GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENT
For the last six months, Skylar and I have been having an ongoing discussion about the future of the Gothic Funk, and it’s involved a lot of mulling over the epistles, manifestoes, parties, events, and casual conversations and emails that this group has produced. There’s been splicing and recombination, addition and subtraction, sublation and condensation. In the final argument, we decided that in order to be truly efficacious (and, as Artaud would say, “affective”) we need to situate ourselves within any Gothic Funk Movement as a self-conscious and self-defined organization.
Originally, Gothic Funk was a mode of thought that emerged in conjunction with a series of parties in 2004 and 2005. Today, it is not an attempt to bring about change where there is none, nor to those who do not welcome it. Therefore, it is not an entity capable of disaster, but rather is a means to observe changes taking place everywhere, to discuss where these changes most likely are leading, and (most exciting of all) to create opportunities for the distilling, channeling, and magnifying of these changes, with the fundamental belief that all of this is directly contributing to the establishment of a new, yet to be named worldview. Our collective writings have engaged and explored this process.
A GOTHIC FUNK NATION
The Gothic Funk Nation is, at this point, basically a project conceived by Skylar and myself. But we want to spread out and fill it up with brilliant people, and create a government worthy of our membership. We have, in fact, developed a prototype for what positions are essential and what their functions will be. At this moment, we are acting as executives. The more people are interested, and the sooner, the more completely we can more towards a democratic setup. Think of it as Ancient Rome moving from Autocracy toward Principate toward Republic. Our goal is to fill most of these positions by next February.
The Gothic Funk Nation will exist as a self-conscious entity, capable of establishing consensus, making decisions and statements, mounting events, raising funds… in short, all the activities undertaken by any formally organized group. It will be erroneous to simply describe it as an “artistic” or “social” or “political” group. It will be the Gothic Funk Nation, and other labels must be applied against this standard.
This keeps with the de facto “tradition” of wrangling over nettlesome fractal definitions of “gothic funk” and “Gothic Funk” and “Gothic Funk Movement” and “Gothic Funk Project.”
This also offers an antidote to the real-world paralysis implied by such ambiguity.
COUNTDOWN TO FEBRUARY 2008
February 2008 will be the “birthday” of the Gothic Funk Nation.
Everything is going to happen in February.
The events we are planning at this time include:
– A Gothic Funk Party*
– A Gothic Funk Journal**
– A Gothic Funk Reading Series #1***
– A Gothic Funk Reading Series #2****
*besides which all other Gothic Funk Parties will pale
**online, featuring creative and critical submissions as words, images, and sounds
***monthly, casual and informal
****monthly, formal and fancy
If you want to help plan these events, or suggest others, you should “sign up” using the following email.
A FEW PRACTICALS
This phase (phase #3, I think) of the Gothic Funk project will be Chicago-based. Non-Chicagoans can definitely get involved, but the more intense involvement will require access to the Windy City. Likewise, for longer-term positions, we will seek out those who expect to be in Chicago through the end of 2008. (But don’t worry; we won’t have a tantrum if your plans change).
Our plans are now officially ambitious, meaning that there will be some grunt work involved. We’ll need to raise funds, place phone calls and send emails to secure space for events, promote events, and so on. People who want longer-term positions should also expect to take on some of these less glamorous tasks.
Between now and February, Sky and I will be sending out periodic updates on these projects and the Gothic Funk Nation.
If, at any time, you feel bewildered by all this, go to the website and look at the party pictures, and maybe read an epistle.
http://www.hereisnowhy.com/gothicfunk/
THIS IS GOING TO ROCK!
~ Skylar and Connor
“SIGN UP”
Fill out and return.
The more you can tell us, the better.
Name:
Live in Chicago in 2008?:
Phone?:
Email?:
Address?:
Website?:
Willing to host large party/event (12+ people)?:
Willing to host small party/event (11- people)?
How many hours (on average) do you think you would like to work on Gothic Funk each month?
Gothic Funk involvement so far?:
General comments / suggestions?
Are you Interested (‘x’ all that apply) in*?:
A LONG TERM POSITION (ie. through 2008) ___
A SHORT TERM OR TRANSITIONAL POSITON ___
FUND-RAISING ___
ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATION ___
PARTY-PLANNING ___
READING SERIES PLANNING ___
LITERARY MAGAZINE PLANNING ___
OTHER EVENTS PLANNING ___
CREATE MUSIC FOR EVENTS ___
CREATE VISUAL ART FOR EVENTS ___
CREATE PERMORMATIVE ARTS FOR EVENTS ___
PROVIDE OTHER SERVICES/GOODS FOR EVENTS ___
POLITICAL DISCUSSION ___
SCIENCE DISCUSSION ___
CRITICAL (ARTISTIC) DISCUSSION ___
CRITICAL (PHILOSOPHICAL) DISCUSSION ___
OTHER DISCUSSION ___
* There is a *lot* of overlap here, so don’t worry. We’ll find opportunities we think you might like, and ask if you want to get involved.