"Neither Here Nor There" images...

[lord of heaviness]

Jeez, I never thought a swastika drawn by Buzz would cause such a ruckus.

[alnis]

Sounds like you've been reading too much Ricoeur/Derrida!

Yeah ? And what's wrong with this ?

Because the author (and his/her intention) DOES figure in text (I mean to use "text" in the broadest sense). I can appreciate the movement to free up structures for more open ended intererpretation. De-centering is important. And maybe everything IS interpretation. But too much of a good thing isn't a good thing anymore.

No?

Sure. Too much interpretation kills the interpretation. But the difference which is made between "hidden" meaning  and "explicit" meaning is interesting.
We must not forget that each kind of interpretation is necessarily closed in some ways ...

I'm not going to lie...i've only had three hours sleep, and I just drank a bunch of wine (and now I'm posting on themelvins.net BBS?! don't worry...i've got better things to do...I...er...just...uh....don't want to do them now...ya....). Please forgive my comments if they suck. But if they're good, I want credit!

Okay, the distinction between hidden and explicit meaning disgruntles me. Niether of them seem to be very favourable - both seem to favour a recentering, rather than a decentering. The meaning of anything can't hidden, if by "hidden" you mean something that only the author may have exclusive access access to. And I think we can all agree that the so-called "explicit" meaning is quite fluid and almost meaningless. What is the explicit meaning? Your first impressions? WHO'S first impressions? Niether get us anywhere decent.

Of course we should be careful in interpretation, nothing is simple. Everyone always thinks they have the last word...even if the last word is that they don't have the last word. And I guess I'm not that different in this respect. But when I see someone dogmatically declaring that a text is freed from its author at birth, I have to question this, because this sentiment just doesn't gell with the manner in which we live and experience expressions of art. The manner of the genesis of an art piece matters to us.

And so it should.

[i hope this makes sense...I'll probably regret it in the morning]

[The Piss-Machine]

I can understand how 'the manner of a genesis of a piece of art' should matter to us...but at the risk of decieving ourselves, how much stock should we put into this. Someone once said 'Subjectivity is the truth' (if you know to whom this quote is attributed, then you know it's WAY out of context, nonetheless) and if we apply this to aesthetic contemplation and the engaging of a piece of art, things get a whole lot less restricted.
In trying to consider the intent, we bind ourselves up in something that we really don't have a clue about. The process of interacting or percieving a work of art should be ultimately free, whimsical even. I think we should avoid trying to coincide our interpretation with any notion of the 'genesis' insofar as then limitations are set on how far we can go in our relation with that object.
I guess what I'm trying to get at is that our aesthetic experience should prompt a sort of (hope I don't sound corny) freedom, and when we define our experience in terms of the original intent that freedom is, in some sense restricted.

[Hog log]

I'm not going to lie...i've only had three hours sleep, and I just drank a bunch of wine (and now I'm posting on themelvins.net BBS?! don't worry...i've got better things to do...I...er...just...uh....don't want to do them now...ya....). Please forgive my comments if they suck. But if they're good, I want credit!

Okay, the distinction between hidden and explicit meaning disgruntles me. Niether of them seem to be very favourable - both seem to favour a recentering, rather than a decentering. The meaning of anything can't hidden, if by "hidden" you mean something that only the author may have exclusive access access to. And I think we can all agree that the so-called "explicit" meaning is quite fluid and almost meaningless. What is the explicit meaning? Your first impressions? WHO'S first impressions? Niether get us anywhere decent.

Of course we should be careful in interpretation, nothing is simple. Everyone always thinks they have the last word...even if the last word is that they don't have the last word. And I guess I'm not that different in this respect. But when I see someone dogmatically declaring that a text is freed from its author at birth, I have to question this, because this sentiment just doesn't gell with the manner in which we live and experience expressions of art. The manner of the genesis of an art piece matters to us.

And so it should.

[i hope this makes sense...I'll probably regret it in the morning]

By the word "interpretation" I indicate what is to be translated to be expressed and "understood".  By saying "explicit meaning", I indicate what is directly readable.  For instance :  a swatiska has a first obvious meaning (related to its use by the Nazis).  But we must exceed this meaning in  the art's world to reach (and interpret) the real meaning of its presence and its use..

My remarks will have to be interpreted...  Because they are undoubtedly not very explicit.

You will not regret what you said. It makes sense.

[alnis]

Oh boy! This is too much philosophy.

I think we all mostly agree. An artist's intent should not restrict the freedom of interpretation, although it does affect it. We should look beyond (and before) the initial reaction we might have.

That sounds good to me:)

[The Piss-Machine]

I'm also willing to accept that; i think maybe I have been a bit too dogmatic in my thinking.  

[Hog log]

Oh boy! This is too much philosophy.

There is never "too much philosophy"

I think we all mostly agree. An artist's intent should not restrict the freedom of interpretation, although it does affect it. We should look beyond (and before) the initial reaction we might have.
That sounds good to me

YEAH !

[Hog log]

I'm also willing to accept that; i think maybe I have been a bit too dogmatic in my thinking.  

You're a wise man

[JAWBONE BREAKINGMOUTH]

so i finally got my hand on the book and i have to say its freaky..
good fucking idea if you ask me.
either to make money or show off some, its still the shit.

[moorst]

Some of the artwork that was donated by Adam Jones was displayed on Tool's dissectional website when Lateralus was released. (maybe it's still there?)

I think the book is an amazing document for the Melvins. With the cd and the track list on the back, it's as if the book is actually the artwork/inlay for the disc instead of explicitly a book. It's like they said, "Oh you want a best of album from us? To celebrate 20 years? Here y'go!"

I love it. Does anyone remember any band doing something similar?

[anti~vermin]

i'm sure you guys are just being silly...
we all know the band probably hates racism.

[anti~vermin]

Some of the artwork that was donated by Adam Jones was displayed on Tool's dissectional website when Lateralus was released. (maybe it's still there?)

I think the book is an amazing document for the Melvins. With the cd and the track list on the back, it's as if the book is actually the artwork/inlay for the disc instead of explicitly a book. It's like they said, "Oh you want a best of album from us? To celebrate 20 years? Here y'go!"

I love it. Does anyone remember any band doing something similar?

hey i asked adam [for the upcoming webcast] if he was a contributor to the book... ha now i guess i know the answer already. hopefully he'll answer that question anyway.
and any band doing something similar?
actually there was one - pink floyd : they released that "the wall - live" 2 cd box set which also came as a big rectangular hardcover book FULL of artwork, photos and other shit along with the 2 cd's which slid in & out of the inside of the hard covers.... damn that book was awesome.

dude - this melvins book for me is the single most greatest thing i have ever purchased.
if there is ever a fire in my house this book is the FIRST thing i am grabbing before i jump out the window!
[and hopefully my guitar too]