Roger Shattuck's summarizing statements about Alfred Jarry's 'Pataphysics...
1. 'Pataphysics is the science of the realm beyond metaphysics; or. 'Pataphysics lies as far beyond metaphysics as metaphysics lies beyond physics - in one direction or another.
In the 1870's, following the Confederate defeat in the
U.S. Civil War, a large number of southerners migrated to
Brazil to start a new life in what they believed would be a
I have sometimes been called a "Fortean ‘Pataphysician", having made a close study of the works of Alfred Jarry and Charles Fort and claiming that they were actually strange twins. The references below briefly summarize the approach of these two often overlooked pioneers in the history of science.
Some time ago I began writing a collection of what I call tabloid haiku...haiku composed using actual tabloid headlines as a jumping off point. Here are a few that are suggestive of the utter strangeness of (entirely possible) day to day reality.
Fat-sucking vampires
claim two hundred and fifty
nine lives in Lima.
Cannibal chief eats
mail order brides in New Guinea.
For the present, the comedy of existence has not
yet "become conscious" of itself. For the present,
we still live in the age of tragedy, the age of morality
and religions.
FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE
Laughing gas has been discovered at the center of our galaxy.
THE GRAB BAG
"Banish the word 'struggle' from your attitude and your vocabulary. All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.
We are the ones we have been waiting for." — Hopi elders
