MOVIE REVIEW | 'BUKOWSKI: BORN INTO THIS'


A Poet Weaned on Pain and Reared by Adversity

Michael Montfort/Magnolia Pictures
The hard-living writer Charles Bukowski, who died in 1994, in John
Dullaghan's documentary "Bukowski: Born Into This."

By STEPHEN HOLDEN
Published: June 4, 2004
NY Times

My father was a great literary teacher," recalls the famously scrappy,
hard-drinking poet and novelist Charles Bukowski, who died in 1994. "He
taught me the meaning of pain - pain without reason." Three times a
week, from the age of 6 to 11, he was beaten by his father with a razor
strap, he remembers in John Dullaghan's definitive and engrossing
documentary portrait, "Bukowski: Born Into This."
Revisiting his boyhood home in Los Angeles where the beatings took
place, Bukowski wryly calls it "the house of horrors" in a drawl that
filters Kevin Spacey through William S. Burroughs with a dash of
Tennessee Williams. Those beatings, he admits, were essential to the
formation of his lean, brutal literary style through which no
sentimentality was allowed to leak. When you're beaten that regularly,
he suggests, "you say what you mean."
Some of the film's interviews were done for European television.
Excerpts are skillfully woven with the reminiscences of former drinking
buddies, fellow writers and Bukowski's second wife, Linda, the keeper of
the flame, whom he married in 1985. Without straining, the film makes a
strong case for Bukowski as a major American poet whose work was a
slashing rebuke to polite academic formalism.
Bukowski didn't always revel in his outsider status. A pariah in high
school, he suffered from severe acne vulgaris, which covered his face
with running sores that left his skin deeply pitted. He recalls standing
miserably in the dark outside his senior prom, too humiliated to show
himself.
In later years Bukowski boasted of his sexual prowess. Yet he was a
virgin until he was 24, the same age at which his first story was
published. His description of sexual initiation with an obese woman whom
he wrongly accused of stealing his wallet is a spectacularly unpromising
beginning to the prolific sexual activity (described in his novel
"Women") that flowered after fame brought admirers.
Bukowski could be as pithy off the page as on. He cites as "the ultimate
compliment" being called "a good duker." He began writing at 13 because
it seemed "the easiest thing to do." Love he describes as "a fog that
burns with the first daylight of reality."
He began writing in earnest after traveling around the country for a
decade working as a laborer, drinking and brawling, and absorbing the
raw experience that informed his work. Later he supported himself as a
mail carrier for 14 years. His heavy drinking contributed to a case of
bleeding ulcers in 1956 from which he was not expected to recover. But
he went on to carouse for four more decades before succumbing to
leukemia at 73.
At the suggestion of a girlfriend he took up betting on horses as a
hobby, and it became an addiction, with the faces of the bettors and
their dreams of winning a crucial inspiration. One of his pet peeves was
Mickey Mouse, whom he said had "no soul," and he harbored a deep
loathing for Walt Disney and everything he stood for.
With the publication of a regular column, "Notes of a Dirty Old Man," in
the underground press, he gained notoriety beyond the world of little
magazines. His career solidified after John Martin, the founder of the
Black Swallow Press, volunteered to keep him afloat. Two decades later
Bukowski wrote the screenplay for Barbet Schroeder's 1987 movie,
"Barfly," in which Mickey
R
ourke played a Bukowski-like roustabout with
a swaggering bravado that the poet says was inaccurate. That unhappy
experience inspired his novel "Hollywood," a place he describes as "more
crooked, dumber, crueler and stupider than all the books I read about
it."
The documentary includes reverential tributes from Tom Waits, the singer
and songwriter who brought his tenderer version of Bukowskian alienation
into popular song, as well as from Bono, Sean Penn, Harry Dean Stanton
and the film director Taylor Hackford.

Subtly, without overstating the case, "Bukowski," which opens today in
Manhattan, shows its cantankerous subject mellowing with success. Near
the end of the movie, Bukowski even shows a flash of what he calls "the
bluebird in my heart who wants to get out." But then, having to be true
to his legend, he catches himself and asserts, "I'm too tough for him."
BUKOWSKI
Born Into This
Produced and directed by John Dullaghan; edited by Victor Livingstone;
released by Magnolia Pictures. At the Cinema Village, 22 East 12th
Street, Greenwich Village. Running time: 108 minutes. This film is not
rated.





Stan Woodard
Communications Director
Atlanta Contemporary Art Center
535 Means Street
Atlanta, GA 30318
404 688 1970 Ext 213
swoodard@thecontemporary.org
www.thecontemporary.org

Hirst 'sorry' for rotting remains



"There was a big lump of something that looked like a cow"
Damien Hirst is to apologise after rotting animal remains were left
outside his studio in Chalford over the Bank Holiday Weekend.
The parts - thought to be from a cow - were supposed to have been picked
up on Friday 28 May but were not removed until Tuesday 1 June.

