There are authors whom you wish you’d met many years ago. There are authors that whom you find out about for various reasons after their passing. It believed that the Afrikaans author Koos Prinsloo is one of them I have found. He wrote during the brutal decade of apartheid, the system of forced segregation of races. Implemented by white minority of the Afrikaans speaking population of South Africa.

When the country was going through states of emergency and a growing internal protests. Prinsloo wrote from deep within the dominant patriarchal white culture. His work was a direct reference to the dominant culture through highlighting a vilified and suppressed part of it. This is an important issue for us to consider today.

Prior to his death from HIV-related causes, during 1994 Prinsloo was the author of four remarkable collection. Of short stories in Afrikaans including Jonkmanskas (a word for a clothing closet) from 1982. Die Hemel Help Ons (Heaven Help Us) in 1987, Slagplaas (Place of Slaughter) in 1992, and Weifeling (Hesitation) from 1993.

Place of Slaughter and Other Stories It released in the month of October 2022 by Fourthwall Books. In Johannesburg, is the first and largest version in English of the work. The collection translated by University of the Witwatersrand academic Gerrit Olivier. Place of Slaughter includes all Prinsloo’s tales from Slagplaas. As well as a large selection of his other works which total 24 stories.

This collection is a powerful voice that challenges the long-standing Afrikaner myths. About homosexual male identity and argues for diverse identities.

Who Koos Prinsloo Authors?

Prinsloo Was an Afrikaans journalist and short story author, famous for his writings that blurred the lines. Between autobiography and fiction, and also for daring to portray homosexuality and sexual intimacy. In an extremely candid and sometimes even brutal manner. I inspired by the works by Francis Bacon. British artist Francis Bacon.

Prinsloo was born the year 1957 at Eldoret within Kenya. At the age of five his family relocated from Kenya to South Africa. The family settled in Ingogo near Newcastle and his father employed. In the power plant at Ingagane in the Ingogo region. There, Prinsloo graduated from Newcastle High School. He completed his military service in the year 1976 and later enrolled for an undergraduate qualification from Pretoria’s University of Pretoria.

These are the facts we can glean from the stories themselves together with photos from his dad, referred to as Daan and the obituary of his grandfather, and the detailed and often confusing footnotes.

Life And Art Authors

Prinsloo weaves from those threads in his personal biographical sketch a narrative that is disturbing in its pathetic encounter with the adolescent and childhood, but simultaneously being a bit hyperreal. The practice has moral or ethical issues as well, and his writing was a source of controversy throughout his lifetime. It was not just for doing a rash and reckless play with names and histories of well-known people and also due to its middle finger attitude towards white Afrikaner nationalism as well as male power in the Afrikaner community.

The second book, Die Hemel Help Ons presented with the Rapport Prize however, the editors of the Rapport newspaper decided to revoke the award due to a paragraph that appeared in Border Story adjudged disrespectful to the president at the time PW Botha.

Variety Of Publications

Prinsloo employed by a variety of publications and newspapers as well as the left-wing, independent newspaper Vrye Weekblad and Afrikaans daily Beeld. The journalist’s role as well as the writer, appears prominently in his tales. It’s not clear if they’re all the same man, or if they are fictional characters or just representations of the writer’s self. The writer may be known as the younger writer. Sometimes, it’s The Main Character or the poor Sod. Even The One. He. Most often, it’s the simple I. It is not uncommon for the person who starts a story with one voice, the so-called objective third person changes and transforms into an intimate me.

Prinsloo is always involved with the image of his writing as well as the elements or tools that make up his work. He is also aware that we are readers. He frequently addresses us and refers to us as Dear Reader. Dear Reader. His stories also cross-reference with each and re-tell similar characters for instance The Pop Star, or family members, and even the same actual events, but the stories are told in different ways.

