RECOMMENDED: FAUN

The Dodologist is listening to German goth/folk/neofolk/dark wave/neopagan folk/whatever band Faun. And he happens to be of the opinion that more people should do just that. Thus, one of his favourite Faun songs:



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NEOFOLK AND THE PALINGENESIS OF PARANOIA

My friend Lord Bassington-Bassington has published a post on neofolk and politics. As we both love neofolk and hate the fascist scum that is sadly attracted by this glorious music, I agree with both his intentions and analysis.

As Bassy points out, in addition to these creepy crawlers, a second problem is those (mostly on the left) who see fascists everywhere. As the long eared one, I too have spent some time discussing with the Ukranian scholar Anton Shekhovtsov. A frustrating experience, I’m sad to say.

I started writing a comment on the subject, but it morphed into something much longer and finally became a blog post of its own. This blog post. To fully understand what is going on here, you probably should read Lord Bassington-Bassingtons's post first.

I believe the most serious problem with Shekhovtsov’s approach, is his use of Roger Griffin's definition of fascism:

"Fascism is a political ideology whose mythic core in its various permutations is a palingenetic form of populist ultra-nationalism."

Palingenesis in general means rebirth (Christ uses it to describe what will happen on judgment day), though in Griffin’s definition it is restricted to national rebirth.

So according to this definition, fascism is a form of populist ultra-nationalism, which strives for a rebirth of the nation, that is to say a return to a postulated former glory.

I agree with his lordship that the definition has its good sides, as when used to underline the continuity between old fascists and those pathetic developments the go through when renaming what they do silly things like national anarchism.

But it simply isn’t good enough in the long run. For two reasons: Because it is too wide and because it is too narrow.

It is too wide because it includes a lot of people who are not fascists. The longing for national rebirth is hardly original to fascism. It was common to many romantic, nationalist groups in 19th century. It is an idea traceable back at least almost three centuries. It was the core of the neo-druidic groups that grew up around the dream of re-creating the Welsh nation. As it has been the core of every nationalist movement among minorities in Europe since then.

And all of these people were not fascists. Not by far.

That does not mean that I deny that this is an important element of fascism, only that it is not enough to establish a definition of fascism. Which brings me to my second point: The definition is to narrow, because it does not include other criteria that can separate actual fascists from those imagined to be so by Shekhovtsov and his ilk.

Personally I like Michael Mann’s definition: “Fascism is the pursuit of a transcendent and cleansing nation-statism through paramilitarism.”

It is in agreement with Griffin’s on the importance of a transcendental form of nationalism, but adds two fundamental elements: An opinion about the role of the state (totalitarian, militaristic, anti-democratic, führer-led) and about the importance of paramilitary groups.

According to this definition you are not a fascist if you simply dream of national paligenesis. You must also have certain opinions on how this palingenesis is to happen and the role of the state in this rebirth. It is possible that it is this Griffins means by “populist ultra-nationalism”, but that is by no means clear.

So the problem with Shekhovtsov’s approach is not simply that he is way to free with the fascist label, the problem is that he judges people to be fascists based on a definition that at its best is able to tell you that they might be fascists.

My own take on who are fascists and not is rather simper. To quote one of my comments on Shekhovtsov’s blog:

“In my naive view of the world, a fascist is someone who sympathises with fascist politics. They may retreat into metapolitics, but they do so because they see that this is not the best of times for their political opinions. So they keep the flame burning, waiting for the times to change.”

Another problem with Shekhovtsov’s approach is that he tends to call people fascists even without documenting any palingenetic tendencies, not to say any indication of populist ultra-nationalism. Symbols that he imagines to be fascist, combined with a certain nietzschean and/or spenglerian leaning in the lyrics, is more than enough for him.

But the biggest problem with Shekhovtsov’s approach is that he seems more or less unable to view his own position critically. Like His Lordship I have tried arguing with him, and his ability not to answer to concrete critiscisms of his analysis is rather astonishing.

Shekhovtsov is oh so willing to label people fascists, but rather less willing to turn a critical eye on his own analysis. Rather a typical scholar in other words.
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AT THE END OF AN ERA

Today the sad news ticked in that Norwegian actor and comedian Dag Frøland is dead, a mere 64 years old. Frøland retreated from the theatre more than two decades ago and lived more or less as a recluse, but his genius is still very much remembered.

His parodies are among the funniest in Norwegian comedy, but The Dodologist happens to think that one of his greatest moments is this, a lamentation of the fall of European culture:



RIP
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MEL GIBSON, DOGGY STYLE

Mel Gibson is soon to return to the big screen, which means a time beckons for him to comment on those ... unfortunate comments. If the comments in this clip is anything to go by, he is not entirely ready for the job:



Via Harry's Place. I have, by the way, added Harry's Place contributer Edmund Standing to the blog list.
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SCARY CONSPIRACY REVEALED

As I said a few posts ago: Some things are just too damn scary.

