So much to enjoy in this interview. I liked the minimalist treatment of "Hamlet"! It reminded me of that minimalist piece which never ceases to get to me, "For Sale: baby shoes, never worn". The whole subject of writing with constraints is fascinating. Must be good for the brain, too!
Just too much else to mention so I've just subscibed to Terry's Substack instead.
(PS I've read "The Diceman" and it's heavy going by the end but then I don't have a strong stomach!)
Thanks for this, Kate. I've always found these experiments fascinating, like pure mathematics - i.e. I admire them from afar.
The problem with OuLiPo is that most of their works are clever mind games for their own sake. In other words, the authors are so preoccupied with form that they forget about substance. Where's the story? Where's the message?
There are exceptions, like Georges Perec's "Life: A User's Manual" (one of my favorite books ever) but they are just that - exceptions.
Italo Calvino, for instance, was a OuLiPo member but he steered clear of those tricks (or only used them sparingly) when he wanted to write serious literature.
Thanks Kathleen. It was a privilege to be interviewed for your podcast. And if anyone would like to read Oulipian writings, one of these collections may appeal: https://open.substack.com/pub/terryfreedman/p/three-collections-of-oulipo-writing?r=18suih&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Thanks for doing this interview, Kathleen. Love Terry's work and writing and it was great to hear the discussion.
Great post, as ever this really broadens my knowledge.
So much to enjoy in this interview. I liked the minimalist treatment of "Hamlet"! It reminded me of that minimalist piece which never ceases to get to me, "For Sale: baby shoes, never worn". The whole subject of writing with constraints is fascinating. Must be good for the brain, too!
Just too much else to mention so I've just subscibed to Terry's Substack instead.
(PS I've read "The Diceman" and it's heavy going by the end but then I don't have a strong stomach!)
Thanks for this, Kate. I've always found these experiments fascinating, like pure mathematics - i.e. I admire them from afar.
The problem with OuLiPo is that most of their works are clever mind games for their own sake. In other words, the authors are so preoccupied with form that they forget about substance. Where's the story? Where's the message?
There are exceptions, like Georges Perec's "Life: A User's Manual" (one of my favorite books ever) but they are just that - exceptions.
Italo Calvino, for instance, was a OuLiPo member but he steered clear of those tricks (or only used them sparingly) when he wanted to write serious literature.