CataRem arks on Depth an d Darkn ess ( diagram m in g th e abyss)
Cat a- , Kat a- (also cat -): prefix
Down ; down wards
(Cat abolism , cat aplexy, cat alysis, cat aclysm , cat ast roph e,
cat at on ia, Kat abasis, et c.)
Su n rises as a t ide for ext in ct ion .
THE CU RSE OF SOL IDU S: Kat abasis [1 ] or n ecro-descen t as for Odysseu s in h is jou rn ey t o t h e u n derworld (kat abasis) an d
Icaru s' crash in h is solar voyage - is t h e qu est ion of Dept h an d
t h e econ om y of abyss, ch asm or pit . Cosm o-logical econ om y of
solidit y an d gru n d [2 ] (t ran scen den ce, organ izat ion , en ergy
dom est icat in g, cosm ology, Gen esis Project ) t ry t o set all t h ese
t h rou gh spat ial reason in g an d su rvival econ om ies, n am ely, t h e
qu est ion of h orizon an d bou n dary, t h e qu est ion of solid an d void
n ot in t h eir sin gu larit y or t h eir su m (t ot alit y) or even t h eir
bin ar y dist an ce or polar it y bu t t h e ir affor dan ce [3 ] in a
pan oram a sim ilar t o wh at J. J. Gibson discu ssed in h is ecocogn it ive works: t ran s-valu at ion an d ascript ion of all descen t s
an d collapses (m orally, libidin al, bodily, et c.) t h rou gh t h e econ om ical grou n d of affordan ce t o An a- or ascen sion [4 ] or t h e
ot h er way arou n d, all t h rou gh ou t t h e con -solidat in g capacit y of
su rfaces of all t ypes t o each ot h er; t h at is t o say, in st allin g t h e
e con om ical n e x u se s base d on affor dan ce (t h e n e t w or k of
affordabilit ies of each syst em n ot on ly t oward it self bu t also it s
en viron m en t , an d vice versa.) bet ween or am on g syst em s or
h orizon s. Th e logic of n egat ivit y, dich ot om ou s syst em s or
polarit ies are m erely t h e con spicu ou s sym pt om s of affordan ce
t h r ou gh w h ich su r v iv al e con om y in v e st s it s n e x u se s an d
h orizon s; t h e st rat ified m an ifolds an d advan ced organ izat ion s
are t h e m ain represen t at ion s of t h is econ om y. Th e ascript ion of
k a t a - t o a n a - o r v o i d t o s o l i d (t r a n s -v a l u a t i o n t h r o u gh
affordan ce) is n ot in st alled, con du ct ed or referen t ialized t h rou gh
t h e bin ary dist an ces, t h e logics of t h e n egat ive, diam et ric
discou rses of differen ce, or t ran s-Su bst an t iat ion of
n egat ion con cealed in t h e crit iqu e of An wesen h eit , t igh t ly bou n d
t o som e of t h e decon st ru ct ion ist in vest igat ion s exam in in g t h is
ascript ion in t h e m ost art less ways; affordan ce or t h e eco-logic
dw ellin g / accom m odat in g grou n d (t h e t erren u sof Su rvival
E con om y) is t h e pedest al on w h ich t h is parsim on iou s
ascript ion is erect ed, an d n ecessit at ed (n ot m erely legit im at ed)
as m ore t h an an econ om ical con n exion of polar st ru ct u res bu t a
process t h at t raverses an d probes t h e affordan ce space of all
circu m -polar an d diam et ric ch arges or assem blages, en m esh in g
a c a pa c it y or a r e pr e s e n t a t ion of t h e a v a ila ble or m or e
accu rat ely, rau m -able [5 ] space (fit t in g for su rvival) wh ich is
in st alled as a dwellin g / accom m odat in g h orizon an d a su rvival
n et work (wit h it s all accom m odat in g syst em s), so det erm in ed,
eco-n om ical an d so qu alit at ively prom isin g t h at welcom in g it s
m odi viven di an d polit ical accom m odat ion is obligat ory, bein g
ren dered as it s n exu ses is in evit able; t h is in escapable capacit y is
a rau m for all ch arges, a dwellin g / accom m odat in g syst em or a
n et work of n ich es t h at does n ot en d at it s borderlin e bu t st art s
from t h e brin k; n eigh borin g (effect u at in g t h e arch it ect on ic
forces of affordan ce) is it s fu n ct ion an d provokin g t o perform it s
capacit y (su rvival) t o n o en d, is it s pit iless polit ics. Ascript ion s
are at t h e sam e t im e t h e com m odit ies an d exch an ge processes
float in g as colloidal m at t er - wh ose project is expan din g t h e
in t erfaces of solid wit h liqu id t o m ake a m ilit ary m ach in e, a
dyn am ic fert ilizer an d an in t egrat ed accu m u lat ion (bu t ru n n in g
disin t egrat edly) of solid, ext en sively sat isfyin g Su rvival E con om y
an d gru n d- on t h e h ydrau lic com m erce of su rvival econ om y
workin g as bot h t h e reservoir an d m odu lat ed(-in g) grou n d of
affordan ce. Th e spat ial econ om y of 'solid an d void' seeks t o
ascribe all descen t s t o a su rface (or a n et work of su rfaces)
wh ich is com m on bet ween h ole an d it s solid part , t h at wh ich is
n ot h in g bu t a m ediu m of solid an d n ot on ly a m ediu m bu t also
(an d m ain ly) t h e work-grou n d of affordan cet h rou gh wh ich solid
in du st ry goes all t h rou gh t h e perpet u al t ran sform at ion s of
sign ified solids t o t h e sign ifyin g an d con -solidat in g processes
m an agin g t o st ren gt h en an d fort ify t h e gru n d by en gin eerin g it
as a plen u m u n der con st an t capacit at ion an d n ot a grou n d
in volved w it h risky an d self-dest ru ct ive m ech an ism s of
dist en sion , expan sion , volu m et ric in crease or propagat ion in
plen t it u de [6 ]. Th is progressive capacit at ion of t h e grou n d is a
m arket in g ph en om en on t h at m erit s t h e at t en t ion of su rvival
econ om y an d it s dw ellin g / accom m odat in g syst em s as a
m iracle. Su rfaces bear t h e at t it u des of solid. Su rface is a workgr ou n d on w h ich t h e dom e st icat e d e n e r gie s of asce n sion
(an abasis, t ru t h in du st ry, polarit y, diam et ric discou rses, et c.)
