David Jones, artist and poet (1895-1974) begins his PREFACE TO THE ANATHEMATA :

'I have made a heap of all that I could find.' (1) So wrote Nennius, or whoever composed the introductory matter to Historia Brittonum. He speaks of an 'inward wound' which was caused by the fear that certain things dear to him 'should be like smoke dissipated'. Further, he says, 'not trusting my own learning, which is none at all, but partly from writings and monuments of the ancient inhabitants of Britain, partly from the annals of the Romans and the chronicles of the sacred fathers, Isidore, Hieronymous, Prosper, Eusebius and from the histories of the Scots and Saxons although our enemies . . . I have lispingly put together this . . . about past transactions, that [this material] might not be trodden under foot'. (2)

(1) The actual words are coacervavi omne quod inveni, and occur in Prologue 2 to the Historia.
(2) Quoted from the translation of Prologue 1. See The Works of Gildas and Nennius, J.A.Giles, London 1841.


21 January 2020

Re. control over appearances


Melbourne is again hosting the Australian Open.
 
On Monday night, there were many fans to support the young Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas in his first-round match. Tsitsipas later suggested the fans had 'crossed the line' in their chants and conduct, that they should show more respect to his opponent, that such behaviour is not appropriate for tennis.

We noted a group of young men who posed in celebration of the Tsitsipas's win by all raising the horned hand.
  
It's a gesture common to many cultures, often symbolising a warding off. Warding off the evil eye, warding off evil, warding off the unwanted. 
In recent decades, it has even been used to represent the opposite, a welcoming of the forces of opposition, from satan to heavy metal ...
... to grindcore and parodic transmutation. 
 free-style grindcore/power-violence band Self Deconstruction

We don't know Jimmy Connors' intention when he used it (directed at himself) at the Australian Open in 1974.


 Jimmy Connors wins the Australian Open 1974 : The Age

Our own preferred signification derives from its use as an esoteric Tibetan Buddhist mudra : 
having control over appearances.
  
Perhaps, Connors used it in this way? A note-to-self not to be misled by the momentary appearance of victory.

 This application is also often used by TARists.

Theatre of the Actors of Regard  
 detail
 A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/
 someone looks at something...
  
 LOGOS/HA HA