For the Auditively Inclined

A recent ear candy for those who "would listen, enraptured, to Laurie Anderson read the phone book"*: listen to the podcast of American writer Hannah Tinti's short story "Milestones" read by Laurie Anderson as part of this week's 'Selected Shorts' programme on National Public Radio. The story was inspired by a Miles Davis piece of the same name.

* Yes, the source of the citation is the same as in the previous Delillo blog post: it's from a comment by an enthusiastic viewer named mytmyt, under the Youtube video of Laurie Anderson's part in 2004 Dramatic Reading of the U. S. Constitution. Amen again.

'Delusion' in Firenze

'Delusion' in Firenze, November 2010

photo by giagir / Flickr

For more photos of 'Delusion' in Firenze, click to giagir's album.

The Consequences of Crucifixion

A remake of a Laurie Anderson joke, told in 'Transitory Life', too:

(P. S.: Having heard this in Chorzów, I could not decide whether the laughter of the Polish audience was genuine or not... nevertheless, I found it hilarious)

Laurie Anderson Has Become an Internet Meme. Period.

Source: Muaddib734 on cheezburger.

Laurie Anderson in the Vitrine

Brazilian tv's reportage of I in U / Eu em Tu, Laurie Anderson's retrospective exhibition in São Paulo, along with descriptions of various works of art of Laurie by curator Marcello Dantas, plus interview excerpts with Laurie Anderson:

'Transitory Life' in Bucharest

Read here the English translation of Catavencu's blogger's Perfect Night with Laurie Anderson and 'Transitory Life' which left him near to...

'Belfast' and Laurie Anderson in Bucharest, Romania, Nov 2010

... speechless.

'Transitory Life' in Chorzów

Laurie Anderson's 'Transitory Life', Chorzów, Nov 2010

Photo by Adam Jędrysik / muzyka.onet.pl

Click here for more concert photos from Chorzów, Poland.

More from Florence

Italy luvs Laurie and that's alright. :)

• Around Tuscany's review of the press conference of Florens 2010 Festival - which the Italian premiere of Laurie Anderson's 'Delusion' is part of.

• And here is the English translation of another article on the same event, along with more winner photos like this one:

Laurie Anderson in Florence, Italy, November 2010

Photo by Emanuel Anuvoli, goldworld.it

'Delusion' Debut in Italy: Florence

Laurie Anderson in Florence, November 2010

Photo by Guido Mannucci

Click here for a whole gallery of photos of today from Florence, Italy (source: la Repubblica FIRENZE).

Playing for the Genius of the Carpathians...

According to the English translation of this article in Romanian, Laurie Anderson once performed 'Duets on Ice' in front of Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu. Ha!

Super Cranky Opening Act for Laurie Anderson

Last night in Bucharest, Romania. No comment needed :)

Laurie Anderson in Bucharest

The frantic instrumental beginning of 'Transitory Life' in Bucharest last night (yes, the sound is that overwhelming):

From Chorzów with Luv

Teatr Rozrywki in Chorzów, Poland

From Katowice with Luv

ASP Katowice, Poland

Signing off.

Overlapping Realities: or, Who the Hell Is the Body Artist and Why You Should Experience It

There exists a book titled 'The Body Artist',written by Don DeLillo. But what does this have to do with Files on a String?

• First, Laurie Anderson herself has got some inclinations for "body art" (see page 109 of the Nerve Bible: 'What Is Body Art?'), mentioning that, in the late '70s, her work was described as (among others) "body art" or "performance art"

• Amelia Jones writes about Laurie Anderson's body art at length in her book 'Body Art / Performing the Subject', page 32:

• The body artist in the book's title is named Lauren (Hartke). She lives in New York.

• Lauren tends to wear flanel shirts and likes to take long errant walks.

• In 'Body Time', Lauren's performance piece, there's an "anonymous robotic voice of a tele­phone answering machine delivering a standard announcement" featured prominently, as "sound accom­paniment".

• Moreover, during the performance above, Lauren dramatically alters her (body and) voice and ends up at speaking in a male voice.

• Laurie Anderson mentions the writer of the book, Don DeLillo in 'The Cultural Ambassador' (track 17 on 'The Ugly One with the Jewels and Other Stories').

• Last but not least: in 2001, Laurie Anderson has recorded an unabridged audio version of the book*; it's entirely read by her; which means almost three hours** of pure treat for those who "would listen, enraptured, to Laurie Anderson read the phone book"***.

• UPDATE: one more thing - this just in: Laurie Anderson will read excerpts from Don Delillo's new book 'Point Omega' on the 14th of November, 2010, in Estoril, Portugalia.

* Mnemosyne has got her copy from Ebay. Good luck.

** "Three f*cking hours. Why not four? Why not seven? Why not eight? she says" - sorry, I could not resist this citation from 'The Body Artist' by Don DeLillo, page 107.

*** comment by an enthusiastic viewer named mytmyt, under the Youtube video of Laurie Anderson's part in 2004 Dramatic Reading of the U. S. Constitution. Amen.