Here's the Laptop, Here's the Spellcheck, Now Write a Book
Posted: Friday, April 18, 2008
by Jennifer Cuddy
A promising new Literary movement is emerging across the pond in the small cafes and crowded flats of Europe. In the spirit of the 'Beat Poets' and writers of the fifties ( Jack Kerouac, William S Burroughs, Allan Ginsberg; et al.,) these gifted young artists who call themselves 'The Offbeat Generation' are attempting to carry on the tradition of writing for art's sake; rather than writing for fame and fortune.
The group's founder, a professor at the Sorbonne University in Paris, Andrew Gallix, is also chief editor and owner of an the online literary magazine called 3am mag. This zine is cleverly marketed towards the' hipster generation '; a generation desperate for role models such as themselves; in our age of self centerdness and materialism and generalized apathy to art, and most sadly, to Literature.
These loosely affiliated writers ( Andrew Gallix, Ben Myers, Adelle Stripe, Lee Rourke, Matthew Coleman, Heidi James, Vim Cortez, Joe Ridgewell, and Tony O'Neil ) to name a few, found themselves through common interests mostly through the expansion of various social networking sites on the internet, that have proven to be profoundly cathartic to the millions of unheard voices of youth. And by this, we have been granted unlimited artistic expression, that without in times past, may have silenced many of the Shakespeare's sisters of antiquity. Some of them are self published, yet most of them contracted with independent publishers who are similarly disappointed in the monopolized publishing industry, that appears to have a lack of reverence for talent; opting instead to promote the Mcfiction warehouse style novels and commodified celebrity biographies that prove so dishearteningly popular these days. They are the cockney voices of true East enders in London, and their bold and artistically vulnerable lack of vanity is refreshing and charming.
The Brutalists, (offspring of The Offbeat Generation) was founded by author, poet and journalist, Ben Myers. But please don't misjudge them by their name. It is not to be taken literally. It is simply a metaphor for honesty, and is brutal only in the writing of which it seeks; i.e., writing that "pounds the senses and comes from the heart" Or as they might say, "We are the Brutalists, f*** you!"
Nevertheless, I think upon watching the attached films of their readings, you will find them far from brutal. As Ben Myers states,"Brutalism calls for writing that touches upon levels of raw honesty that is a lacking form most mainstream fiction. We cannot simply sit around waiting to be discovered - we would rather do it ourselves. Total control, total creativity. The Brutalists see ourselves as a band who have put down their instruments and picked up their pens and scalpels instead."
http://youtube. com/profile_videos?user=OffbeatGeneration&p=r
Another, paperback version of the poetries, chosen by editor, writer and musician, Vim Cortez, in France is called "The Paris Bitter Hearts Pit," and it has been displayed in various bookshops in France, Great Britain and Ireland. You may view them here:
www.myspace.com/theparisbitterheartspit
Both Andrew Gallix and Ben Myers are published authors and frequent journalists in The Guardian Unlimited online newszine. Vim Cortez, writes,sings, produces and plays his own jazzy, down-tempo like sound that is available in both CD and in live appearances in the various pubs in Paris. You may catch some of his sounds of his on his website, www.myspace.com/vimcortez
so, sit back, and enjoy the show!
The Brutalists, (offspring of The Offbeat Generation) was founded by author, poet and journalist, Ben Myers. But please don't misjudge them by their name. It is not to be taken literally. It is simply a metaphor for honesty, and is brutal only in the writing of which it seeks; i.e., writing that "pounds the senses and comes from the heart" Or as they might say, "We are the Brutalists, f*** you!"
Nevertheless, I think upon watching the attached films of their readings, you will find them far from brutal. As Ben Myers states,"Brutalism calls for writing that touches upon levels of raw honesty that is a lacking form most mainstream fiction. We cannot simply sit around waiting to be discovered - we would rather do it ourselves. Total control, total creativity. The Brutalists see ourselves as a band who have put down their instruments and picked up their pens and scalpels instead."
http://youtube. com/profile_videos?user=OffbeatGeneration&p=r
Another, paperback version of the poetries, chosen by editor, writer and musician, Vim Cortez, in France is called "The Paris Bitter Hearts Pit," and it has been displayed in various bookshops in France, Great Britain and Ireland. You may view them here:
www.myspace.com/theparisbitterheartspit
Both Andrew Gallix and Ben Myers are published authors and frequent journalists in The Guardian Unlimited online newszine. Vim Cortez, writes,sings, produces and plays his own jazzy, down-tempo like sound that is available in both CD and in live appearances in the various pubs in Paris. You may catch some of his sounds of his on his website, www.myspace.com/vimcortez
so, sit back, and enjoy the show!
and don't forget to check out the wonderfully fun, highly articulate and intellectually challenging:
Cheers!
This Article has been viewed 414 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (7 total)hi jennifer, this was a well written, interesting article about something i otherwise would not have known about. thank you for bringing it to our attention. best regards, sue thomthank you. for you susan, do check out the Guardian. i think it is more up your alley. :)
Hi Jennifer. Thanks for another great review. I just wanted to point out that your first two links are not working - they go to MySpace which blocks them as spam links. The underlying link is not what is seen in the text. An easy fix!oh, i see..just click the link on that notification, and it will bring you there. that always happens when links are given on myspace. it is not spam! trust me! check out 3am!
hmm..i don't know. my computer allows it. perhaps it is your firewall? but, thank you!
A nicely written article and good inspiration to go and have a read of some Brutal literature! ;-)yes..check them out. you might also google some of Joe Ridgwell's stories in his blog 'Notes from Underground' Adelle writes beautiful poetry, and i especially like her poem 'Veronica'
Wonderful article! Thanks for turning us on to this 'movement'. Does my heart good to hear...(and I'll be skipping over to the site as soon as I'm done here.)yes, do! i think for you...3am mag will be best thank you for reading, Jennifer
Jenster, Yeah, reading . . . what's that? You've got about .01 % of the population that does so on a regular basis. But I'm talking books not mags or newspaper. Today, publishing marketers tell you to get hip, use the internet, visuals, videos, and the like. That you can't write too simply or simple enough. Keep it 8th grade, not so much because of a lack of intelligence but because "people are busy." They just don't have the time. Yeah, right . . . time, what's that? The TV is on 7 hours a day in the average home; individuals average about 3 hours a day. Hmmmmm . . . it's vital that I check out who won the dancing contest, singing contest, who did who on whatever show of total, complete, lack of merit, yes! drivel extraordinaire! I once head someone say that if people gave up half their TV viewing we could save the world! Go figure. Me? I'm writing my stuff to get the little peepers out of the matrices, to help them see the light, that it doesn't come from the TV, that it comes from insight, contemplation, introspection, and unencumbered, word driven thought, thought, thought . . . However, there's no reason these people can't be taught to think with words simple and sweet. Dr. Seuss has always been my hero. So go at 'em with gusto! Go at 'em with verve. But go at em gently, with 8th grade words. Peace out!
Good job once again. I kind of agree with Jeff on a lot. I got rid of my cable and have been reading a lot more again. However, and in fact, average people are too busy trying to survive. As for the 8th grade level, I suspect 6th is more appropriate and that's being kind. Too fast a world for the masses and sadly its the Easter Bunny not the substance.thank you! getting rid of your cable is a wise idea; especially if you have children. and yes, we are very busy trying to survive, and we are all suffering the consequences of this self inflicted alienation. Best, jennifer
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