Bukday
I'm not with it anymore. I thought we were done eulogizing Buk years ago. A man dies, you pour out your 40 oz in his name, and you move on. I love Bukowski, but the idea of him as a celebrity, eternally worshiped by thin skinned hipsters just bothers me.
Anyways. The guys at Esotouric have put together a series of events, starting today and going through Sunday, that they've named Bukday, in honor of his birthday week. Click the link for info about the tours.
Anyways. The guys at Esotouric have put together a series of events, starting today and going through Sunday, that they've named Bukday, in honor of his birthday week. Click the link for info about the tours.
Labels: Bukowski
4 Comments:
I don't know...Bukowski put his stuff out there because he wanted people to read it. I'm not sure that he was all that intent on being a cult figure. As for the hipsters, assuming they actually read Bukowski and don't just drop his name in conversation at parties to try to seem all bookish and alienated and shit, it probably won't hurt them to get a perspective on life from, as it were, the other side. It probably won't hurt Bukowski's estate much, either.
Mind you, I still cringe a little every time I see some dull-eyed high school kid wearing a shirt from Hot Topic with the logo of a punk band that he's probably never listened to. It's easy to get defensive about "underground" culture. But I don't doubt that some of these people are reading and getting something out of Bukowski. So let 'em have their party. There are a lot worse writers they could be fussing over.
I'm just always a little turned off by hero worship and fandom. It creeps me out, no matter who the subject is.
Oh, OK; fair enough. I guess I needn't invite you to my next annual Paul Fussell Birthday Read-A-Bration, then. (We shall have cake and punch, and then a round of Paul Fussell trivia, and then we take turns reading aloud from The Great War and Modern Memory.) Your loss!
I'd prefer they worship Bukowski over, say, Paris Hilton when all is said and done.
Post a Comment
<< Home