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Fuzz Artists and The Road
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I undertook to T-Cub that I would read this week and comment here on Cormac McCarthy’s Pulitzer-awarded The Road. This is the much discussed post-apocalyptic tale of father-son on a journey, carrying the fire in a world where, indeed, the ironic framework of the Social DK that T-Cub sings about in his song of the same title, has reached a logical culmination beyond irony to a desolate world bereft of humanity, save only for the love of parent and child, to each onto each other, unquestioningly and without reservation, and nothing more.
Well, I’ve read the book and am trying to frame my comment to make it brief and relevant to this site and to those who have not read The Road, or wish to – although they should.
Like many musicians here at Fuzz, success at sustaining a “comfortable livelihood” from practicing his craft eluded Cormac McCarthy for much of his life as an artist [he is now in his seventies].
McCarthy enjoyed some success among literary critics early in his career, but considerably less among a wider readership until he found a genre that properly framed his poetic sensibility, first in the western hard-scrabble of tough guys and tough times, culminating in the framework of a barren society as described in The Road, which is his finest work to date.
Not surprisingly, McCarthy’s voice as an artist did not resonate with a wider audience until what he saw with penetrating clarity before the rest of us found a framework that was suited to him. This search of a resonating artistic framework is hard work and it is mostly a quiet and lonely undertaking.
It will be interesting to see how many artists who are here at Fuzz and in search of your own resonating framework and, thus, in that sense on The Road like McCarthy, along with the one thing you hold closest to you beyond rationality, will lose your way or endure. I hope for the sake of music, and for us, you will endure in carrying the fire of your dream of the possible in an impossible world.
To end this commentary with the last lines of The Road and taking sustenance from McCarthy which is a good thing to do, it is my own abiding wish that some of the artists here at Fuzz will show us with your work the maps and mazes of the resonating mystery of the world in its becoming. And it will be said of you as you write and sing to us... “Of a thing which could not be put back. Not be made right again. In the deep glens where they lived all things that were older than man and they hummed of mystery.” [End]
Well, I’ve read the book and am trying to frame my comment to make it brief and relevant to this site and to those who have not read The Road, or wish to – although they should.
Like many musicians here at Fuzz, success at sustaining a “comfortable livelihood” from practicing his craft eluded Cormac McCarthy for much of his life as an artist [he is now in his seventies].
McCarthy enjoyed some success among literary critics early in his career, but considerably less among a wider readership until he found a genre that properly framed his poetic sensibility, first in the western hard-scrabble of tough guys and tough times, culminating in the framework of a barren society as described in The Road, which is his finest work to date.
Not surprisingly, McCarthy’s voice as an artist did not resonate with a wider audience until what he saw with penetrating clarity before the rest of us found a framework that was suited to him. This search of a resonating artistic framework is hard work and it is mostly a quiet and lonely undertaking.
It will be interesting to see how many artists who are here at Fuzz and in search of your own resonating framework and, thus, in that sense on The Road like McCarthy, along with the one thing you hold closest to you beyond rationality, will lose your way or endure. I hope for the sake of music, and for us, you will endure in carrying the fire of your dream of the possible in an impossible world.
To end this commentary with the last lines of The Road and taking sustenance from McCarthy which is a good thing to do, it is my own abiding wish that some of the artists here at Fuzz will show us with your work the maps and mazes of the resonating mystery of the world in its becoming. And it will be said of you as you write and sing to us... “Of a thing which could not be put back. Not be made right again. In the deep glens where they lived all things that were older than man and they hummed of mystery.” [End]
Comments
Fuzz is such a unique platform... it allows musicians, writers, fans and folks to interact in a democratic fashion and create the image they want to create... it's freedom of speech and freedom of the individual to express him/herself in the way they see fit...
But with that, it is inevitable the platform that supports this enterprise has to prosper to facilitate such endeavours, which is not a bad thing in itself... it allows the (greater) less fortunate to communicate their ideas and be judged on an even playing field.
Those who endure, always have to remain true to themselves first...
If someone appreciates your works of art, literary commentary or musical compositions, then success has been achieved.
Fortune, fame and everything that goes with success is just an added bonus!!!
If only McCarthy would have had a place like Fuzz to communicate his thoughts, he would have seen for himself, that he is not alone.
When pessimism towards an industry is at its highest, the "smart money" usually interprets this sign as that of a market reaching its lows. One can only hope for a new direction, as did I into the late eighties before the explosion of talent in the early '90's. I hope this vacuum we have been in for the last 7 or 8 years is finally the end, and a newer direction will take place sooner rather than later.
Let's hope Fuzz and all who contribute to it's operation and support, realize the change and continue to prosper equally. And should someone on the Fuzz platform prosper, let them not forget where they received their initial support and platform to communicate.
Meredith Rollo
Pertaining to your review of the book; ”On the Road”
Your writing is very eloquent and beautiful. And therewith, the undercurrent of our noticing of the here-past tragic style of life that we have all been subject(S) to.
Life is changing, yes, but for the more improved version of life. We are now in, and moving more, into the; Happy Healthy Wealthy Loving Existence, with Worldwide Cornucopia.
Making the Happy Healthy Wealthy Loving Existence, with Worldwide Cornucopia the, our, reality has been a lonesome road too. But those that can, do.
I say, my friend, cheer up. Let’s put smiles on our faces and learn more about Love for our Hearts. Some already understand, full well, how wonderful life, with all loving, is. Some like me, have come a far way, but still have a long way to go, in learning of and using and being ~ more ~ Love. And ~ more ~ Love.
With Love, SivleRane