Paris Forever

To Sanford Pelz, The Browning School

14 December 2015

Just saw your reply. Thanks!

A few final things (sorry for the heap of e-mails) and happy holidays:

First, here's an interesting article written up on the radically experimental grad school I've been attending in Switzerland, EGS. It's not online, it's not a diploma mill, it's something entirely different and very intense. Might interest you as a college guidance counselor even though its a grad school. In the next five to ten years it will be (for better and worse) very well known outside philosophy circles. In fact, a colleague of mine is writing a longform article on it for the New Yorker right now, to my partial chagrin.

Next, this book was assigned to me by my History of Technology professor Greg Moynahan (an expert on Ernst Cassirer), sophomore year at Bard. I'm not sure if it would be too dense/technical for a high-school curriculum (albeit I've now witnessed how intellectually evolved the current Browning student body is), but it had a major impact on my thinking and gets to the root of STS/history of technology/intellectual history by discussing the origins of the
techne/episteme dichotomy. It's called The Gifts of Athena, by Joel Mokyr. You may know it.

The other books assigned to me in that class and in grad school which had a great impact re STS were:

1,000 Years of Non-Linear History, Manuel DeLanda (absolutely incredible and breathtaking; takes a materialist world perspective and plumbs it down to geology, biology, technology, social construction, and so on)

The Social Shaping of Technology, ed. Mackenzie and Wajcman (fascinating essays on everything from barbed wire and machine guns and their impact on colonialization, to the way warfare has been gendered at the level of fighter-plane cockpit sizes, to nuclear curtailment via intentional "forgetting" of the means to build nuclear weapons)

Does Technology Drive History?, ed. Leo Marx and M.R. Smith (on the question of technological determinism from the aeolipile to the heavy plow to the necessity of roads for the wheel to become widely adopted)

The Control Revolution, by James Beniger (fascinating account of the 2nd industrial revolution)

Terror From The Air, Peter Sloterdijk (arguably the most widely read and interesting living German philosopher in which he argues that the 20th century really began with the German use of chlorine gas at Ypres in April 1915)

Grammaphone, Film, Typewriter, Friedrich Kittler (simply awesome; from the sparks cast by amber at Rhodes to the silicon chip, a history of and writing)

And finally, the mother of all books (in my opinion) about the nature of the 20th century and the question of technology - far better and more accessible than Heidegger's Sein und Zeit which I would never recommend to high-schoolers in a million years -

The Century, by Alain Badiou (just assigning chapter 1 - in which Badiou offers up several alternative durations/delimiting dates with respect to what we refer to as the 20th century - as a handout couldchange a kid's impression of history for life.

Paris

14 December 2015

To John Leech

Dear Grandpa John,

I simply wanted to write you a letter of thanks for the beautiful pen which arrived with Chris this weekend. The timing is perfect as I have recently committed myself in the absolute to the journey of being a writer. I will use the pen - both literally and metaphorically - as my dowsing rod and instrument of expression in the days and months to come.

Much love and hope to see you very soon, Paris

TO Caroline Von Reitzenstein

30 November 2015

C'est en faisant n'importe quoi qu'on devient n'importe qui

TO Caroline von Reitzenstein

12 November 2015

p.s. i signed up to see The Danish girl monday at Paris Theatre.

p.p.s. i discovered Up The Junction by Squeeze at Berlin the other night and its my new favorite song of all time. Here on TOTP
 

TO NADIA WHO HELPS CLEAN THE FAMILY APARTMENT

December 2014

TO CAROLINE VON REITZENSTEIN

19 August 2011

I had my meeting with Wolfgang today on the topic of my MA thesis, which is called: Unbehagen 21 - Why The Speculative Turn Now?

He sees it as a PhD topic and is quite impressed, and so is putting me on the PhD fast track. In other words, as soon as I finish the thesis, I will be effectively a year two PhD student, skipping year one.  If I continue without a break from EGS, I can have my PhD in two years from now, then am eligible for post-doc work at other universities where they will pay me for research.

I will also do Wolfgang's fall seminar in NY like last year.  Finally, Avital Ronell, maybe the most interesting living continental philosopher from America, has invited me to work with her and take her graduate class at NYU this fall, for free.  She can then be either my PhD advisor or muse, which is a signed ticket into many professorial posts because of her level of fame.  The thing is it's on Thursdays, so I have to see if i can make it work with the job.  Otherwise I can presumably work with her next year, but it is a very generous offer since she is so sought after.

To John Leech

31 August 2010

Funny, the Subject of last e-mail of yours which my mom forwarded me read: KT Deposit.  I only glanced cursorily at the previous messages in the thread as they were not addressed to me, but was piqued then relieved (perhaps relieved is not the most precise word, but anyhow), to find that they were not referring to the KT-Deposits leftover from the Cretaceous-Tertiary (Kreidezeit) extinction event 65 million years ago.  

