Content and narrative to
enliven us

So much of what I read these days is about business, spectacle, and celebrity--the three primary ingredients of our latter-stage narcissistic media environment. I feel mostly nonplussed by the trinity. I crave something other than the ignoble details of the latest corporate mega-merger, the piece on Goth-rock, or absurd photographs of popular male actors caught in women's clothing.

I long for text and visuals that are compelling and edifying, relevant and real. Content and narrative that enlivens us in our own time. And I know that I am not alone.

It is this desire that has inspired me to launch D r i f t.

The Flaneur--the scent, the touch, the visceral . . .

For early century essayist Walter Benjamin, the flaneur, (city wanderer or city dreamer) was a recurring motif. The flaneur was an outsider directed by the "exotic and picturesque":

"The great reminiscences, the historical frissons, these are all so much junk to the flaneur who is happy to leave them to the tourist. And he will be happy to trade all his knowledge of artists' quarters, birthplaces,

and princely palaces for the scent of a single weathered threshold or the touch of a single tile that which any old dog carries away." (from Walter Benjamin's "Notes on the Flaneur," in Selected Reading, vol 1: 1912-26, Marcus Bullock and MIchael Jennings, editors.)

…the scent, the touch, the visceral--impressions of a lightly trodden part of town, ethereal sounds on the edge of a music scene. To this setting I add another dimension: the convivial-lively midnight tables crackling with the good talk… the sacred presence of friends. Here will be a place to celebrate the strange and beautiful. A place to discover people and ideas.

Hidden Histories and Current Perspectives

Much like a newly inhabited house, we commence in rather sparse manner, with an eye to the pristine. Our first offering is an interview--a nice way to break the ice. As we evolve, we intend to remain intriguing, discursive, and free-associative. We hope to forge connections and create options not previously evident or possible.

Here are some possible topics Drift may offer: the allure of Patagonia, the cultural cul-de-sac of repertoire, the eternal curse of white spirit art, simulation and urban renewal.

In the spirit of the flaneur, I feel a certain thrill of not knowing exactly where Drift's wanderings will lead us; I anticipate finding what has not been found before.

I hope you find Drift's aleatory dimension part of the adventure and charm as well.

--JLT

Back to Contents

>>>