A spokeswoman for the artist said: "He will be apologising. It shouldn't
have happened but it's now been dealt with." She blamed a "mix-up in
communications" for the late removal of the remains.

'Absolutely vile'

Trading Standards officers from Gloucestershire County Council were
called in to investigate after people living close to the artist's
studios on the Chalford Industrial Estate reported a bad smell.

"On Sunday the stench was so bad we couldn't open any of the windows and
I decided I had to do something about it," said Charles Eagles.

"As I walked towards the box the smell just got stronger and there were
loads of flies.

"When I opened up the lid it was revolting - it was like something out
of a horror film. There was a big lump of something that looked like a
cow. It was absolutely vile."

A spokesman for Gloucestershire County Council said: "Trading standards
officers removed the remains and took them to approved premises for
incineration on Tuesday.

"Investigations are ongoing to see if any breach of regulations was
made."

Damien Hirst, a Turner Prize winner is widely known for displaying dead
animals in tanks of formaldehyde.


Hirst says sorry about dead cow
04 June 2004

22828&section=news

LONDON: Artist Damien Hirst, who uses dead animals in his work, has
promised to apologise after a rotting cow was left outside his studio
over a long holiday weekend.

Inspectors visited the studio in Gloucestershire over the weekend and
took the putrid remains of an animal away to incinerate them, after
neighbours complained about the horrible smell.

A spokeswoman at Hirst's studio confirmed that the remains were those of
a dead cow.

"It was at the rear of the studio in a plastic-contained bin," she said.


"It's a communication mix-up between the contractor who was collecting
it and a member of staff. So it was left over the bank holiday weekend,
which was very unfortunate."

She said Hirst planned to apologise for leaving the dead animal out. She
would not say what the artist had used it for.

The artist won the Turner Prize in 1995 for Mother and Child, Divided,
which featured an adult cow and a baby calf, each split in half, pickled
in formaldehyde and displayed in glass tanks.

Local authorities in Gloucestershire said they were investigating to see
whether any regulations were broken when the animal was left in the
street.

The sun tries to eat my skin. I'm changing colors. It hurts. It's about time to go water flowers. I slept a dead sleep for a long time.
On Saturday y'all should come out to Soyeon's for our 23/33 birthday BBQ.

Does anyone want to go to the Beach tomorrow with Keith and me and some friends?

This organization that I'm working for (plant watering) Forever Elmwood , has a lot to do with the greatness of Elmwood Avenue. At least that's what they say and I believe it because they've been at it for ten years. They are a community organization that works with the business owners and residents to keep the street feeling and looking good. Bob, my boss, told me that Elmwood Forever is the reason talking leaves book store came to Elmwood. He said that before the talking leaves store was there some gross bar was there and people would always leave it to go piss in the park.
I've only lived in buffalo a little while so I have no idea what Elmwood was like 10 years ago or even two years ago. Maybe some of you buffalonians can give some validity to this story. Bob also told me that the state assembler for this district lives right across from Paul, Matt, and Terry.
Sorry I never made it out last night. I think that the pride celebration must have tired me out more than I realized because when I got home I slept for 13 hours and now it's about time for me to go water the flowers!
y'all should all become members of forever elmwood if you're into the cause. I think it cost anywhere from 30 to 100 bucks!

I'm a little obsessed with this Ben Hoff book but I promise this is the last excerpt I'll post. I just feel like this excerpt is especially relevant to the events which have ensued since 9/11. Oddly enough this book was published in 1992.

The Te of Piglet

Things As They Are

The overwhelming tendency in unobservant industrial society, however, is to ignore small problems until they become enormousand then panic.
"Call out the troops! Mad Tyrant Number Twelve is taking over the world! We've got to stop him-even if we have to kill half a million people doing it! Oh, it's simply awful Well, let's see. . .
Who sold him his weaponry ? We did. Who trained his military forces in the use of it? We did. Who supplied the materials he wanted? We did. Who supported his vicious dictatorship for years because he persecuted our "enemies"? We did. And who ignored his unstable personality, his destruction of anyone who opposed him, and his repeated threats against world order for all that time ? We did. So there you are.

PRESS RELEASE
Contact: organize@caedefensefund.org

PROTECT US--DON'T PROSECUTE US!
SECURE LIBERTY--CRITICAL ART ENSEMBLE IS INNOCENT!

CALL FOR DEMONSTRATION IN SUPPORT OF CRITICAL ART ENSEMBLE AND FREE SPEECH
RIGHTS

The committee to organize CAE Defense is calling for a peaceful
demonstration of support outside the Grand Jury hearings on the case of
Steve Kurtz (CAE), beginning on June 15th.