I just wanted to write and let you know that I think of you and Noretta frequently with love and fondness, and that a more substantial letter will come your way sooner rather than later.  Also, that I am working hard and excited to be employed at Artforum.

Beyond that, I am discovering/developing slowly (though I am so tempted always to hurry because I am beginning to see how time runs and runs) the life techniques - I suppose they can be called platitudes -- that make the harsh conditions of the thrown project we are all subject to, "the conversation we are", tolerable for me so that I may live. But I think it is important to gauge these platitudes, so that they do not become too closural, so that they leave room for the unrecognizable or abject (that which I won't likely find in books because either it hasn't been thought yet, or if so, then by nobodies, the mad, the extraterrestrial, and so on as the tropes go).  

The EGS experience was as profound, illuminating, and sadistic as I hoped.  An immediate effect my experience there has had on me is probably given to the particular traditions of continental philosophy the school takes as its points of flight: when I am confronted with a given situation, good bad or indifferent, I am inclined to observe, not with insouciance but a twenty-first century, secular sort of Gelassenheit: "Es gibt".  Indeed, that's how I see things at twenty-three.
There is a far older, similar formulation I am also keen on, "istigkeit", but the implications of that word are somewhat different and a bit more mystical, as I understand it. 

Looking forward very much to seeing you both and big hugs,

xo,
P
 

1 September 2010

In response:

Dearest Paris,

What a lovely message, even though – like most pleasurable events – provoked by something unrelated in theme or time.  I loved the glorious Kreidezeit Deposits fantasy, which bears witness to the sharpening up of wits, language and perceptions.  How well have the seniors of Artforum done to take you onto their strength, and how richly I am sure they are being repaid.

It was fascinating to hear about your developing Weltanschauung, of the nascent sense of ‘Time’s winged footsteps hurrying by’, and of the sensory platitudes.  Just don’t let them degenerate into nihilism or je m’en fiche-ism.  On the contrary, little by little the platitudes should give way to beatitudes, to the marvels of life becoming revealed rather than obscured by apparent chaos or confusion.  Then there will be so many entrancing avenues to follow that it will become hard to choose which ones.

Even at my venerable age, the time for reflection I have found in Italy has given me not one but three subjects for new books.  So if I can shake off the Reitzenstein family failing of mild lethargy (or is that ‘Gelassenheit’?) and get down to them, life should be full and exciting.  One of them is indeed a commentary on the attack of the combined forces of ancient teachers, scriptures, philosophers and modern lifestyle- gurus on the self, id, I and its alleged diversionary wickedness.  Where ‘istigkeit fits into that, I hope to find out from you when we meet.

We shall be over for four concerts in October: 8th in Cokesbury, DE, 10th Castleton, VA, 13th Bard and 14th New York.  For the moment I am still uncertain about the time we shall have in NYC, as I would very much like to have my eyes (and Noretta’s ears) seen to in Boston before we go back.  That depends on a string of people co-operating, which I am currently trying to marshal.  However, we also heard that you might be in London for an art fair in October and it would be good to know the likely dates, so that we don’t risk missing that great event.

The moral is that we must keep in touch, which affection and loving thoughts on both sides should facilitate.  Large quantities of both herewith from

Noretta and John

TO Caroline Von Reitzenstein

22 April 2009

unbelievable song

she was an outspoken opponent of the brazilian government, but because she was so beloved by the people she wasn't jailed or exiled like gal costa or gilberto gil.  she died at 36 from drugs and 100,000 people attended her funeral.

really famous song but i just discovered it

TO Caroline Von Reitzenstein

4 February 2009

I had an idea for a product that I think would sell well even in this economy... art world action figures.  They would be sold as fun collectors items, for maybe $60-$100 each, and would have accessories.  
 Mainly iconic people like Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin, Charles Saatchi, Joseph Beuys, Julian Schnabel, etc.

x,
p

ON BEHALF OF SELFPORTRAIT.net

5 August 2008

My name is Paris Ionescu.  I co-run an online community for artists, art galleries, collectors, and curators, called selfportrait.net. Our current aim is to give exposure to emerging artists through the site and through group and solo exhibitions where all the work is curated from the selfportrait.net community by a panel of curators. Here is a review of our last show, which featured 25 emerging artists at the former Dia: Chelsea space in New York.

http://www.blackbookmag.com/article/fingerpainting-the-town-red/3067

One of the artists who's work selfportrait represents, Eric Shaw, was in last year's MoCA Fresh show in Los Angeles along with you.  We are in the process of planning several shows in New York for the fall and winter, and I am wondering if you would consider taking part in one of these shows by giving work.  For the most part, we sell the work at these events.  Our event at the former Dia space had a silent auction coordinated by Christie's.

Please let me know your thoughts and whether you might be interested.