Beautiful Beauty Authors

Prinsloo is a postmodernist author and the self-consciousness that is apparent in his stories isn’t in any way exclusive or superior. There is a brutality that shocks and even a carnality that serves both to expose masculinity and brutality that was raging in South Africa at that time (has the world changed?) and to draw attention to what is the “terrible beauty” of the world as a site of desire and murder.

In a just 12 years, from the year 1982 until the time. Of his passing in 1994 Prinsloo wrote four collections. Of captivating short stories which are collected with Place of Slaughter and Other Stories. It is believed that his works are important since they’re among the first fictions. About HIV/AIDS that appear that are found in South African literature. They predate even the book Welcome to our Hillbrow, written by writer and South African writer Phaswane Mpe.

I have a different view. I read the entire collection of stories in one weekend, and I couldn’t help. To think of German Expressionist painters George Grosz or Max Beckmann. Contemporary artists such as Emilio Vedova or Gunter Brus with their graphic and daring work shook up the established.

The parallel to visual art not too far-fetched. Prinsloo writes using a visual artist’s view of the material world. He fascinated by the human body. In that, we break our bodies and even bleed. We are utterly oblivious to our desire. This makes him someone I would like I’d met earlier; one to be reading now.

Bob Dylan, sing songwriter and Nobel laureate Philosophy, has made an entire career defying expectations. What should one expect from his new work, The Philosophy of Modern Song? First of all, modern song should read as American modern song. Because the majority in the 66 tracks analyzed written by Dylan were American. By modern, we are talking about mid-century, mainly between the 1940s and the 1960s. The stylistically and generally the songs are a mix of all aspects. Of the Great American Songbook, folk and rock’n’roll as well as country and many more.

Also these are the kind of Americana that found on the Dylan’s own recordings. Philosophy is the kind of term that could applied to any publication context and caution the listener. Not to be expecting anything as programmed as, say the story of the development of modern music.

Dylan’s selection of songs creates an atmosphere more than a strategy. The book filled with outlaws, grifters and the gangsters, cowboys and gamblers and con artists. There are some references to hucksters, such as The Colonel Tom Parker (Elvis Presley’s manager). And 19th century performer PT Barnum. And to rubes (or people who easily manipulated). Also, readers, be aware that this book is about modern song on its own definitions.

Bizarre Fictions Philosophy

Every song serves as an opportunity to launch two different types of riffing. There are, firstly, bizarre fictions that have a tangential connection or even at all to the specific song. Though some reconfigure the lyrics from the song they are riffing on. In the third person perspective, these stories are alluring as an individual narrating their dream. Which is (for me) there isn’t much.

With Dylan-esque imagery, these dreamy pieces don’t have the sexiness and music. Naturally from Dylan’s late 60s time however they do have the same semi-prophetic style that blends the mundane with the apocalyptic.

For example the chapter on Everybody Crying for Mercy by jazz and blues singer Mose Allison is sure to please. There are some shocking moments in these works however, they all have an air of AI-generated prose.

Most interesting, however, are the essays that accompany the dreams of the piece. As with the previous pieces, the essays usually tangentially connected to the song they discussing. We get a glimpse of Townes Van Zandt (his family a dream of him becoming an attorney) or the connection with Rosemary Clooney, Armenian folk song and Alvin and the Chipmunks, but the essays more an opportunity for Dylan to reflect (philosophies) about all things from movies as well as polygamy and lemmings as well as on language, history and war. The front cover of this (very elegantly designed and richly illustrated) book aptly states, the human condition.

A Gender Imbalance Philosophy

Similar to the dream pieces these essays are associative and playing with nature, however they are more concerned with providing details. The article of Nina Simone’s Don’t Let Me Misunderstood starts with a discussion of the difficulties that the opening paragraph of the book L’Etranger (by co-author and fellow Nobel laureate Albert Camus) has presented translators https://corkcellarswinebistro.com/.