a r e la id on , dis t r ibu t e d a ppr opr ia t e ly t o (a ) dis c r im in a t e
everyt h in g in ferior (on t h e rou t e of descen t , kat a-) u sin g t h e
scales of t h e n egat ive; an d especially, (b) sm oot h in g t h e pat h s by in st allin g con cen t rat ory processes of h ydrau lic efficien cy t h at
circu lat ory solid ru t h lessly m an ipu lat es on t h e in t erfaces (of
solid an d void, solid an d liqu id, solid an d it self, ...) - t o reach t h e
h igh est pick, t h e u lt im at e overcu lt ivat ed ph an t asy of gru n d, t h e
desert u m (de- + serere [t o join ]) n ot as an u n in h abit ed lan d bu t
t h e econ om y of a live-in g (bot h as a process an d an even t )
ext erior t o life an d it s in t erph ylet ic com m ot ion s, a live-in g
exorcisin g it self (absolvere), leavin g life forever (libban , lifian ,
leavin g); a su rvival econ om y m an aged t o in ven t it s own m ilieu
n ot depen den t t o wh at it sh ou ld su rvive from an y lon ger: Th e
Hegelian Absolu t e (U n bedin gt ).
U n bedin gt is at t h e sam e t im e a fu n ct ion an d a
m alfu n ct ion of Su rvival E con om y. By ascribin g all descen t s,
t h eat rically, t o a st agewh ich gen et ically belon gs t o t h e solid part
(is it t h e solid face or su r-face? ) an d is a work-grou n d of
affordan ce t h at capacit at es gru n d, t h e u n econ om ical efflu xes
an d m azin g in flu xes of collapse are t ran slat ed (an d slyly
dissim u lat ed) as t h e represen t ed variat ion s an d cou rsin gs of t h e
h y dr a u l i c c o r r e c t i o n s o f w a t e r s h e d o r t h e o t h e r s u r f a c e
m odificat ion s; t h is pan oram a is recycled back t o t h e h orizon of
u t ilit y an d solid dom est icat ion ... Su rfaces work as t h e st ages of
a f f o r da n c e (J. J. G i bs o n ) t h a t m a k e s a l l a r c h i t e c t o n i c /
capacit at in g m odes of dw ellin g an d accom m odat in g possible
(dwellin g in a Heiddegerian sen se (woh en an d rau m ): rau m ,
n ich e, et c). In t h e sph ere of solidit y, evacu at ion (an d t h e
av at ar s of h ole h ood) is m on e t ize d as a pr oce ss be t w e e n
in vest m en t an d disin vest m en t of solids t h rou gh t h e econ om y of
gru n d, a cru cial join t (art icu lat ion ) in fillin g-in process ... t o
m a k e s o l i di t y m o r e c o n -s o l i da t e d, m o r e c u l t i v a t e d, m o r e
overcu lt ivat ed an d fin ally desert ed. Th is is wh y t h rou gh solidit y,
a ll de s c e n t s (m or a lly , libidin a l, bodily , ...) a r e m e a s u r e d
accordin g t o su rfaces (or face? ). 'To Descen d' is t ran slat ed
accordin g t o An a- (t h e an abat ic sph ere of all su rface
m odificat ion s) an d t h e grou n d, t h en , is con sidered as a t raversal
lin e of solid, ext erior n ot t o t h e scalin g an d m odificat ion
fu n ct ion s of su rfaces bu t t h e despot ic lim it s of t h e cru st . Th u s
far, Solidu s exploit s 'Dept h ' t h rou gh su r-facefrom wh ere it s
st ealt h econ om y an d solidit y (su rplu s valu e of solidu s in
circu lat ion [7 ] or it s circu lat ory h u n ger) are t ran sm it t ed in t o
ot h er su rfaces, bin din g 'Descen t ' t h rou gh a profou n dly plat on ic
grid (a grid on wh ich ex n ih ilo m u st su rvive as ex solidu s): I am
fallin g in t o lava bu t m y boist erou s lau gh t er reverberat es on t h e
su rfaces of t h e rocks, m akes m e a vict im of t h e m ou n t ain ... m y
wou n d is open bu t m y lover pu lls away t h e scabs t o leak it ... I
sh ot a bu llet t o you r spin al cord bu t on e said t h e h ole will h eal
in t im e; n ow, you are dead ... all in st an ces of su rface ph ilosoph y
or t h e ph ilosoph y of gru n d, t h ey con t in u e t o n o en d ...
ph ilosoph y discu sses an d cou n t s t h e n u m ber of m et ers, Icaru s
did fall from t h e Su n (it on ly cares abou t gru n dan d it s m et ron s).
