, the American Billboard magazine had maintained three independent charts ranking records separately by their sales, popularity on broadcast radio, and popularity on ‘jukebox’ systems. In 1955 these charts were adjoined by a Top 100 chart that led, three years later, to a national singles sales chart, the Hot 100. Meanwhile, the first British record chart was compiled and published in 1952 by Percy Dickins of East Ham, London, the co-founder of the New Musical Express.

One of the most significant aspirations for many musicians became the chart placing of their records. As chart were customarily listed in descending order of sales, the strongest-selling record of any given week would be the first entry on the chart. As such, to achieve the strongest sales was to achieve the accolade of “being Number One”.

 

The proud recipient of a British Number One. Note ceremonial robes.

 

A selection of British Number Ones.

 

Although many records and the majority of primary sources regarding record charts did not survive the event, some material has survived. We present a selection from our archives here.

 

1.

 

*

p.s. Hey. ** Scunnard, Thanks, J! ** David Ehrenstein, Pretty seminal, that Tinguely, yep. Thanks, I’ll go sample his lyric-ing abilities. ** Bzzt, Hey! I love the story/fiction piece. Super sharp, compelling from first sentence to last. Excellent work, man, a real pleasure. And the combo with Brendan really did work beautifully in an even subtle way. I think I’m in the process of psyching myself to buckle down, which is start enough. Happy Friday. ** Kaley Gott, Hi, Kaley. It’s very nice to meet you. Oh, wow, that’s awesome that your class is covering ‘Frisk’. I’m honored. The question is complicated, and this is a tough context to really be able to answer it well because I tend to kind of zoom along when I’m doing the p.s. I can give you a brief, sort of general answer here, but you can write to me at my email: denniscooper72@outlook.com, and I can answer in a more detailed way there. (Also, I need to find a copy of the novel in my boxes of books, which I will do.) If you like, I could Zoom or Skype with you or some students or even with the class if you want and if we can work out the timing between you and me in Paris. Anyway, I named the narrator/character Dennis because I felt it was important to take responsibility for the extremity of the book’s content, to acknowledge clearly that the book’s imagination is mine. It’s not auto-fiction. I did live in Amsterdam, and some of the characters and incidents are based on real people and things that happened — Julian was based on a real person, my first boyfriend — but I didn’t pretend to be committing murders or try to persuade him or anyone that I was. That was more of a formal device because I wanted to see what the effect would be if I described the fictional violent/sex acts in a pornographic way and framed them as real while the reader was reading that section. The idea was that once the letter was revealed as fiction at the end, the reader would thereby have to confront what they felt and imagined while believing it was true. I was trying to make the reader acknowledge that Dennis’s imagination and fantasies were not completely foreign and repellent, etc, if that makes sense. When I wrote ‘Frisk’ I was doing a lot of research and studying of serial killers, and I used what I learned in creating the novel and ‘Dennis’, but what happens in the novel isn’t based on any real killers or crimes. They are imaginative but maybe backed up by whatever understanding I gained. Oh, I see you’re suggest a video chat. As I said, yes, I would be happy to. That would be very interesting. Just write to me, and we can set it up. I’m in COVID quarantine over here, so I have lots of free available time. Thank you so much! It’s a thrill that you’re looking closely at my work. I really appreciate it, and, yes, hopefully we can video chat and speak more very soon. Take care, Kaley. ** _Black_Acrylic, Hi, Ben. Oh, sure, the only reason I didn’t include that Gonzalez-Torres piece is because I’ve had his work in some recent thematic posts. It’s a wonderful piece, yeah. He was a sublime artist. ** Sypha, Ha ha. Oh, you knew of that artwork but revised it into a monk? Or is there a monk version too? Good old Siouxie. ** Daniel, Hi, Daniel! Excellent pick there, sir, obviously, and thank you! Hugs. ** Brendan, The new Batman and Robin, or vice versa, or … The show looks unbelievable! I’ll write to you. I’m a bit hazed over. With me, there’s also Dennis M. Cooper the Harmoniac. And a guy named Dennis Cooper who hosts some cult podcast called ‘Culpable’. And the main character in ‘Jabberwocky’. Love, me. ** Brian O’Connell, Top of the morning, Brian. Thanks, so glad you like the post. I believe that is a real tongue. It sure looks real and rotting. It is nice to keep up with friends on social media, especially when I live way over here far from my US friends, but I think I mainly use Facebook to keep up on cultural stuff — new books, events, films, art, etc. Or that’s mostly what seems to slow down my scrolling. Thanks about our good news. Yeah, once it’s all in writing and stuff, I can spill, although it’s not so wildly exciting from the outside really, I guess. Perky beginning to your weekend. ** Bill, Hey, B. Thanks, yeah, the breakthrough is a relief. Everything is dependent on the whole COVID thing, but, assuming next year will be the upswinging part, yeah. Always happy when a thing enters that exclusive ‘near and dear’ VIP area around your heart. ** Okay. I realised that I have, until recently, been kind of neglecting the restoration of posts from my murdered blog, and there are still a ton worth salvaging, so that’s why you’ve gotten three this week, including the lovely and odd post today devised by the much missed and very creative former d.l. of this blog The Dreadful Flying Glove. Have fun with it. See you tomorrow.