Thursday, February 18, 2010

i am thinking of you
you are walking in your street, its wintertime, you've turned up your foxfur collar, you are smiling and remote {species of spaces/georges perec
}

Perec - Practical Exercises

Observe the street, from time to time, with some concern for system perhaps.
Apply yourself. Take your Time.
Note down the place: the terrace of a cafe near the junction of the Rue de Bac and the Boulevard Saint Germain
the time: seven o' clock in the evening
the date: 15 May 1973
the weather: set fair
Note down what you can see. Anything worthy of note going on. Do you know how to see what's worthy of note? Is there anything that strikes you?
Nothing strikes you. You don't know how to see.

You must set about it more slowly, almost stupidly. Force yourself to write down what is of no interest, what is most obvious, most common, most colourless.


Georges Perec, Species of Spaces, 1997:50

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