And then into a fascinating historical background of Esperanto and is followed by noteworthy examples of misunderstood language and finally, a brief discussion of Simone’s version of her song. This is a great opportunity to discuss the relationship between interpretation and art. Concerning this topic it’s not a surprise that Dylan would claim to be the mercurial Dylan should assert that

Speaking of Simone the singer is just one female artist featured in this collection. Along with Dylan’s thoughts possibly baiting about the subject of polygamy and feminists and the often misogynistic depictions of women in his dream works climaxing in The Eagles’ Witchy Women It is difficult to know what Dylan does not have an woman problem.

Sexual Sexism

However, as is the case with Dylan it’s difficult to determine how seriously you should take anything he says. Are he riffing on the sexual sexism of his original material or is he simply playing himself? This is reminiscent of the arguments that surround stand-up comedy (that is another source for the term riff.

However, all of this is what makes The Philosophy of Modern Song seem more serious and sombre than it actually is. The book is full of authentic, and well-informed, enthusiasm for some of the songs that are discussed including The Fugs’ CIA Man and the Osborne Brothers’ Ruby.

Are You Mad?, the latter leading to the somewhat surprising, yet not completely absurd, claim the bluegrass genre is “the other side of heavy metal. Dylan is fond of these statements. There are more songs about shoes than there are about hats, pants, and dresses combined. There is nothing scarier than someone earnest in their delusion.

A Lot Of Fun Philosophy

The most enjoyable parts of the book come when you’re part of the joke or when Dylan is hilariously funny. Anyone who is familiar with The Grateful Dead would have to smile at the absurd claim that they’re essentially a dance band. But Dylan has recorded the album along with them maybe Dylan is the what he is doing best. Dylan also has a great comedy side-order that is a bit grumpy and old-man. For example, when it comes to food, he writes that

This observation came drawn from The essay on Cheating’s Heart by Hank Williams. There are many instances of Gerund sing words lacking their terminal g’s within The Philosophy of Modern Song but not just in the context of the song’s title. Elvis (Presley is not Costello) describes himself in the book as backwoods-born but city-living, truck-driving, hip-shaking with a feral whiff of danger. The way that the complicated adjectives are hyphenated indicates that Dylan is having fun with his Gerunds.

The book is primarily about having fun (though the book gets serious when Dylan discusses the dire situation of Native Americans and war). In spite of the over-the-top discussion about this blurb as well as the press release, I was able to have lots of enjoyment (rather than philosophizing) out of this collection.

If anything else, in spite of the gender prejudice the book is an excellent playlist. I can’t think of anyone who doesn’t find some obscure gems. Two of my favorite discoveries came from the latest songs in the book (from between 2001 and 1986) Do Not hurt anymore by John Trudell, and Old Violin by Johnny Paycheck, just two of the many Johns and Johnnies that populate this book.

Ada Lovelace, known as the first computer programmer was born on December. 10 1815, almost 100 years before electronic digital computers invented. Lovelace has recognized as a role model to girls studying engineering, science, technology as well as math (STEM). Twelve biographies for younger readers published to celebrate the 200th anniversary of her birth in the year 2015. And in the year 2018, The New York Times included her biography in the list. As among the most important missing obituaries of women in the wake of the MeToo campaign.

However, Lovelace who was officially Ada King, Countess of Lovelace after her marriage was a pioneer in many fields. To create her unique work, which included languages needlecraft and music as well as mathematical logic. Being aware that her broad education helped her accomplish work. That was past her times, she was able to be a role model to every student, not just girls.

Scandal-Stricken

Lovelace was the son of the scandal-stricken romance poet George Gordon Byron. Aka Lord Byron and his well-educated, strictly religious bride Anne Isabella Noel Byron. Popularly referred to by the name of Lady Byron. The couple divorced shortly after the birth of her daughter. In a period when women not permitted to own property and enjoyed limited rights. Under the law Her mother was able to obtain the custody rights of her child.

