Date: Fri, 30 May 1997 18:09:33 +0200 To: marxism-international-AT-jefferson.village.Virginia.EDU, From: Hugh Rodwell <m-14970-AT-mailbox.swipnet.se> Subject: M-G: Scientific socialism, Strine-tork and ars poetica Unwittingly kicking off the silly season, Gary wrote: >You wouldn't recognise scientific socialism if it bit you on the arse. I get this image of Louis P (Gary's idea of scientific socialism, not mine) sinking his teeth into UticaRose's behind. But I suppose it was just Gary's wishful thinking at work -- tell us Gary, when and where did scientific socialism ever bite *you*? Anyway, leaving bodily parts and conversion to old-time Stalinism aside, it's a bonus every time someone with a voice of their own hits the list. That's just about everybody from Oz, for some reason. Maybe it's just that they're not tying themselves in knots trying to second-guess some imaginary consensus. So keep up the good work, Gary and the rest of you. On the subject of arses, I wonder if our Ozzie mate would translate ars poetica as poetic arse? Speaking of which, the style isn't really the person, but it spreads a bit of honey on the rim of the goblet, so the bitter medicine stands a better chance of slipping down. As I tell my kids when I'm in the mood: There are two rules to writing -- 1. Know what you want to say. 2. Say it. Translating is more difficult -- you've got to choose between writing what they wrote, writing what they meant to say and writing what they thought. When I'm feeling generous I write what they meant to say, when I'm in a hurry I switch off and write what they wrote, and when I'm feeling mean I write what they thought. Cheers, Hugh --- from list marxism-general-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---
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