When I was much younger, I idolized Clark, who owned and ran LaPlace's only bookstore. Most of the kids who hung out at the Book Cellar idolized Clark and we would gather around listening to his "Clark-lectures." For an example of a Clark-lecture in popular media, watch the Wayne's World movie for the scene where Alice Cooper discusses the origin of the name Milwaukee. It fits any description I can give of a Clark-lecture perfectly.
I absorbed many of Clark's ideas, at least for a while. After I stopped talking to him, which is a long fucking story, I began to question his thinking, and usually ended up disagreeing to a large degree, sometime to a lesser degree, and sometimes coming to the same conclusion for different reasons. I knew him when I was between 14 and 15, so there was a lot about gender roles and relations which I got from him, and subsequently rejected. Clark was a bit of a misogynist (at least from my current perspective), and held onto a good deal of what would be considered traditional values.
He was also a big fan of Edgar Rice Burroughs. I recently decided to read rincess of Mars, the first of Burroughs's Mars, or Barsoom, novels. I enjoyed it, but deeper than the enjoyment of fiction I saw a good deal of Clark. The way John Carter thinks about love and women reflects a good bit of things I heard from Clark, and I suppose if I had read those books in my more formative years, I might have held on to those ideals more. As it was, I held some of them because of Clark and because of other influences, and ultimately rejected them in at least some capacity. Now, this isn't to say that John Carter is a misogynist per se. Robert E. Howard's Conan is much more so. The devil is in the details, and if you want to know more specifically what I'm getting at, I can give you a copy of the book and the means to read it. I actually recommend it highly. I admit the romantic aspects of the book do capture me a bit. I think there's much to be said for defying a planet in the name of love.
Then again, remember who you're talking to. I like defying a planet in the name of damn near any excuse, and I likely wouldn't be an anarchist if I weren't so goddamn contrary.
An image of fierce Kalkin seems fitting for meditations on Barsoom.
I absorbed many of Clark's ideas, at least for a while. After I stopped talking to him, which is a long fucking story, I began to question his thinking, and usually ended up disagreeing to a large degree, sometime to a lesser degree, and sometimes coming to the same conclusion for different reasons. I knew him when I was between 14 and 15, so there was a lot about gender roles and relations which I got from him, and subsequently rejected. Clark was a bit of a misogynist (at least from my current perspective), and held onto a good deal of what would be considered traditional values.
He was also a big fan of Edgar Rice Burroughs. I recently decided to read rincess of Mars, the first of Burroughs's Mars, or Barsoom, novels. I enjoyed it, but deeper than the enjoyment of fiction I saw a good deal of Clark. The way John Carter thinks about love and women reflects a good bit of things I heard from Clark, and I suppose if I had read those books in my more formative years, I might have held on to those ideals more. As it was, I held some of them because of Clark and because of other influences, and ultimately rejected them in at least some capacity. Now, this isn't to say that John Carter is a misogynist per se. Robert E. Howard's Conan is much more so. The devil is in the details, and if you want to know more specifically what I'm getting at, I can give you a copy of the book and the means to read it. I actually recommend it highly. I admit the romantic aspects of the book do capture me a bit. I think there's much to be said for defying a planet in the name of love.
Then again, remember who you're talking to. I like defying a planet in the name of damn near any excuse, and I likely wouldn't be an anarchist if I weren't so goddamn contrary.
An image of fierce Kalkin seems fitting for meditations on Barsoom.
VIEW 3 of 3 COMMENTS
I don't.
He's irresistable. I just can't help myself. I know, I know... but they were written quite some time ago, and reflect the mindset of those days.
It's interesting to reflect on the things that we let inform our choices and attitudes in life. Just remember that while honoring the past, be mindful of the present.