As we all know, Illuminati has been ruling the world for the last 200 years or so, creating History As We Know It to conceal their cruel, evil and satanic intentions. But now an even scarier group has entered The Stage Of History. They call themselves Itanimulli – which obviously is a lot more evil than Illuminati, because it is Illuminati spelled backwards.

As I said, this is just Too Damn Scary. Not the least when you go to their web-page, www.itanimulli.com. (Cut and paste to see The Scary Truth for yourselves.)

Thanksalot to an observant friend for informing me of this Damn Scary force in our midst. I recommend that he escapes into the woods for a while ...
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BE THE FOOD YOU FEED THE CROCS

Photo: The Dodologist

A sign at the Skansen outdoor museum in Stockholm. It says: "Our crocodiles eat a lot! We need more visitors."
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MORE EUROBEAT, THE SOUND OF PARA PARA

As I said a post ago, it's really only one version of Ike Ike that counts, the one by Tri-Star. And lo and behold, here it is:



As a bonus, here is a Para Para video with parts of Ganguro, by Franz "Mad Cow" Tornado and the Yamanba-Gals:



Franz Tornado (real name Federico Rimonti) is a personal Eurobeat favourite that shows up in a endles row of different "groups", of which Franz Tornado and the Royal Eurobeat Orchestra of Bazookistan is one of the best (names, that is). The endles changes of band names is a joke, as most of it is really made by a rather small group of people.

Another favourite - and part of the Tornado clan - is Bazooka Girl (real name Cristiana Cucchi). Here is a video with parts of her Velfarre 2000:



And finally, I linked to it yesterday, but the deep and subtle poetry of Bazooka Girl's Cantare Ballare (Happy Eurobeat) simply must be shared again:


Cantare Ballare (Happy Eurobeat)

Suck a Bazooka
No One Sleep In Tokyo
Din Don Dan
Money Go
Night of Fire
Bandolero Comanchero
Boom Boom Girl
Virtual Love

Go Go Dance
Technotronic Flight
Shadow In The Night
Telephone
Try Me
Ike Ike
Dancing In The Jungle
Dancing In The Maharaja Night

Mad Cow
Bazooka Man
Boom Boom Japan
Hot Girl
Deja Vu
O Sole Mio
My Only Star
Don’t Stop The Music
Love Generation

Mad Cow
Bazooka Man
Boom Boom Japan
Hot Girl
Deja Vu
O Sole Mio
My Only Star
Don’t Stop The Music
Love Generation
(Cantare Ballare)
(Cantare Ballare)

My Sweet Banana
Dancing At Twin Star
Milan Milan Milan
Get My Love
Round ‘n’ Round
Hot Love & Emotion
Deltadance.com
Be My Lover

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PARA PARA - AS IT SHOULD SOUND

My friend, the Mad Mullah, has put up an instruction video for Para Para dancing - that subtle and lovely Japanese addition to teen culture. But ... it's without music. That's really utterly pointless. Now this is what Para Para should look - and sound - like:



It's silly. It's embarrassing. It's annoying. And the music is the perfect drug for pointless tasks in the office - when mixed with at least six shots of espresso.

And the best thing, The Very Best Thing, this being music directed at japanese 14 year olds and mostly written by Italians, is of course the lyrics. As some of you may not be fluent in Japanese, here are the English lyrics for Ike Ike (which really should be heard in the Tri-Star version):

Ike Ike

Living night
I need to feel imagination
Yes, all right
I need a rhythm invasion
Sing together "na-na-na-na"
I wanna dance all the night
Oh - oh - oh Oh - oh - oh

Ehy, DJ John Robinson
Make me feel the rhythm and hot desire
In Roppongi Tokyo
Keep me into your heaven
Baby, take me higher

Ikeike
Lucky night, pretty girl
Mini-skirt Ikeike
Hi-heel shoes and then you feel the power
Ikeike, magic nights
And the blue, my baby, will go bye
Uoh-ho

Lovely night
You take me up imagination
In my heart
You bring me up your confusion
When you dance I'm gonna head out
I like to dance eurobeat
Oh - oh - oh Oh - oh - oh


It's great poetry, though not quite as good as the lyrics to Cantare Ballare (Happy Eurobeat). Then again, few things are. That might be a reason for cheerfulness. Then again, maybe not.

(As to the title of this post: This was written listening to Matt Howdens record As They Should Sound. It's not half bad. But it's useless for Para Para.)
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WATCH YOUR CAPS!

Capitalization is the difference between helping your Uncle Jack off a horse and helping your uncle jack off a horse.
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IT BITES!

Some things ... Some things are just too damn scary ...

This, my friends, is a Fleshlight. It's for the pleasuring of ... male ... members ...

Though it's of course not a regular Fleshlight. It's a "... Succu Dry Sex in a Can from Fleshlight, the world’s first vampire inspired sex toy for men. Take a walk on the dark side and get familiar with this pale brew. But be careful! Though this may feel like love at first bite, make sure you have wood poised to penetrate before you get completely drained!"

