Introductions

1. What has been your favorite course of study in or out of school? Why?

Film and wine. They are forever changing, experiential, and entertaining.

2. How many pages was the longest paper you have written? Did it include endnotes and bibliography?

“25ish,” it is tough to recall. It did contain a bibliography.

3. Which was your favorite paper? Please tell us about the topic in a couple of sentences.

I recently wrote a short paper on Nietzeche’s philosophy in connection to Dadaist film of the early 20th century. It is interesting to try and propose a thesis in defense of ‘nothing’ and accredit this nothingness to having inspired ‘something’.

4.Is there a particular kind of writing you love to do?

Love is a harsh word. I do enjoy writing short narratives.

5.Which books have you read lately: art, fiction, non-fiction, sci-fi, poetry, environmental, film? Any comments are welcome.

This summer I read several books on wine from various countries. It can be like reading dictionary or some the most fascinating historical non-fiction.

6. Which artist or writer really impresses you? Why?

Caravaggio and Andrei Tarkovsky. They lived fast and changed everything. I envy those that can truly devote themselves entirely to their work without care of any consequences.

7. What is your main interest besides writing, art, music, (i.e., the humanities)?

Food and wine.

8. Please describe briefly an article in a newspaper or a magazine that got you thinking lately.

Warren Buffet recently wrote an article in the New York Times addressing our governments struggle with our financial crisis.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/15/opinion/stop-coddling-the-super-rich.html

9. Which recent cultural event has really impressed you? This can be a museum, a concert, or anything like that, but also a sports game (if you consider this a cultural event, for which there are good reasons).

In May, I spent a day in Rome visiting different works by Caravaggio. Although Rome is a city suffering from it’s own beauty, the streets, power, and history of that place influenced Caravaggio’s work and still exude his presence today. It is what could be called, intense.

10. Is there another, non-cultural event that has affected you deeply.

Driving through the Adirondack mountains of New York this past weekend.

11.Please share with us a thought or an idea that really widened your intellectual horizon. If possible, give a source for this idea so that those who are interested know where to go.

Be creative without care. Surround yourself with people that push you, no matter how bizarre, sick, or destructive they can be. Your friends are everything. Don’t get addicted. It’s good to be scared.

My dear friend Eric Westerlind was one of the first people I had this conversation with.