#delany

[therightrighthand]

Just one of those missions. y'know?

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[thirdity]

The idea of “definition,” with its suggestion of the scientific, can be associated easily with the idea of “mastery” — which, in turn, can be easily associated with the idea of “origin” and “craft.” But the fact is, we do not master an art — and certainly we do not master it through knowing the “the proper definition” or “mastering” its “origins” or simply learning its “craft.” [...] The more we study and dwell on (and in) an art, the more the art masters us.

Samuel R. Delany, "The Politics of Paraliterary Criticism"

[nerds-yearbook]

Daredevil 167#, cover date November 1980, introduced Nick Manolis, Mauler (Aaron Soames), Sylvia, Cordco Inc, Edwin Cord, Sammy, Arlo, Garfield, Earl, Chet, Delany, Mobile Armored Utility Laser Emitter, and Vibra-Mace. They were created by David Michelinie and Frank Miller. ("... The Mauler", "Dark Secrets", Daredevil #167, Marvel Comic Event)

[inkatesbush]

“I haven’t begun to think about the subject. I’m still making notes on the form.” They frowned. “On structure, the aesthetics of the whole business. You can’t just sit down and write, you know. You have to think. The novel was an art form. I have to invent it all over again before I can write one. The one I want to write, anyway.”

“Oh,” Lynceos said.

—Nova, by Samuel R. Delany

[karebeast]

Delany! [Gift]

Wanted to draw Wolfwrathknight's sona for fun <3

Delany belongs to @wolf-wrathknight / @wolfwrathknight

[thecleverness]

“Science fiction is not 'about the future.' Science fiction is in dialogue with the present... a significant distortion of the present that sets up a rich and complex dialogue with the reader's here and now.” - Samuel R. Delany, Starboard Wine, 1984

[flamingskull]

my favorite delany covers

(artists: mitchell hooks, jack gaughan, dean ellis)

[rodgerdelany]

The Other Side was the last song written and recorded for the Before I Let Go CD. As a result, it is a little different and in some ways a little bit better than the other tracks.

The Other Side is the only positive song on Before I Let Go. Instead of being a guitar ladened rant, the song is about helping others recognize that there is life beyond their current problems.

Back when I lived in South Jersey, I helped a few friends move furniture out of their marital homes. I listened while they “cried in their beer” and considered compiling their worry into an exhaustive lyric and throwing big guitar at it, But, I ended-up creating a simple song to answer the “what do I do now” question.

The Other Side starts by acknowledging how hard it is to see tomorrow when our world is falling apart today. Faith, hope and personal beliefs are important. But, it really just takes help. It seems trivial, but people need their hands held, emotional hugs and a reminder that there is a better tomorrow. And, they need a lot of help moving cabinets up and down tight staircases.

As the last song recorded for the CD, The Other Side enjoys significantly better audio. I applied technology and lessons learned to improve the quality of the vocals, guitar and overall texture.

I hope you enjoy the rare positive message. The Other Side is the last song that I will share from Before I Let Go. If you enjoy the music, then like, subscribe, follow…, the music on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.

The next song that I share will be a bit of a cool surprise.

[etirabys]

This reminds me of the most fantastic book liveblogs I've ever read (by ozy thingofthings). It's Times Square Red Times Square Blue by Afrofuturist scifi author Samuel Delany.

(full but paywalled review by that liveblogger here, although the visible portion of the text should give you an idea of what a weird and fantastic book this is)

A lot of it is about The Venus Theater, which showed adult films until a push to close all the porn theaters also shut it down in 1970. It was pretty normal to jerk off in the theater and cruise for (mostly m/m?) sex – both of the sex worker and non sex worker variety (although the line was very blurry). It was normal to e.g. jerk off your neighbor.

Delany was a college professor at Amherst the time he was a Venus regular. He had social and sexual relationships with a large number of people he met at the Venus Theater, including homeless people – he kept up correspondence with many of them, including at least one who went to prison. When establishments like the Venus shut down, one reason he didn't like this was that he thought it was unhealthy for society to get rid of spaces with high levels of inter-class contact.

Delany draws a distinction contact and networking. The Venus was contact, and more formal "people of various backgrounds who are interested in X, come mingle" events are networking. And if you get rid of interclass contact spaces, interclass networking spaces have to 'take up the slack' of facilitating connections, and they... can't do it. Example about parenting from the linked blog post:

In a city, contact requires certain specific characteristics to thrive. You need socioeconomically diverse spaces with mixed commercial and residential uses, and which provide basic services like restaurants, public bathrooms, and small shops. Without that setup, you don’t get contact. (...) [If you're at a park close to your house and] there aren’t any public bathrooms, it’s a jerk move to not let a mom at the park your kids are playing at use the bathroom in your house, but you don’t want to just let any rando into your house. So you’re reluctant to talk to moms you don’t know. (Real thing!)

And here's Delany on the value of public spaces that facilitate sexual contact:

Similarly, if every sexual encounter involves bringing someone back to your house, the general sexual activity in a city becomes anxiety-filled, class-bound, and choosy. This is precisely why public rest rooms, peep shows, sex movies, bars with grope rooms, and parks with enough greenery are necessary for a relaxed and friendly sexual atmosphere in a democratic metropolis

After reading the above Delany quote I sat back in my chair, grinning wildly at the ceiling. You may not like it but this is what the optimal take looks like

The US is deeply segregated not only along racial lines, but along class lines as well: from housing to schools to healthcare, many of our major institutions are designed to allow rich people to keep poor people as far away from them as possible.

Where do rich and poor people interact with one another? If I'm reading this study right, it's restaurants. Which restaurants? They find that some of the most cross-class locations in the country are cheap full-service restaurants: "Olive Garden, Applebee’s, Chili’s and IHOP."

The more I think about this finding the more it makes sense. Places like Olive Garden are some of the only locations in US society which are simultaneously "nice" enough to draw in high-income diners and cheap enough to attract low-income diners. Rich people go to, say, Outback Steakhouse because they see it as a cheap and easy meal that's better than fast food, poor people go because it's one of the closest things to a nice steakhouse you can eat at without dropping $100+ per person.

Other cross-class locations: churches, libraries, credit unions, alcohol stores, the DMV. Locations which worsen class segregation: golf courses and country clubs, bars, museums.

[ccycles]

There’s a very interesting concept that I get from Delany’s erotic works it’s a kind of radical acceptance in these marginalized communities he describes. There’s also a kind of equalizing of classes through unusual sexual intercourse. It’s all incredibly interesting and I need to read even more about it

[beautifulwomen047]

[therightrighthand]

A little bit of treason posting for your Friday.

-- Find my Discord and other sites: linktr.ee/The_red_right_hand Do not use, repost or claim (rp) my art/character  Art © The-Red-Right-Hand

[thirdity]

Identities are, by their nature, reductive. (You do not need an identity to become yourself; you need an identity to become like someone else.) Without identities, yes, language would be impossible (because categories would not be possible, and language requires categories). Still, in terms of subjects, identity remains a highly problematic sort of reduction and cultural imposition.

Samuel R. Delany, "Coming / Out"

[saltintheseaa]

delany’s 60 ish page analysis of the dispossessed pointing out every single problem i have w the novel and also many more. it’s great.

[inkatesbush]

“Sure, the past is what makes now like now makes tomorrow; Captain, there’s a river crashing by us. But we can only go down to drink one place and it’s called ‘now.’”

—Nova, by Samuel Delany

[gradexmovies]