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An Episode of Hedons
Mar. 25th, 2025 12:54 pmIn utilitarian philosophy, a "hedon" is a measure of pleasure, a "dolor" a measure of pain, and they occur in a period called "episodes". Well, the universe has blessed me in recent days with the visitation of my dear friend from Darwin, Lara D., who seems to appear with a surplus of hedons which she sprinkles around like Tinkerbell, if you can imagine a punkish version of the fairy with devilish horns. Appropriately, this period started with a visit to my old stomping ground in Carlton North to attend the launch of two new books from Rabbit Poetry Journal where a hundred people were squeezed into a space designed for fifty; Connor Weightman's "Fivehundred Swimming Pools" and Eva Birch's "Pearl". Weightman's style is lengthy, externalised, evocative and heavily descriptive as he navigates the effects of climate change. In comparison, Birch offers a filtered, refined, internalised and psychoanalytic view of the self. I offered these opinions to the two poets (knowing a little bit about climatology and psychoanalysis, and maybe even poetry), with their approval. Appropriately enough, it was also on the evening of World Poetry Day.
Continuing the aesthetic adventures, the following evening, Lara and I visited the newest exhibition of Van Gough at Lume. Having attended this "a few" times in the past, you might think there's nothing else to see, but the additions to the new VR landscape were surprisingly good (except for the active characters). The following day including a lengthy session at Anthony L's annual gathering at "Life's Too Short" with the usual suspects from the left-leaning political and diplomatic world. This was also an opportunity for Lara and Erica H., to finally meet, both of whom I share property with, albeit separated by over 5,000 kms. The following day, Lara also had the opportunity to meet Mel S. (who I don't own property with - yet) at the final Melbourne show of Buddhadatta at Gem Bar. This is the second time in recent weeks I've seen this self-described "legendary Buddhist punk sensation", who were supported by Gold Coast Leathers. Unsurprisingly, I have reviewed Buddhadatta on Rocknerd, which also follows a review I have just completed (completely different style, but also from Japan) of the haunting beauty in Sakamoto's Opus and Kagami.
Continuing the aesthetic adventures, the following evening, Lara and I visited the newest exhibition of Van Gough at Lume. Having attended this "a few" times in the past, you might think there's nothing else to see, but the additions to the new VR landscape were surprisingly good (except for the active characters). The following day including a lengthy session at Anthony L's annual gathering at "Life's Too Short" with the usual suspects from the left-leaning political and diplomatic world. This was also an opportunity for Lara and Erica H., to finally meet, both of whom I share property with, albeit separated by over 5,000 kms. The following day, Lara also had the opportunity to meet Mel S. (who I don't own property with - yet) at the final Melbourne show of Buddhadatta at Gem Bar. This is the second time in recent weeks I've seen this self-described "legendary Buddhist punk sensation", who were supported by Gold Coast Leathers. Unsurprisingly, I have reviewed Buddhadatta on Rocknerd, which also follows a review I have just completed (completely different style, but also from Japan) of the haunting beauty in Sakamoto's Opus and Kagami.