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Ever since reading about The Typing Explosion and several other typing performance artists like the Boston Typewriter Orchestra and Sheryl Oring, I've wondered in the back of my essentially antisocial and introverted mind what I could do, in my own hermit-like way, to further the social life of the typewriter.
Duffy Moon's Typewriter Brigade is a fine example of using public space to bring together aficionados of arcane technology for a common purpose. A recent Fresh Ribbon post talks about using typewriters to mass-mail fine literature- an interesting use of the typewriter as Trojan Horse (mysterious mail, written on defunct writing machine, bearing stealth literary learnings). Interesting. I keep coming back to the writing of letters, a dead art. Surely there is someone out there who needs some typewritten mail (maybe on beautiful old fashioned stationery, I need an excuse to buy some). There is of course the Modern Letter Project, but it is currently on hiatus. If The Regional Assembly of Text were closer, you know I'd attend the Letter Writing Club.
Clearly I need to think this over a little more. But on to you: I'm curious to know other people's ideas for the creative application of typewritten documents, be it social, personal, or political. Letter writing clubs? Mass typewriter mailings? Performance art? Public type-ins? I can't help but think based on my recent experience that younger people in particular would be interested in a chance to use these machines to make writing a more rewarding experience.
Time Out.
1 hour ago
9 comments:
I will point out that Typewriter Day is coming up on June 23rd, so this is the perfect time to plan. An activity involving Brigade members seems apt. Perhaps we can all start... something... and mail it around? I'm playing pass-the-camera with one of the flickr groups. Pass-the-typewriter seems impractical, and there's no promise that someone (*cough* me *cough*) would forfeit the machine.
Collaborative poems/short stories anyone? We could all kick off our own page via public typing on the 23rd, then mail it off to the next person in the chain.
I was really inspired by the link on Monda's blog post. The Brigade really needs to be involved in something typewriterly, but I've been stumped as to what sort of *something* we ought to be doing.
I like the idea of random, anonymous typewritten messages. I also like Mike's idea. I've been considering a letters-to-the-editor campaign for myself, just to stake out some real estate on the outer edges of the kook fringe.
I'll leave you with something to ponder -- what does a typewritten document signify in this brave new world? I think if "Rambling Manifesto" and "Ransom Note" aren't high on your list you're just fooling yourself.
My point is, a typewritten document commands attention. That's a useful bit of knowledge, I think.
Duffy, the Brigade is your baby so I certainly think that you get a major say in how it's mobilized, although considering that it's made of a pack of already off-kilter aspiring writers, I'm not sure how much anyone will rally around anything. :-)
I have some more thoughts on My Idea... I'll try to blog about it later today.
Letters to the Editor? Already written by kooks and freaks. A TYPED LttE? Talk about waving your Freak Flag high, wow. I don't know if I could find something to write about (he says jokingly, rolling his eyes.) Perhaps a screed on the eeeevils of modern technology.
Of course then I'll expect a nice visit from the ATF folks knocking on the door of my cozy little rancher, looking for a cultic stockpile of weaponry and mimeographed leaflets. (And you thought that YOU were paranoid.)
Not my baby. I just happened to be the most anxious for its arrival, and was loitering in the birthing suite at the right moment. Or, whatever.
I've taken on a personal project of writing letters (typewritten, natch) to authors whose work I admire, especially those who still use a typewriter, and trying politely to get them to respond in kind (on their typewriter).
I love these ideas. i'm still percolating a bit, especially about the public typing kickoff.
Mail! I miss it so much. Just read mp's posted Plan and I'm ready to begin. Let's go.
I think I have it. Send a typewritten letter to a typewriter repair shop. Let them know there are still folks who use typewriters. Thank them for being there. I think, right now, they could use some fan mail coming in.
Teri:
I tried to comment to your post on the TB NaNo forums, but that site is gimpy for me again.
I like it. I'm taking a pair of machines (God willing and the river don't rise) to a somwhat local guy sometime early in June, so that will give me time to make his acquaintance and see how he does before I decide if he's worthy of a thank-you note.
(I mean, he could be a key-chopper masquerading as a friendly typewriter repairman!)
Teri, that's a great idea, and something to do while I count down the days until June 23.
Teri and MPC, I plan to participate in both ideas... I'm glad everyone is interested in putting their typewriters to work.
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