Bu t t h is is en t irely t h e self-m ockery of solidu s, solidit y an d t h e
regim e of solid an d void, su rvival econ om y an d it s affordan ce;
n o m at t er h ow m u ch solidit y t ries bu t it fails t o accom m odat e
t h e gaseou s econ om y of t h e abysm , t h e occu lt of a ch asm , t h e
bizarren ess of a h ole or t h e wast age of en ergy in descen t ; all
evaporat in g Solidu s t h rou gh 'on , in , t h rou gh , even beyon d'
t h em selves; t h row in g disciplin e in t o t h eir rect al open n ess,
t earin g all su rface m odificat ion s t o sh reds an d at t h e en d,
in t rodu cin g Gen esis u pon t h eir evaporat ed(in g) h ist ory(-ies):
An on ym ou s U n t il Now (In cogn it u n Hact en u s) [8 ].
COL OR AS E L E CTRICITY: E very descen t is an in cogn it u m
h act en u s (An on ym ou s-u n t il-Now). Darkn ess is t h e ch rom at ic
gradien t of dept h , as dept h is it s t ect on ic an om aly, t h at is t o
say bot h it s u lt im at e u n grou n d an d epidem ic open n ess; wh ile
solidu s (an d solidit y) ascribes t h e obscen e econ om y of Dept h t o
t h e discou rses of solid (m ain ly affordan ce, su rvival econ om y an d
solidu s-in -circu lat ion ); darkn ess su bvert s t h em wit h it s own
n ervou s syst em . Th e qu est ion of kat abasis, descen t an d abyss
does n ot go t h rou gh WHATs (qu iddit y) - t h e qu est ion of origin
an d filiat ion t rapped an d im prison ed wit h in su rvival econ om y
an d it s affordan ce - bu t con ju res u p 'Wh ere' [9 ] ('Wh ere' affirm s
'wh ere? ' as a qu est ion , bu t is n ot a qu est ion it self.) or m ore
accu rat ely, t h e blacken in g en ergies an d blasph em ou s
in can t at ion s of t h e lin es of open n ess speedin g t h e gaseou s
expan sion s of Darkn ess an d it s epidem ic on t h e m ove (open n ess
as plagu e, as t h e u lt im at e con t am in at ion an d t erm in al allian ce).
On ce again , experien cin g Dept h is crash in g in t o t h e qu est ion of
color an d it s com posit ion an om alies (n eit h er ext en sit y n or
m easu re), as t h e qu est ion of Darkn ess is n ot t h e qu est ion of
colorfu ln ess, h u e an d color st abilit y eit h er, bu t in a m ore
fu n dam en t al sen se a n ast y ch rom at ism (ch rom at ism is t h e
u n grou n dof exorbit an t in t en sit ies.) ru n n in g w it h t h e frost y
glows, sicken in g flares, h eat -deat h , n eu t ral h u e, blast ed colors,
defaced sm oot h n ess, alien radiat ion s, m et allic colors,
con t am in at ed sh adows, fat al im pu rit y, lu m in osit y, excess an d
t erm in al swarm of in t en sit ies irru pt in g as Blacken in g en ergies of
Dept h , abyss, ( )h ole or epidem ic open n ess; t o call t h em
Blacken in g is for t h eir abilit y t o dim t h e su rface n exu ses of
su rvival econ om y, m akin g im possible n ot on ly seein g bu t also
w orkin g an d fin ally Bein g (a cat ast roph ic blin dn ess
in t ercon n ect in g wit h t h e m ost pest ilen t ially rich recesses of
wh ere ... blin dn ess is a t h irst for wh ere) ... Becom in g pack
em an at es - also, h in t in g at Peace (pax) or t h e u n derlyin g
st rat egy of becom in g pack - as a m u lt iplicit y germ in at ed on
wh erean d it s in t er-dim en sion alit y. Peace in sin u at es wh ere an d
in t er-dim en sion alit y so con ju res u p t h e qu est ion of dept h as t h e
polit ics of affordan ce cat aclysm , m u t at ion s an d t h e an on ym ou s
t ran s-valu at ion s of power du rin g t h e con t in u ou s paralyzat ion or
collapse of su rvival econ om y an d st irrin g / econ om izin g m et ron s
[1 0 ]. Peace: a m esh work of processes st rat egically im pairin g t h e
perfect ible sph ere of affordan ce of su rfaces t h rou gh qu alit at ive
m ollificat ion , n ot as t h e sort of m akin g less rigid bu t soft en in g
by c r i ppl i n g m e t r o n s o r e x t i n gu i s h i n g t h e m t h r o u gh t h e
bom bardm en t of m et ron s w it h a su pererogat ory dosage of
m et ron s or deviat in g back t h e su rplu s of m et ron s an d t h eir
circu lat ory m ach in ery (as solidit y, et c.) t o t h em selves; t h e cold
m elt of arch it ect u res at t h e zero-m et ron ic life of power.