Growing up in a wealthy noble family, Lovelace taught by her home tutors. As was the norm for girls of her age. She taught French and Italian as well as music, and the appropriate crafts like embroidery. Atypical for a girl at the period, she also pursued math. Lovelace continued to collaborate with math tutors throughout her adulthood, and she later consulted with the mathematician and logician Augustus De Morgan at London University on symbolic logic.

Lovelace’s Algorithm

Lovelace took inspiration from the lessons of all these while writing her computer program. In real life, it actually an instruction set for a mechanical calculator which built with pieces. The computer at issue the Analytical Engine created by the mathematician, philosopher, also the inventor Charles Babbage. Lovelace had come across Babbage at the time they introduced into London society. They bonded with one another due to their shared enthusiasm for math’s and with mechanical calculation.

At the beginning of 1840, Babbage had won and had to forfeit government funding for a mathematical calculator, and had a dispute over the master craftsman who was building the exact parts for the machine and appeared near to abandoning the project. In this moment, Lovelace stepped in as an advocate.

To bring Babbage’s calculator to an British public, Lovelace proposed to translate into English an article that explained an Analytical Engine. This article written French written by Italian mathematics professor Luigi Menabrea and published in the Swiss journal. The scholars believe that Babbage helped her add remarks of her own.

Her notes that ultimately grew to be more than twice the length of the original piece, Lovelace drew on different areas of her studies. Lovelace began by explaining how to encode instructions on cards that had punched holes similar to those used in the Jacquard weaving loom, which was a patent-pending device in 1804 which used punched cards for automating weaving patterns on textile.

Embroidery Lovelace

As a person who learned embroidery, Lovelace familiar with the patterns that used in crafts. The same repetitive steps required to calculate mathematical equations. To prevent duplicated cards to perform repetitive tasks, Lovelace used loops, loops with nested loops, and conditional tests in her program’s instructions.

The notes also provided guidelines on how you could calculate Bernoulli numbers and other numbers, which Lovelace learned from her studies to be crucial for the study of mathematics. Her program proved how Analytical Engine Analytical Engine had the capability of performing calculations that had not manually performed. In the same way, Lovelace noted that the machine could only obey instructions, and did not originate anything.

In the end, Lovelace recognized that the numbers that were manipulated in the Analytical Engine could be considered other kinds of symbols like musical notes. A talented pianist and singer, Lovelace was familiar with musical notation symbols, which represent aspects of music performance such as duration and pitch, and she was able to manipulate symbolic symbols when she communicated and correspondence with De Morgan. It was not a big move for her to understand that an Analytical Engine could process symbols not just crunch numbers as well as compose songs.

A Multi-Faceted Thinker

The invention of computer programming wasn’t the only time Lovelace utilized her knowledge of different fields in order to tackle a brand new topic. As an infant was fascinated by flying machines. In a way, combining mechanics, biology as well as poetry pleaded with the mother to get anatomical textbooks to learn about the purpose of wings on birds. She constructed and played with wings. In writings, she expressed her desire for her mother using the language of flight.

Despite her talent in mathematics and logic, Lovelace didn’t pursue a science-related career. She was a self-made millionaire and didn’t earn income from her scientific endeavors. It was not uncommon in an era where freedom and financial independence was associated with the capacity to objectively carry out scientific research.

Lovelace Devoted

Additionally, Lovelace devoted just over an entire year to her one publication, a translation Menabrea’s papers and notes on an Analytical Engine. Also, during her time ended due to cancer at 37, she was a teetering between music, math and her mother’s demands. She also had to taking care of her 3 children and then an addiction to gambling. Lovelace could not be the most obvious role model for an female scientist for women of today.

In contrast, I find Lovelace’s method of drawing upon her broad education to resolve difficult issues inspiring. It’s true that she lived prior to the advent of the scientific specialization. In fact, Babbage was an expert in mathematical calculations and mechanical invention. He also published a work on industrial manufacturing, and another on the religious implications of creationism.

However, Lovelace utilized knowledge of what we consider as different areas within the arts, sciences, and humanities. An intelligent thinker, she devised solutions that were way ahead of the times.