Julius Eastman: The Unforgotten

As an out gay black man working in a predominantly straight white environment, Eastman grew progressively more uncomfortable. In a pivotal SEM performance of John Cage’s Song Books in June 1975, with Cage present, Eastman staged a lecture on “a new system of love” in which he undressed a male volunteer (possibly his boyfriend), while making sexual overtures in acrobatic baritone. Cage was furious.

“Julius tried to ‘out’ Cage,” Di Pietro says. “He said, I hate that Cage never speaks about sex. But he regretted it because Cage was so angry. Julius was deeply divided.”

“Cage thought it was a parody of him,” says SEM co-founder Petr Kotik. “It was a huge scandal. Julius started identifying with the black community. He moved to New York in 1976, just as Pierre Boulez wanted to do Mad King with him. Do you know how many doors that would have opened?”

Guardian.

Fagburn: On Silence

"And I? May I say nothing, my Lord?" - Oscar Wilde, his last words in court

"What we cannot speak about we must pass over in silence" - Ludwig Wittgenstein, the last words of Tractatus.

"Whatever you say, say nothing" - Seamus Heaney, the last poet.

"Either you repeat the same conventional doctrines everybody is saying, or else you say something true, and it will sound like it's from Neptune." - Noam Chomsky, first and last and always.

"Oh, what's the bloody point?" - Kenneth Williams, his last diary entry.

So pissed off.
Might take the day off.
Cause everything's fucking me off off.
Oh, well, please y'selves!
Cough cough cough cough.
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