De pt h is con cu r r e n t ly a collapse an d an in cogn it u m
h act en u s (An on ym ou s-u n t il-Now); t h ese t wo are n ot t h e sam e;
t h ey are bot h part s of t h e n ervou s syst em of wh ere or u n grou n d
wh ose open n ess ren ders experien ce(experien cin g dept h , et c.) a
pest ilen t ial lacerat ion m ade by t h e t wo-edged blade of open n ess
(bein g open an d bein g lacerat ed an d laid open [1 1 ]), a blade
wh ose t wo edges (t h e on e in fron t of you an d t h e ot h er)
slash in g you an d t h e ou t side; t h is is n ot t h e an at om ical
lacerat ion w it h it s dissect in g level of an alysis or t h e on e
Ceron et t i, It alian poet an d writ er, con siders as t h e " h an ds of
ligh t " [1 2 ] search in g t h e in n ards so in n ocen t ly an a-t om ist ic an d
so em pirically sweet - t h e h ierarch ical cu t (is t h e secon d cu t t h e
de e pe s t ? ). Ope n n e s s o f t h e u n gr o u n d m a k e s e x pe r i e n c e
(experien ce is a plagu e) in evit able an d im perfect ible; t h en in t h e
sam e way, experien cin g 'dept h ' in t ercon n ect s wit h open n ess an d
it s lacerat ion s, of all kin ds (descen t s, collapses, wou n ds, solar
crash es, et c.). Don 't be an an at om ist , be a bu t ch er. Descen t is
n ot exact ly t h e process of experien cin g dept h bu t a process
ren derin g 'dept h ' as an experien ce, a lacerat ion , a t orn open
wou n d on t h e side of t h e m et allu rgic affect s of open n ess (bein g
open an d bein g lacerat ed an d laid open ), t h e Blade. (U n grou n d,
m et allu rgically an d fu n ct ion ally, is a blade-garden .) Th e expan se
of darkn ess is im m in en t t o dept h ; for dept h as an avat ar of
u n grou n d in st alls it s m essin g an d war st rat egies wh erever it
st icks t o solidu s an d it s m ach in ery, su rvival econ om y an d it s
affordan ce; it works as an affirm an ce in t rodu cin g open n ess
(bein g open an d open ed), t h u s, lacerat ion s, m essin g vect ors,
t erm in al com m u n icat ion s (con t am in at ion ? ), et c. t o su rfaces at
t wo levels of t act ical m u lt iplicit y an d st rat egic cam ou flage; on e
lacerat in g, crackin g an d t earin g open (bein g laid open : on t h e
t act ical m u lt iplicit y of open n ess); t h e ot h er (bein g open : t h e
st rat egic cam ou flage) is sim u lat ed as an an t h ropom orph ic,
regu lat ed an d appropriat ed illu st rat ion of open n ess alw ays
workin g t h rou gh bou n dary an d t h e h orizon of affordan ce (h ow is
it possible t o be open , wh en you dwell an d sh ou ld su rvive in a
h orizon t h rou gh w h ich bein g open m ean s h ow m u ch you
afford? ), yet it st rat egically probes affordan ce as an ext ra bu t
u n con ven t ion al st rat ifyin g force (a com plex overregu lat in g lin e
coilin g arou n d an d t h rou gh t h e st rat a or su rfaces t o in t erlace
t h em as m ore organ izat ion al an d st rat ified arch it ect u res) t h at
leads t o a kin d polym erizat ion at t h e level of h igh ly com plex an d
a t t h e s a m e t i m e , i n t e n s e u n i f i c a t i o n o f c o n -s o l i da t i n g,
organ izat ion al an d con federat in g forces in st ead of set t lin g down
an d seden t arizat ion . Th e gian t bu t m u lt i-arch it ect u ral
organ izat ion reassem bled by su ch a st ron g bu t sly an d at ypical
organ izin g force (bein g open ), st rat egically, overexposed an d laid
n aked before t h e t act ical lin es of open n ess (bein g lacerat ed,
cracked an d laid open ; bein g open ed: t h e blade-open n ess); it is
easily spot t ed an d brou gh t t o a base-com m u n icat ion wit h t h e
u n grou n din g forces, an d st ripped open t o t h e con t agiou s lin es of
open n ess ... t riggerin g an epidem ic, a plagu e t h rou gh t h e
n oct u rn al space of affirm an ce, t h e edges of affirm at ion . Slash ed,
t orn , im paled, cracked, in fect ed, h acked, sew n , com posed,
fract alized, con t am in at ed, h et erogen eou sly soft en ed an d m essed
u p t h rou gh open n ess an d affirm an ce, t h e dark reverberat ion s of
Niet zsch ean affirm at ion as a pu re war ou t of st rat egies an d
m u lt iplyin g t act ical lin es is clearly au dible, a m on st rou s an d
st riden t m u sic com posed by t h e paroxysm s, w ren ch es,
proliferat ion s an d m u lt iplicit ies of t h e lin es of open n ess, t h e
epidem ic, t h e plagu e. Niet zsch e lies wh en h e says, h e u ses a
h am m er; h e is a blade acolyt e, a m et al freak; ... or h e u ses a
spiked h am m er wh ose h an dle is a blade? (A weapon , n o on e can
h an dle it .) To t h is ext en t , 'bein g open t o' or even t h e less
direct ion al at m osph ere of 'bein g open ' h eld by t h e t h eist ic
reform ist s, liberal polit ician s or an t h ropom orph ic desire as m ore
s e c u r in g / f e r t ilizin gblu e pr in t s a t t h e a dv a n c e d le v e ls of
o r ga n i z a t i o n e n gi n e e r i n g a n d m a n a ge m e n t , s t r a t e gi c a l l y ,
overexpose t h e organ izat ion s before t h e t act ical lin es
(bu t ch erin g open ) of open n ess (bein g open ed), m akin g t h e h u n t
m ore en t ert ain in g; leadin g t h e organ izat ion s t o t h ier fin al
debacle: Bu t ch ered away an d open .