WHERE: County Court House, 138 Delaware Ave. Buffalo, NY.
WHEN: 9 AM, June 15, 2004

Critical Art Ensemble (CAE) is a collective of internationally recognized
artists who work in public, educational, academic and art contexts. Most
recently their work has been directed towards providing the general public
with awareness and understanding about biological research. The aim of their
work is not alarmist or sensational. Through participatory performance
experiences CAE provides information and knowledge. It brings people into
contact with the reality of scientific research often not accessible to the
general public. The work is always undertaken in a safe and considered way,
using materials commonly available in scientific education and research
practices.

The FBI in its efforts to protect the public is now overreaching its mandate
by using an overwhelming amount of pressure against a group of artists
making their work for the peaceful purpose of vital public discussions.
Artists like CAE stimulate public debate necessary to a healthy democracy.
Our constitution guarantees the right to freedom of speech and our
government is charged with securing that right. The job of democracy is to
protect the minority from the tyranny of the majority. In the United States
we are not governed by mob rule, nor should government exploit its
responsibilities to the public by persecuting innocent people. We too, as
citizens must stand up now to affirm our rights and defend our liberty.

This is a peaceful demonstration. Please bring signs and banners. Check the
website for PDF's and examples of signs and slogans you can print out.

CIRCULATE THIS CALL AS WIDELY AS YOU CAN
PLEASE BE SURE TO CHECK THE WEBSITE FREQUENTLY FOR UPDATES ON THE DEMO.

A Word About Demonstrations.
As with all demonstrations it is advisable to bring personal identification
(driver's license, passports, student id's, proof of address, etc.) Let
someone know where you are going to be. Stick with a buddy.

BRIEF FOLLOW-UP TO INITIAL PRESS RELEASE: To date Steven Barnes and Dorian
Burr, founding members of CAE, as well as Beatriz da Costa and Paul Vanouse,
artists who have collaborated with CAE, as well as several other people,
have been served with subpoenas to appear before the federal Grand Jury that
will consider bioterrorism charges against University professor Steve Kurtz
whose art involves the use of simple biology equipment. The subpoenas are
the latest installment in a bizarre investigation in which members of the
Joint Terrorism Task Force have mistaken an art project for a biological
weapons laboratory (see first press release on www.caedefensefund.org).
The artists involved are at a loss to explain the increasingly bizarre case
that shows how vulnerable the PATRIOT Act and other post-9/11 "security"
measures have made freedom of speech in this country.

According to the subpoenas, the FBI is seeking charges under Section 175 of
the US Biological Weapons Anti-Terrorism Act of 1989, which has been
expanded by the USA PATRIOT Act to prohibit the possession of "any
biological agent, toxin, or delivery system" without the justification of
"prophylactic, protective, bona fide research, or other peaceful purpose."
(See for the 1989 law and
for its USA P
AT
RIOT
Act expansion.)

Man - Woman - San
Men - Women - Sen
He - She - Le
His- Hers - Lov
Him - Her - Loh


When san first came to be le was totally pissed off because le was in darkness. Le had no eyes. Le found lov inability to see to be most disturbing so le felt around until le found two circular objects then for some reason le jammed them into lov head and low and behold, le could see.
This pleased loh very much and le decided to tell lov friend the cactus about it but le found that although le had a strange vibration in lov throat le had trouble talking so le thought that if le made an abrasion in lov head perhaps the sound could escape better. The san looked around until le found a sharp instrument and le jammed it into lov face making a large hole that became lov mouth. Then le laughed out loud at lov own cleverness.
Once the san had a mouth le realized that lov friend the cactus was most happy to give loh lov milk. The milk went into the san's sound hole. The cactus said "San perhaps you would enjoy this milk more if you had some sort of sensation that gave flavor to the milk." The san agreed heartily with the cactus and took a small stick and poked two symmetrical into lov head to form nostrils.
Le was most pleased with all these things so le gathered around the other Sen and gave them all the same bodily alterations that le had just given to lohself. All the people enjoyed there new abilities quite a bit and got to laughing and grunting at each other. They drank milk until there bellies were round and full but then they realized that there bellies were so full they could hold no more milk even though they still had the desire for the taste of it.
The first san being the industrious and thoughtful being that le was decided that the best solution to this problem would be to make another orifice in their bodies below the stomach to allow the milk to flow free. Le first poked a hole for lohself and then le gave everyone else one and they worked fantastically. Now all the people could drink as much cactus milk as they wanted and eventually it would just leak back out.

The Te of Piglet by Hoff

Things as They Might Be


In our part of the world, this unobservant tendency is displayed in the most depressing manner whenever there's an Election. For nearly thirty years now, the nation that was once the Light of the Free World has been electing to the highest office in the land a succession of Nightmare Clowns who lead us deeper and deeper into darkness as they encourage massive greed and corruption, run up multibilliondollar debts for future generations to pay, turn the economy into jelly, refuse to take action necessary to save what's left of the natural. world ("More studies are needed"), and threaten to blow up the planet because some country somewhere isn't doing what they think it ought to quickly enough all the while making remarks on the intelligence level of "If you've seen one redwood tree, you've seen them all."