In Praise of Older Women

I find myself, after being uncomplimentary of the summer reading lists, rediscovering an old bookstore of which very existence I forgot about, and feverishly searching for literary works that should be relatively light, though not superficial and safe as in the author should have been receiving acclamation from trustworthy sources for his piece of work.

In Praise of Older Women fits the description and on the plus side it does hold the promise of rapturous encounters.

Shortly into the depths of the novel it does come as a surprise, and not as a disappointing one that sex is not at the center. At least not sex talk as we are accustomed to in 2011. In Praise of Older Women is more about the young man and his journeys then about the older women, but because he measures his life against the treasures each new such female encounter drops at his feet, the reader’s attention tends to block onto the next lady to enter the scene.

It is also not that much a piece of advice (as the author advertises his novel) but a belittling of young men’s risible, common choices, turning their ardurous desires to inexperienced, juvenile young ladies. Andras seems to haven’t had the pleasure of reading Lolita, a novel of immense ardor for a nymphet, an under aged girl pursued by a much older, and not so noble suitor. Andras himself, thus, proves superficial, promoting his view and his view only as the valid one.

Inevitably, the mother figure is overly present in this novel which leaves little to question regarding the events that shaped the character’s disposition for older women.

All in all, a  very delightful reading on a quiet summer afternoon, sipping coffee on the veranda’s old recliner.

You can visit Stephen Vizinczey‘s blog and see what the author is ruminating on here and his website here.

Or read other reviews of the same here and here or here just to point a few.

On Acting

Having the privilege of behaving fearless or fearsome, bad-ass or pedant (and the list can continue for long), without real-life consequences, is one of the great advantages of being an actor. It doesn’t matter if one creates a sociable or an introvert self, a successful or a scumbag citizen. For what is counts, is solely the quality of the act.

“‘You’ve been a brilliant criminal last night. My deepest appreciation, sir. ”

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Thoughts on acting re-ignited by Bronson and this article on Maison Neuve, on monologues.

The Real Gaze: Film Theory After Lacan

Here the author develops a psychoanalytic theory of the movie, which took the movie as a starting point. Avoids telling about historical context of film production as well as it`s reception.

When McGowan says about the audience he doesn’t mean the empirical spectator, but the one which is expected by movie text himself. Of course none of the movies ignores its historical context as well as context of those who watch it, but neither the context nor the spectator don`t exist out of the movie text.

Every movie, developed esthetically, brings with itself its own context, builds up it`s own spectators, turns to them in specific way. It`s worth to get to know how, by McGowan, Kubrik`s, Spike Lee`s, Michael Mann`s or Fellini`s movies turn to us.

Summarised by Fusinha