Th rou gh t h e affirm an ce of dept h , n ot h in g is repelled ...
even t h e segm en t s of repu lsion work in m yst eriou s ways as t h e
au gm en t in g equ ipm en t s of at t ract ion t o com pose a labyrin t h or
an in t er-dim en sion alit y, a collapse t o u n grou n d, affirm in g all
m ilieu s. Solid is affirm ed, in st rat egic w ays, by u n grou n d.
Tragedy, t h is wh it e scien ce of pu rgat ion , is t h e on ly t em plat e
(t em plu m ) ph ilosoph y can writ e t h e world in t o; in an u lt im at e
self-degradat ion (or a t ragic self-pu n ish m en t ) an d at t h e sam e
t im e, a lan dscape of self-im port an ce (E very breat h , ph ilosoph y
respires is a self-advert isem en t .), ph ilosoph y con vict s it self in
t h e cou rt of dom est icat ion an d declares t ot al pu rgat ion (as of
abolish m en t ) as it s dest in y or pu n ish m en t ; n ot on ly it s own
dest in y bu t also t h e doom sday of solid, m ascu lin it y an d logic t o
slyly, prepare a Wh it e im m acu lat e en d for it self, a deliveran ce in
wh ich it rest s secu redforever; bu t n ever kn owin g, t h e u n grou n d
on wh ich t h ey (solidit y an d it s offsprin g) h ave germ in at ed,
k e e ps t h e m a l i v e t h r o u gh t h e i n t e r ph y l e t i c l a by r i n t h o f
affirm an ce for a collapse in t o t h e dim en sion alit y wreckage of an
u n i m a gi n a bl e m e s s ; t h r o u gh w h i c h o n e i s r e n t o pe n by
lau gh t er; t h is is t h e way open n ess h u n t s [1 3 ]. Before t h is m ess,
viru len t lau gh t er is t h e on ly in t ellect u al react ion on e can
su bm erge t o. In sofar, dept h h u n t s solid as t h e base-fabric of it s
m ess en gin eerin g as solid is pot en t ially a st ock for m ess ... it s
blin d arch it ect u re always in vest s secu rit y leaks (processes of
open n ess) by m ean s of t h e com posit ion al lin es, it em ploys t o
t ran sform solidifyin g forces t o t h e arch it ect on ic on es.
Com posit ion (as of com posit ion of solid an d void), even as a
ban d (a ban d of com posers? ) of t h e appropriat in g processes of
in clu sion an d exclu sion , is st rat egically an affirm at ion of t h e
con t agiou s lin es of open n ess, a t ide t o com m u n icat ion ; it is a
prerequ isit e workspace for all h et erogen eou s an d qu alit at ive
soft en in g processes sm u dgin g t h e com posit ion t o zero-dist an ce
com posit ion of solid an d void. Th is is wh y all arch it ect u res, as
t h e appropriat ed com posit ion s, are t h e m ess in cu bat ors, su rvival
econ om y an d solidit y pu t in t h eir services in t h e com ical ways.
Arch it ect u res are t h e self-exh u m in g en t it ies. Dept h in fest s
solid; it does n ot represen t t h e absolu t e of t h e solid-pu rged void
bu t t raverses t h e corpse of solidu s. Th ere is n o exaggerat ion , if
it is said t h at dept h as an experien ce is a becom in g ch t h on ic.
Th u s f a r , de s c e n t - a m o n g t h e h e t e r o ge n e o u s s o f t e n i n g
processes an d com posin g lin es at work t h rou gh Dept h - draws
t h e t r a j e ct or ie s of a n a u t o-colla psin g a r ch it e ct u r e w h ose
segm en t s of it s t race (vest igiu m ) are n ot m an ifest ed t h rou gh
in t erch an geabilit y of t h e su bordin at e regim es of sign s (as in
di s a ppe a r a n c e , e l i m i n a t i o n , e t c .) i n w h i c h e a c h s e gm e n t
con st ru ct s a zon e of low resist an ce playin g t h e role of a passin g
gat eway disin t en sifyin g all approach in g excit at ion s in t h e n am e
of a st rat ified disappearan ce; a lu m in ou s m ot ion wh ose h ist ory
of disappearan ce is n ot on ly st rat ified, m odern ized an d brou gh t
t o effect t h rou gh segm en t arit y of direct ion al m ovem en t (a lin e
of m ovem en t wh ich by t h e m ean s of it s disappearin g t ail, as it
goes forward, can m an age t o prin t it s t raject ory, design s it s
h ist ory an d plan s it s exist en ce) bu t also creat es a prin t less st ep
(gradu s sin e vest igio) of t h e sam e gen u s wh ich t h e St at e
warm ach in es leave beh in d as t h ey t ravel arou n d, a st ep, a t race
wh ich t en ds t o disappear or becom e in visible. Th e h ist ory of
t races (vest igiu m ) is all m ilit ary. Th e St at e warm ach in es can
sn iff ou t su ch prin t less or fadin g st eps an d t races by ch asin g t h e
sam e econ om ical arch it ect u re of disappearin g sign s, t h ey u se for
t h e ir ow n locom ot ion du r in g e scape , am bu sh , at t ack an d
su rvival. Th is is exact ly t h e regim e of disappearan ce, t h rou gh
wh ich t h e St at e an d it s warm ach in es h arvest t h eir desired
in visibilit y. If on e t ries t o disappear t h e t races or creat in g
prin t less st eps or leavin g beh in d a disappearin g lin e of t races
(disappearin g as you m ove); bot h escape an d at t ack becom e
im possible; on e is t orn apart by t h e war-h ou n ds t h e St at e h as
t rain ed t o sn iff all disappearin g vest igiu m s t h rou gh t h e econ om y
of disappearin g sign s (or t h e sign s of disappearan ce? ). Descen t ,
on t h e con t rary, in st alls it s own gu erilla m et h ods of prin t in g
st eps an d t races. Th e Persian gu erillas of 'Balu ch est an ' Provin ce
(of Iran ) n ever t ried t o erase t h eir t races; t h ey, always, left
beh in d excessive lin es of st eps, t rails, eviden ces an d t races.
