Another something, created (?) by me
Posted by robyngiannini on April 23rd, 2007
Brad,
In response to your post, haha yes my head is spinning. Yes–Eben’s masterpiece, his creation, is something itself. Eben is a something, Jennie is a something–anything they do because it’s own value and worth defined of itself. And everyone has this quality, in their own way.
So I guess creation doesn’t really exist–well no, I think maybe people create new somethings? And add to the overall makeup of the universe. I think we get caught up in defining people by what they do instead of their existence themselves. But are we only products of the products we create?
Am I just talking in circles?
But here’s what I want to know–and this is a little off the subject. What is it about Jennie, anyway? I don’t understand why Jennie in particular is so inspiring. I mean, I know we’re not supposed to understand love so forth, but come on. Jennie? What defining characteristics does she have besides the characteristic of being undefinable?
April 24th, 2007 at 11:18 pm
[...] Robyn, There are two fascinating points that you bring up: Are we only products of the products we create? & Why Jennie? The first question, I think, is one that’s been the foundation of so many social movements that at this point it’s almost chic to keep talking about it today. Not only did the idea spark the punks to expand, form, & reform their sounds & ideas from Frank Zappa in the 60’s to the Sex Pistols in the 70’s to Minor Threat & the DC hardcore scene from the 80’s to today, but the violence - both materialistically & socially - brought on by the concept has been a little shocking. But really, I don’t see how shocking it can be once you realize how chilling it is to think about: if we are only products of that which we produce, then why do we exist? Yes, I think everything has a purpose, but is it possible to discover ours if we only matter in relation to the “product”? Or better yet, is it NECESSARY? I think it’s important to not only figure out yr creative SOMETHING but to figure out the purpose of yr something as well; it’s there, you just have to pull it out. Yr second question - Why Jennie? - is a little harder (not that I answered the first one at all), but I don’t think Jennie matters to the book thematically, only structurally. I think she is essentially that funny word that Dr. Campbell used to describe something that seems to be “the point” at first but actually doesn’t matter. I can’t remember the word right now, but maybe it’ll come to me later. Jennie is the muse, but she is also the downfall, the pivotal moment of Love’s ultimate aggression on the soul of Man, who himself is almost lured to death. It isn’t that she is a woman, but that she is a mystery, & being a mystery enables her to be THE ONE - that thing that evokes Eben’s work. [...]