Best,
Paris
selfportrait.net

TO Sanford Pelz

10 April 2008

Hi Mr. Pelz,

Writing once again to say hello from Denmark.  I stumbled upon a 2006 obituary in The Sun, about Paris Theodore, a Browning School alumnus and the real world equivalent to James Bond's Q.  Had never heard of him before.  Can you confirm that he was in fact a Browning alum?  He apparently has a son, also named Paris, who is making a documentary about his life.

Here's the wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Theodore

Best,
Paris

TO Caroline Von Reitzenstein & DAN IONESCU

23 February 2008

Hi Mom and Dad,

I'm emailing grandpa John back as well, but my dates in London are - I think - the 8th through the 12th.  We haven't had our orientation yet so I don't know when we arrive on the 8th (or whether we leave the night of the 7th), or when we go to Paris on the 12th.  I would think that the nights of the 9th and 10th are safe bets.  I will be visiting Bee, and a friend of Theo's and selfportrait member who goes to the Sotheby's graduate school there (in Contemporary Art) and wants to tell me all about it.  Speaking of that, I think Ann Jackson was 'let go' from Sotheby's because she had been hired temporarily for a few specific purposes.  Therefore, I don't think she will be of any help, although I did mention her in my application letter.  Is there any way to get in touch with the person at Christie's whom you know, with the chance that she could be of help or at least suggest things.

I was friended on facebook by Lauren Cornell, who is executive director of rhizome.org, a very cool and big online network for art and technology and new media art, and a curator at the New Museum. I'm thinking that if these jobs don't come through or if they can't pay at all, I could ask her if she has something for me to do part-time in addition to selfportrait this summer.

Class has gotten better and more challenging.  I am also learning a lot outside of class.  The last week and a half have been tumultuous in Denmark due to widespread (though relatively peaceful) protesting and rioting due to a combination of things: a. the arrests of three men accused of plotting to kill one of the Muhammad cartoonists, b. the cartoon's reprinting in numerous European newspapers for solidarity, and c. clashes between minorities and police.  There have been small fires across the country, and numerous car burnings in Copenhagen and Aarhus (where I was last week); the other day a tanning salon was bombed though it is not clear whether it was related, and the day after that another tanning salon was set on fire, probably as a prank by the local youth.  There was also a bomb threat at Osterport station last night.  This is definitely a country at the center of some serious issues, and one in relative tumult considering its peaceful reputation.  But do not worry, we are perfectly safe - many Issues seem amplified in such a small country (Greater Copenhagen is practically a big village), and I have learned from class and personal observation that the media can be quick to exaggerate the seriousness of the problems to give them narrative and make them exciting; stories on the internet call it 'Denmark's 7 nights of violence'.  What I was surprised to find out was that there is also a twenty year history of gang wars in Denmark between, believe it or not, the Hell's Angels and Bandidos (another American-rooted biker gang).  These wars peaked in Scandinavia in the mid 1990's when members were having shootouts at the airport and when on one occasion the Bandido's launched an anti-tank missile into the clubhouse of the Hell's Angels during a party.  This was in the New York Times.  This war played out all through Sweden (which, I know from my Technology class at Bard, plays a big part in the weapons trade), Norway and Denmark.  Fortunately things are better now, but I have seen busses full of Hell's Angels members hanging out right in downtown Copenhagen, and two nights ago, there was a brief, non-violent, but loud youth/punk protest right in Gammel Torv, two blocks west of us and around the corner from DIS. There are always lots of punk hanging out around the fountain at the center of this old square, which is their way of claiming historic property in response to a big youth clubhouse that was shut down last year to lots of rioting (I first heard about the youth riots on CurrentTV).

Anyway, all of this is very educating in lots of ways.  And we are happy and safe.  We went to a big cheesy Irish pub with live music and a vibrating dancefloor last night with and at the suggestion of some DIS kids.  The place looked like Medieval Times, and the price for the drinks was highway robbery - 134 dkk for a pint of Tuborg and a pina colada.  I guess they put a premium on coconut juice here.  I hate places like this.  We went to somewhere more up my alley afterwards, but so far I have not found a place that knows how to make a good martini in this city.

Deborah said she had a great time with you guys.  Looking into flights to Frankfurt.

Much love,
PARIS

To Leon Botstein, President of Bard College

25 October 2006

To a Judge

To Caroline Von Reitzenstein

30 January 2006

the arctic monkeys get a lot of airplay in our room these days.  we were just discussing the merits of their music at dinner, dissecting their public image.  i heard they just broke the sales record in the UK.  i think they're pretty good, not great, but good for them.
by the way, and don't get too excited just yet - jesse, theo, jonny and i are starting a .com business, similar in some ways to myspace, but involving top ten lists for highschool and university artists of all mediums, around the world.  we registered the tentative domain name of www.collegechart.com, which will change, but it's just for the model.  theo got in contact with a friend, who apparently designed the search engine technology for myspace, which he sold for millions last year.  i'm forwarding you the e-mail with his suggestions for the model.
 
call you at the end of the week
love, paris