Comments on: William S. Burroughs and Mother

By: Johnny Strike

Johnny Strike — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 11:26:08 +0000

Excellent work as always Jed! When I get the time I will cut it up to see what it really says :-)

By: Curtis Elles

Curtis Elles — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 03:06:40 +0000

A thoughtful examination of cut-up theory! WSB seemd to have regarded the method as part scrying, part portal and part silver mine of new material. It’s great to see it taken seriously as a potential-laden compass.

By: Jim Pennington

Jim Pennington — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 22:03:06 +0000

Fascinating.. i’d not thought of this until you and Davee brought it out, but i’d equate the difference between reading a poem on the page and hearing the poem live as matching that difference we have here – Burroughs in a mag and Burroughs in a book. But ((big ‘but’ time)) :::: there are some mediations to negotiate. The book publisher delivers the cut-ups in a sanitised/compressed mode, edited and typeset, compared to the small press mags reproduction of the text as a more direct delivery of the Burroughs typescript. I say more direct because I don’t believe we see here Burroughs’ actual artwork but a “copying” of it – a good copy, yes and not a trite interpretation as presented by the Outsider magazine of Soft Machine cut-ups.
Am going to stop here because I can hear some french philosopher knocking on the door thinking he can offer me a lifeline to get me out of the hole i just dug myself down into …….

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 12:34:19 +0000

Great article, thanks.

I hadn’t thought of Burroughs return to narrative as him “…expresses(ing) Burroughs’ contempt for his readers. It is a condescending act, an expression of his lack of faith in his readers’ abilities and intelligence” I basically have been of what I guess is the accepted opinion that he felt he had gone as far as he could / wanted to with them. Not sure I am convinced by your angle but it is food for thought!

Seconded re the facsimilie editions – hopefully dreaming can make it so…

By: Davee Mac

Davee Mac — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 20:50:09 +0000

Wow, quite an article (and i never expected such a thorough reply to my initial query *lol)

Your passion and insight come through as always. I have to say not having access to the original magazines surely puts most readers of Burroughs into the ‘novel’ camp by default… we can go out and buy the cut up novels but can’t wander into a store and ask for a copy of My Own Mag, for instance… but you’re clearly correct in highlighting the myriad ways the little magazines gave Bill a chance to be more creative even than in the novels.

Maybe one day they can produce mass market facsimile editions of the chapbooks/little mags pieces….? (hey, if they can publish his Notebook then anything might be possible!!)

Thanks again for a brillaint piece