E ven , t h ey drew m an y lin es of foot prin t s (as t h e wolves in
m ot ion ) on a wide area of t h e t errit ory or t h ey wore t h eir giveh s
(a ligh t foot wear wh ich is m ade in Iran ) rearward (from fron t t o
rear), as if t h ey are goin g t o t h e opposit e way, t h ey are
escapin g, at t ackin g, leavin g t h e St at e or lu rkin g in am bu sh
som ewh ere n ear ... wan derin g, or dyin g of h u n ger or lost or
t u rn in g again st t h em selves ... goin g t o n owh ere, wh ere. Th ey
h ave t h eir own t act ics an d st rat egies of exh u m in g (ex + h u m u s:
grou n d) su rfaces an d grou n d, em bracin g affordan ce of su rfaces
an d en gin eerin g a labyrin t h in e m ess ou t of t h eir t races an d
s t e ps - t h e e x pa n s e o f A n o n y m o u s u n t i l N o w n o t a s a
décou pageof lin es, t races, st eps, m ovem en t s an d com posit ion s
econ om ized t h rou gh t h e aest h et ic of disappearan ce bu t a
bat t lefield on ly affirm in g disappearan ce as a derom ocrat ic t act ic
of in visibilit y (wh at t h e St at e fin ds so serviceable). Th ey m ade
an u lt im at e warfare ou t of t races. To t h is ext en t , t h ey were,
above all, t h e art fu l com posers an d dreadfu l exh u m in g agen t s.
De sce n t is t h e gu e r illa w ar far e of de pt h . De sce n t as an
in cogn it u m h act en u s (An on ym ou s-u n t il-Now ) is evaporat ion ;
evaporat ion is n ot disappearan ce, t erm in at ion or depart u re; it is
t h e t erm in al m u lt iplicit y or m ore accu rat ely a process im m in en t
t o an on ym it y, t h rou gh wh ich on e is bu t ch ered open , bu t n ot
wiped ou t , t h en is com posed as t h e m iasm at ic plagu es, epidem ic
n igh t s, m azin g u ph eaval of in t erfaces an d seet h in g GAS-flu xes
of ch t h on ic spaces. As Ist van Csicsery-Ron ay su ggest s, GAS [1 4 ]
do e s n o t f o l l o w t h e c h a r m o f t h e gr o t e s qu e w h i c h t h e
Capit alized liqu id falls in t o it s t rap. " Gases h ave m u ch t o
offer." (Csicsery-Ron ay, Hom o.st asis) [1 5 ]; h owever, sign ifyin g
t h e " escape from m at erial gravit y" (ibid) t h at Csicsery-Ron ay
at t ribu t es t o Gas is, exact ly, capt u red by t h e sam e polit icoecon om ic em pire of t h e Su blim e t h rou gh wh ich t h e grot esqu e
a s s e m bl e s i t s gr o t e s qu e do m e s t i c a t i o n s . Th e e s c a pe l i n e
Csicsery-Ron ay draws for GAS, parallel an d som et im es in t erfu sed
wit h t h e appropriat in g process of t h e grot esqu e ru n s t h rou gh
t h e em pire of t h e Su blim e. Th is lin e of escape, n evert h eless,
c o n n e c t s w i t h t h e s a m e c o n c r e s c e n t pr o c e s s o f e t e r n a l
progression or deificat ion (apot h eosis) wh ich was su m m arized in
Pest is Solidu s [1 6 ]: at ypically an d always search in g for a n oble
on e bu t avoidin g fin din g it . " All t h at is solid m elt s in t o air ..." ,
t h is Marxian slogan repeat ed over an d over, t akes evaporat ion
as an in evit able process im m in en t t o solid, bu t arrest s an d
dom est icat es ev apor at ion as a pu n ish m en t or r ev en ge t o
solidit y. E vaporat ion n eit h er as a t rial wh ose scales are t h e
bricks of t h e occiden t al regim e of reven ge an d pu n ish m en t GAS as a pu n ish m en t for solid (t h e Marxian t rial) - n or as an y
kin d of ascen sion (E very ascen sion is a t rial.) bu t a t erm in al
m u lt iplicit y sim ply im m in en t t o solid in du st ry of gru n d an d
su rvival econ om y as an affirm in g, epidem ic, con t agiou s an d
pest ilen t ial u n grou n d, t h e darkn ess of com posit ion al solid. GAS
is t h e dark ch em ist ry (kh em ) of u n grou n d, t h e exh u m at ion
st orm , filam en t in g su rfaces as t h e fren zied lin es (ban ds) of a
vort icit y m ade by base-com m u n icat ion s, con t raven t ion s,
resist an ces an d clash es wit h in an d bet ween t h e com posit ion s of
solidu s [1 7 ], com posin g solidu s as t h e leviat h an of war on t h e
ch t h on ic lin es of fligh t : evaporat ion t h rou gh t h e art ificial eart h .
