The Beach

On genre, form and style

I have decided to start writing again. This decision has been precipitated by the fact that I am preparing a research proposal at the moment, and there is such a huge amount of writing associated with this task that may just waste away in the rabbit warren of email conversations and notebooks that I seem to accumulate. Some of the critical feedback I have been receiving from my supervisor, as well as my close friends and colleagues has resulted in quite a few lengthy rants on many different topics. Some of which I will unleash on the small number of people that read this blog.

So here goes.

This first article is an extension of a discussion that Nathan and I sometimes have about weather or not butoh can be seen as a form, or a style. This is also a conversation I have had with others, and for now, I think I can pretty fairly articulate my position.

NATHAN: I know this is an age-old conflict – but can you explain to me why you consider butoh a form and not a style?

Show Us Your City: A Walk In Seoul | Creative Cities 2.0

Show Us Your City: A Walk In Seoul | Creative Cities 2.0.

I could say so much, but there are not any words.

Watch the video, follow the link and read the interveiw.

There are many reasons why this city and this boy are so special.

This is one of them.

Pansori Lullaby

So, I have been pretty lame this week, not posting much at all.

But I have been incredibly productive, considering I have also been trying to spend as much time with Nathan before he goes (TOMORROW!).

After cancelling our performance of Nok Cha Cafe Friday night due to a storm (which actually ended up clearing and leaving an ideal night, but we went out to Itaewon and had three dinners instead… long story), we squeezed in some last minute filming tonight.

But, I have been faithfully been turning up to my Pansori classes, and without fail, Min Ah has a new piece waiting for me to learn.  Today’s is somewhat of a Pansori lullaby.  Which is a scary thought in itself.

I’m not sure if this would calm me down after a crying fit, or put me to sleep.  Apparently, it is meant to do the latter.

[Vid After the Break]

Japan… kind-of

Preface

Some posts are never meant to be finished.  This I am convinced of.  I have about 6 or 7 in my drafts folder.  Whenever I am interrupted, or fail to complete a post, I invariably become depressed, and fail to write for days, or even weeks.  But I have decided to celebrate this phenomenon, and publish the half-written entries anyway.

Think of it as a ‘choose your own adventure’.  Or one of those high school writing tasks where you have to finish the short story in a way that appeals to you.

Actually, this first topic is quite a good example of a half-baked, hastily executed exercise.  My recent trip to Japan…

I want this…

Canon PowerShot G10

At this stage, it is the winner. When I eventually need to step up, it will probs be to this.  Sorry Nathan, but DSLR just doesn’t suit my slim and lightweight lifestyle.

Almost a Week

So, I’ve been here almost a week.  I love Korea.

Question: What do you get when you have 12 attractive Korean men, standing on a stone balcony, yelling what appear to be insults and degrading requests to two equally as attractive men, in a dusty soccer field, standing in front of a tent?

Answer: Prime time Korean Television

I know I have written before about these particular kind of Koreans who are famous for being famous. Literally, they have no talent except looking attractive, and doing stupid things on Television. Think Mike Whitney (in his hey day) and Tanya Zaetta. But times 1000 and on TV 24/7.

This particular program ended with the two boys in the field being made to hug and pretend to make out in the tent, and then run around tagging each other.

I’ve been in Daejeon since Monday, and will be here till Friday.  Nathan is doing a job whereby he travels to different towns in Korea, and does pretty much a live version of Playschool for small Korean Children. It’s very cute.  So this week I followed him.

I start my first ‘appointment’ next week. I am going to refrain from calling it a job, because… Well, let’s just hope that govornment officials do not stalk dancer’s blogs.

I’ve had a pretty relaxing week. Have spent a bit of time writing and compiling our Australia Council grant, trying to organise my life, and trying not to think about the fact that I have to work with ‘real’ dancers next week.

