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The Mailer Review/Volume 3, 2009/Norman’s Crystals: Difference between revisions
The Mailer Review/Volume 3, 2009/Norman’s Crystals (view source)
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{{Byline|last=Busa|first=Christopher |abstract=A long-time Provincetown resident, writer, and magazine editor describes the recently founded Norman Mailer Writers Colony and recounts the importance of Norman Mailer’s life and work to the mission of the Colony. |url=https://prmlr.us/mr03bus}} | {{Byline|last=Busa|first=Christopher |abstract=A long-time Provincetown resident, writer, and magazine editor describes the recently founded Norman Mailer Writers Colony and recounts the importance of Norman Mailer’s life and work to the mission of the Colony. |url=https://prmlr.us/mr03bus}} | ||
{{dc|dc=L|arry Schiller, the executive director and co-founder}} with Norris | {{dc|dc=L|arry Schiller, the executive director and co-founder}} with [[Norris Mailer]] of the fledgling Norman Mailer Writers Colony in Provincetown, told | ||
Mailer of the fledgling Norman Mailer Writers Colony in Provincetown, told | |||
me that a year ago he knew little about how to run a writer’s colony. He is | me that a year ago he knew little about how to run a writer’s colony. He is | ||
still trying to figure out how much he knows, now that the workshops have | still trying to figure out how much he knows, now that the workshops have | ||
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The idea of gathering writers in this brick mini-mansion-by-the-sea is to | The idea of gathering writers in this brick mini-mansion-by-the-sea is to | ||
perpetuate the kind of life and activity that fueled Norman’s own writing. | perpetuate the kind of life and activity that fueled Norman’s own writing. | ||
Schiller, the photographer, filmmaker, longtime collaborator with Norman, | [[Larry Schiller|Schiller]], the photographer, filmmaker, longtime collaborator with Norman, | ||
and a founding member of The Norman Mailer Society, envisions the Colony as something of a performance piece, an enactment that takes place in | and a founding member of [[The Norman Mailer Society]], envisions the Colony as something of a performance piece, an enactment that takes place in | ||
the very house where Norman wrote the bulk of his books. Indeed, Schiller | the very house where Norman wrote the bulk of his books. Indeed, Schiller | ||
is actively filming long segments of interactions and conversations. His concept of creating the Colony must have its model in documentary filmmaking, and may embody Boswellian lessons in Schiller’s unstoppable | is actively filming long segments of interactions and conversations. His concept of creating the Colony must have its model in documentary filmmaking, and may embody Boswellian lessons in Schiller’s unstoppable | ||
commitment to this project. Johnson once said to Boswell, “Why do you | commitment to this project. [[w:Samuel Johnson|Johnson]] once said to [[w:James Boswell|Boswell]], “Why do you | ||
write down my sayings?” | write down my sayings?” | ||
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of the sun-spanked bay. In the backyard of their house, a used car, bought for | of the sun-spanked bay. In the backyard of their house, a used car, bought for | ||
summer use, died before a Labor Day in the late sixties, and people gathered around a hole dug in the ground by a bulldozer. The lapsed automobile was interred vertically with its windshield skyward. Norman was writing | summer use, died before a Labor Day in the late sixties, and people gathered around a hole dug in the ground by a bulldozer. The lapsed automobile was interred vertically with its windshield skyward. Norman was writing | ||
Of a Fire on the Moon, and wandered out from his studio on this sunny afternoon to witness the strange religious ceremony that he wrote about in the | ''[[Of a Fire on the Moon]]'', and wandered out from his studio on this sunny afternoon to witness the strange religious ceremony that he wrote about in the | ||
chapter titled “Burial by the Sea.” | chapter titled “Burial by the Sea.” | ||
The Colony was born on the occasion of Norman’s death. Four months | The Colony was born on the occasion of Norman’s death. Four months | ||
earlier Schiller was visiting and sitting in Mailer’s dining room. Norman looked up at him and noted, “I’m prepared to die, Larry. I won’t be alive by | earlier Schiller was visiting and sitting in Mailer’s dining room. Norman looked up at him and noted, “I’m prepared to die, Larry. I won’t be alive by | ||
the end of this year.” Schiller found élan in the example of Mailer’s wild ride | the end of this year.” Schiller found ''élan'' in the example of Mailer’s wild ride | ||
through life, meeting ambitious challenges or failing so completely as to succeed artistically. Mailer’s failures were akin to those Joyce spoke about: “A | through life, meeting ambitious challenges or failing so completely as to succeed artistically. Mailer’s failures were akin to those Joyce spoke about: “A | ||
man of genius makes no mistakes. His errors are volitional and are the portals of discovery.” | man of genius makes no mistakes. His errors are volitional and are the portals of discovery.” | ||
People always asked Norman why he didn’t write an autobiography. He | People always asked Norman why he didn’t write an autobiography. He | ||
answered me in an interview that was published in Provincetown Arts in 1999: | answered me in an interview that was published in ''Provincetown Arts'' in 1999: | ||
“The main reason is that I don’t want to use up my crystals. What I mean is | “The main reason is that I don’t want to use up my crystals. What I mean is | ||
that certain experiences have an inner purity to them. They remind me of a | that certain experiences have an inner purity to them. They remind me of a | ||
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divide the light into the revelation of the full spectrum of its colors. | divide the light into the revelation of the full spectrum of its colors. | ||
The inaugural events of the first weeks of the Colony included Robert | The inaugural events of the first weeks of the Colony included [[Robert Begiebing]]’s workshop focused on “self-editing for writers.” [[J. Michael Lennon]] gave a workshop on novelistic techniques of the new journalism. A week later [[Kaylie Jones]] would be teaching memoir. An award sponsored by the | ||
Colony and Provincetown Arts Press selected Salvatore Scibona as the winner of the 2009 Norman Mailer Award for Exception Writing on Cape Cod. Scibona’s novel, ''The End'', was nominated last year for the National Book | |||
later Kaylie Jones would be teaching memoir. An award sponsored by the | |||
Colony and Provincetown Arts Press selected Salvatore Scibona as the winner of the 2009 Norman Mailer Award for Exception Writing on Cape Cod. | |||
Scibona’s novel, The End, was nominated last year for the National Book | |||
Award. He wrote most of the book in Provincetown as a fellow and future | Award. He wrote most of the book in Provincetown as a fellow and future | ||
writing coordinator of the Fine Arts Work Center. | writing coordinator of the Fine Arts Work Center. | ||