Dept h , t h is pan dem on iu m of com posit ion s, m ovem en t s an d
ch rom at ism , t h rou gh wh ich on e perform s t h e darkn ess. Th e
h u n ger for discovery an d fin din g som et h in g in an d t h rou gh
dept h , even a m on st rosit y, is a dram at ic at t em pt t o reach a
gr ot e squ e su blim it y ; in de pt h , on ly blin dn e ss aw ait s. 'To
descen d' is bein g kept clu n g t o darkn ess. " From m on st er t o
m on st er, from cat erpillars t o gian t larvae, I kept on
clin gin g ..." [1 8 ] (Hen ri Mich au x). Descen t packs t h e ch t h on ic
forces as a ban d flow in g t h rou gh An on ym ou s-u n t il-Now ...
An on ym ou s-u n t il-Now (in cogn it u m h act en u s), on ce again , does
n ot in t errogat e W h en as it s prin ciple (n ot m en t ion in g it s
profou n d disloyalt y t o wh at ), n or it does m ap 'n ow' t h rou gh
'u n t il' bu t it debases 'n ow' as an u n grou n d wh ere 'u n t il' does
n ot sh ow a m ot ion t o t h e fu t u re t h rou gh a ch ron ologically
r e pr e s e n t a ble s ph e r e bu t m e r e ly de lin e a t e s a pr oc e s s in
darkn ess; An on ym ou s-u n t il-Now does n ot m ap an yt h in g bu t
diagram s an 'u n grou n din g' im m in en t t o it self ... it pract ices
wh ere as it s u n grou n d; t h en , wh ere is Now? Herein , lies t h e
riddle (ain igm a) of 'm odern ' an d 'con t em porary ' as t h e
com m u n icat ive lin es w it h 'n ow '; t h at 'm odern ' an d
'con t em porary' con ju re u p wh ere, bot h as u n grou n d an d t h e
st rat ified qu est ion in g 'wh ere? '. Th ey are t h e t wist s of darkn ess
an d t h e in st an ces of u n grou n d.
Wh at is t h e so-called 'dept h of t h ou gh t ', t h en ?
Th rou gh dept h , t h e solid is plagu ed an d proliferat ed (a
fibroproliferat ive m ess [1 9 ]); t h e separat in g su rfaces - wh ich
com part m en t alized void from solid an d brou gh t t h em in t o an
au t h orit at ive affordan ce - are t u rn ed in t o a black wast e of a
n ecrot ized t issu e losin g all it s con cen t rat in g, con n ect ive an d
t ran sm it t in g econ om y an d n exu ses; m u t at in g t o an om n ivorou s
m ach in e, an agen t of u n grou n d (a secu rit y leak), bot h scars
it self ex cessiv ely (fibr opr olifer at es) an d bet r ay s t h e solid,
su rren derin g t h e solid t o t h e pervadin g darkn ess (open n ess): A
t ot al m ess. In darkn ess, su rfaces are in t rodu ced t o open n ess;
in s t e a d of t r a n s loc a t ion s , dis pla c e m e n t s a n d s lippa ge s of
su rfaces, on ly wh ere proliferat es, in it s fu lly u n qu est ion able
u n grou n d wh ich m akes t h e 'n o-wh ere' part ly a represen t at ion
an d part ly a jou rn ey-lin e t h rou gh t h e darkn ess. Su rfaces
blacken t h e solid t h rou gh t h e m olecu lar deliriu m of com posit ion s
an d are blacken ed in open n ess.