Nathan and I went back to a bar that I had already been to on tour.  I’ve probably written about it here, because we celebrated Younghee’s Birthday there.  Bar ‘Ethnic’. Or ‘Ethnic Flower’, depending on what sign you read. Actually, the Korean name on the entrance just says ‘꽃’ (flower).  Giema and/or Polly would love the Ethnic Flower.

Last time we were almost kicked out because Jeonghaeng kept spilling drinks, and other crew members kept burning things in the copious candles.  It is actually an ideal venue, and Nathan and I think we may end up owning one very similar.

Discreet stone street entrance (this month covered in a fake hedge and blue led flower wall, but looked better just raw stone), leading to a concrete bunker-like staircase, taking you several flights underground.  When you enter the room, you are met with several attractive staff, and a long, rectangular pool, complete with misty fog, an overhanging tree and literally hundreds of candles and lanterns all around the space.  The walls and floor are varnished concrete, and covered in cushions, mats and little low tables.  Your shoes go in a satin bag that you carry with you, and right at the end of the room, overlooking the pool up on a dais, behind sheer chiffon curtain is a private table where you can have your tarot read.

They have good cocktails, nice music, and a very worm and friendly vibe. Will totes go back next time I’m in Daejeon.

Exploding…

This week was an interesting one.

I haven’t posted in a while due to the fact that the last, very long, very intelligent post I wrote about my Butoh practice got eaten by the hungry monsters of cyberspace.

But I am ready to move on.

Spent a week with Chris, a boy I know through Nathan who, for all intents and purposes, we will describe as Korean.  What have we learned from this?  Firstly, I (unexpectedly) hold no resentment towards Chris, despite his history with my loved ones.  I have much in common with him.  We are friends.  We have also learned that he needs two things pretty desperately, and although I did provide him with a room and a warm bed, I cannot these particular items.

A Job.

A Boyfriend.

He has also reminded me that I miss Nathan. So much. And even though I now leave in 18 days (officially) it does not seem to be soon enough.  I also miss Korea, and have spent a week speaking a pigeon language which is almost exactly half Korean, half English.  Along with the rise of two phrases, uttered by me at intervals of 5 minutes:

‘You’re a Goose’ directed at Chris, and ‘I’m a good boy’, also directed at Chris, regarding myself.

This morning was very difficult.  Lets just say that I never want to have to discuss important things via Gmail Chat ever again.  I have had a bad experience with that, and never want it to get that bad again.

Although I did say earlier that I didn’t feel any resentment, I did often feel funny. Very funny. Especially when conversation would range to a certain period of time of two months where I was very firmly out of the picture.  My imagination is very vivid.  Especially when it comes to things that I have never experienced.  And that I convinced myself not to think about at the time. AHHHHH…

Hence the mini explosions in my mind, which I have sufficiently contained, and stopped from becoming all-out self-destructive implosions, leaving behind trails of debris reaching to the eastern-most corners of the Asian sub-continent.

It’s all about the sufficient application of proper rules.  Not the ones that you thought were ok, despite the best advice of others.  Because, although they are fine for some people – it’s the ones you have only just met that become problematic.

Deep breaths. In. Out. Lemon Iced Tea and Jade Sauna Juseyo.

I guess this is what it’s all about.  Longing, mis-communication, divides… love.

But, it’s not long now. And I promise. I will take one picture a day. I have already started. Send you a present. Sew you some pants. Make you some videos.

From the general to the specific.

Oh well.

Even busier

I have had a massive week. Not much time to be a real person.

I entertained Ellen for most of it, did some writing (of music) did website for Autumn Sun, both jobs which I have to finish this week.

I really miss Nathan – it’s manifesting itself in strange, and not really helpful ways.

This week Ellen and Polly and I planned our lives for the next few… well, years actually. We have two shows in production with pretty-much confirmed seasons. I am going to Korea in a few weeks to learn Pansori and work on a peice of theatre which will hopefully see the light of day as part of Gaudete.

I am starting to journal my experiences so that I can have an effective reflective practice.

My next post will be one of these.

Protected: Eats itself…

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