The Dodologist is ... fascinated by it's dedication to ... truthfulness and ... detail. As they say: "The amazingly detailed vampire mouth and fangs beg you to drive your wooden stake deep inside."

Perhaps some other day, baby.
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Thanksalot to Lady Mju for the tip.
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“THE MAD GARDENER'S SONG", BY LEWIS CARROLL

He thought he saw an Elephant,
That practised on a fife:
He looked again, and found it was
A letter from his wife.
‘At length I realise,’ he said,
The bitterness of Life!’

He thought he saw a Buffalo
Upon the chimney-piece:
He looked again, and found it was
His Sister’s Husband’s Niece.
‘Unless you leave this house,’ he said,
“I’ll send for the Police!’

He thought he saw a Rattlesnake
That questioned him in Greek:
He looked again, and found it was
The Middle of Next Week.
‘The one thing I regret,’ he said,
‘Is that it cannot speak!’

He thought he saw a Banker’s Clerk
Descending from the bus:
He looked again, and found it was
A Hippopotamus.
‘If this should stay to dine,’ he said,
‘There won’t be much for us!’

He thought he saw a Kangaroo
That worked a coffee-mill:
He looked again, and found it was
A Vegetable-Pill.
‘Were I to swallow this,’ he said,
‘I should be very ill!’

He thought he saw a Coach-and-Four
That stood beside his bed:
He looked again, and found it was
A Bear without a Head.
‘Poor thing,’ he said, ‘poor silly thing!
It’s waiting to be fed!’

He thought he saw an Albatross
That fluttered round the lamp:
He looked again, and found it was
A Penny-Postage Stamp.
‘You’d best be getting home,’ he said:
‘The nights are very damp!’

He thought he saw a Garden-Door
That opened with a key:
He looked again, and found it was
A Double Rule of Three:
‘And all its mystery,’ he said,
‘Is clear as day to me!’

He thought he saw a Argument
That proved he was the Pope:
He looked again, and found it was
A Bar of Mottled Soap.
‘A fact so dread,’ he faintly said,
‘Extinguishes all hope!’

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KEEPING THE FLAME ALIVE

These days it seems like every Norwegian is reading a book (or rather a series of books) called Min Kamp. Which in German is ... Mein Kampf (though rumours are the German tranlation will have another title).

We don't like modern copyists here at The Dodologist. We like the old stuff. The originals. So it's nice to see that someone is keeping the flame alive:





(Ehr, borrowed from AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com.)
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A JINGLE IN MY BONES

Just before Christmas, December the 23rd to be precise, I had the pleasure of letting loose on the world the 4th issue of Knokkelklang. Knokkelklang (which is best translated as Jingle Bones) is a blog magazine dedicated to “the marginal, the curious, the horrible and the fantastic” and it’s edited by a dodologist very close to you. Two articles this time are by theverysame dodologist:

The vampire as victim
Or: It’s terribly sad, but I have to kill you. Boo hoo!

Child In Time
Desmond Child & Rouge – the best band you've never heard

Oh, come on, take a peek.
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THE WHY OF THE VAMPIRE

OK, so I’m a vampirologist. That might sound like fun to you, but I tell you: These days it’s a lot of hard work. Not only the watching of mormon teenage vampire fantasies or the unspeakable parts (of which I may speak, but then of course have to kill you), but also all the parts that speak. Especially all the speaking-to-journalists-parts.

It’s not that I mind journalists as such (at least not more than the average man, which is, of course, a great deal); it’s rather that they are all so bloody repetitive. It’s like they are not separate creatures, with separate minds. They are one head, only able to come up with the same idea over and bloody over again.

So, for the last two months, I’ve been asked why vampires are so popular right now approximately fifty times. Man, if questions could be staked …

Anyway, here it is: It’s because it six years since last time - more or less. (That was Boring Buffy, by the way.)

Vampires are fascinating creatures. I tend to sum the fascination up as “sex, death, violence, blood and embroidery”. They give a director or writer, serious or not, a chance to dive into some pretty juicy subjects, subjects that touch on some of the basics of our human existence.

They also are a lot of fun. In 1820, the year after the publication of John Polidori’s The Vampyre, it was dramatized no less than four times for Parisian theatres. Two of those dramatisations where comedies. So ever since the introduction of the modern vampire, its comic potential has been obvious.

It is, in other words, no big mystery why the vampire appeals to us. So, ever since it became a movie star, the vampire has returned again and again to the movie screen to haunt us. It is, after all, a ghost.

The problem is that, fun and fascinating as the vampire is, it is also a rather limiting figure. The vampire is so well established as a pop cultural icon that you mess with it at your own peril. Move too far away from the established concept, and you have to spend a lot of time explaining why and defending your choices.

The point is this: For a while the vampire is fun. Then it becomes repetitive. And then it becomes boring. So you put it back in its coffin. Six years later, and a whole new generation of teenagers are out there. Then it’s time to raise the bugger from the grave and off we go again.

That’s about it, really.
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