A N ON YM OU S U N TI L N OW : S o f a r , t h e r e a r e s e v e r a l
m ach in eries t h at m u t at e t o each ot h er bu t t h ey are n ot
n ecessarily equ al: t h e dept h of Ju n gle m u t at es t o t h e darkn ess
of a t erm in al solarizat ion w orkin g w it h an u t t erly alien
ch rom at ism (t h e green radiat ion s of ju n gle m essin g u p color
t h rou gh t h e verm icu lat ion of in t en sit ies wh ich m akes each st ep
a fran t ic t ide t o An on ym ou s-u n t il-Now, an exit t o in cogn it u m
h act en u s) wh ich is in a sen se flat bu t devoid of su rject ive or
u n iform project ion s ... t h en ju n gle com poses it s own m eso-plex
arch it ect u re wh ich appallin gly h as n o corn er (Corn er is an
arch it ect u ral t error germ in at ed on t h e an t h ropom orph ic
t h ou gh t . [2 0 ]) as if t h ey h ave de-based (bu t n ot t erm in at ed)
u n der t h e in fin it e m ovem en t s of t h e su rfaces of a com posit ion
t h rou gh t h e gradien t of an ot h er com posit ion - wit h ou t bein g
con figu red as a sedim en t ary process or sim ply an im m ixin g
m ech an ism - wh ich operat es as an u n grou n din g (exh u m in g an d
n ot rem ovin g dim en sion alit y) or as a darken in g force t riggered
by t h e cat aclysm ic frict ion s, dist ribu t ion s, an on ym ou s ru pt u res
an d m et am orph oses m u lt i-fu n ct ion in g at t h e lev el of t h e
in t ercallary even t s. Ju n gle ret ain s it s com posit ion al
v e r m icu la t ion by u n de r goin g t h e n on -le ga lize d pr oce ss of
exh u m at ion [2 1 ], or u n grou n din g t h rou gh t h e proliferat ion of
su rfaces w it h in each ot h er, w h ich accordin g t o t h e
an t h ropom orph ic (an d especially t h e Wh it e) level of an alysis is
basically crim in al (exh u m at ion is all crim in al.); an d ju n gle is t h e
m ess diagram of su ch a base-crim in alit y wh ich t h rou gh t h e
an on ym ou s ru pt u res, folds, com posit ion s, in t er-dim en sion alit ies
an d dim en sion alit y wreckages, is u n eart h in g (art ificial eart h in g)
all su rface m odificat ion s, t h e st rat ified even t s an d t h e facial
m ach in es of affordan ce t h rou gh t h e u n grou n d of An on ym ou su n t il-Now: Africa u n eart h s. E xh u m at ion (even as disin t errin g or
diggin g u p [t h e dead? ]) is n ot a con t em porizin g or a cold an d
in h u m an m odern izin g operat ion over t h e t h in gs grou n ded (t h e
dead? ) bu t it is a process in t rodu cin g qu alit at ive collapse in t o
su rfaces an d t h e facial affordan ces (or t h e st rat ified even t s) t o
crack t h em open n ot on t h e polit ico-econ om ic ch ron osph ere of
Now bu t n ow as w h ere(an d it s labyrin t h s: art ificial eart h ,
st rat egy, et c.), t h e u n grou n ded(in g) dept h . Ju n gle or t h e socalled verdan t in fern o ch art s t h e obscen it y of su ch exh u m in g
diagram s. It affirm s all m odes of dwellin g an d bein g t h rou gh
exh u m at ion (becom in g in fect ed by u n grou n d) t o su ch an ext en t
t h at bein g is n ot on ly n owh ere, as Bat aille rem arks, bu t also a
m ess con volu t ed by ex-h u m at ion : t h e corpse of h u m u s (grou n d)
U n grou n d an d it s im m in en t darkn ess com e in a lin e wit h
Dru j- [2 2 ] (Mot h er of Abom in at ion s), t h e an cien t Persian sm oke
wh o is fem in in e; con sidered as t h e sou rce of all plan et ary an d
cosm ic pollu t ion s. Dru j- from San skrit dru h m ean s " t o Blacken "
is t ran slat ed as t h e Persian word for 'lie, deceit an d st rat egy'.
Sh e is t h e blacken in g Mot h er wh o ru t h lessly open s u p (epidem ic
l i n e s , c o n t a m i n a t i o n s , c o n t a gi o u s m a c h i n e r i e s , a l l i a n c e s ,
et c.) ... t h rou gh a st rat egic epidem ic wh ich is n ot h in g bu t t h e
u n grou n din g dept h s of open n ess, open n ess as t h e plagu e. Sh e is
open t o everyt h in g t o su ch an ext en t t h at open n essis n ot h in g
bu t a h u n t an d h er m ain dem on ic feat u re in Ven didad or t h e
Zoroast rian s' Book of t h e law again st dem on (an t i-Dru j laws).
Tou ch ed by open n ess or in fect ed by Dru j- wh o is a GAS, t h e
t h in g is blacken ed ou t an d exh u m ed. U n grou n ded t h rou gh
open n ess (call it Dru j-), t h e scales an d all art icu lat ion s wh ich
effect u at e t h e t ran s-form in g processes (of in t er-face econ om y)
based on affordan ce proliferat e n ot on ly on a can cerou s level bu t
th rou gh th e self-scarin g catastroph e of fibrosis
(fibroproliferat ion : verm icu lat ion an d fibroproliferat ion always
resu lt a t erm in al soft n ess, m akin g com posit ion s im possible t o be
disen t an gled.); t h e affordable t ran sform at ion s are recom posed
a s t h e a f f i r m a t i v e l i n e s w i t h t h e di v e r s e c o n f i gu r a t i o n s
en m esh in g a space in wh ich at t ract ion (on wast efu l bon ds an d
in t h e absen ce of t h e forces det erm in ed by t h e oscillat ion of
in t erfaces) becom es t h e m ain m azin g fu n ct ion at t h e m olecu lar
level. Th is m azin g fu n ct ion brin gs t h e sign ifyin g dyn am ism s t o a
fu rt h er debasem en t t h at is t o say, an an im orph ic cou rse of
speed (m u t at ion ) on wh ich t h e com posit ion s are, at t h e sam e
an d on e t im e, u proot ed (an d u n grou n ded) an d recom posed (or if
on e prefers are open ed) accordin g t o it s differen t ial rat es of
speed; m u t at ion [2 3 ] h olds n ot h in g t o carry (referre), direct
(t axis), deposit (allu viu m ) or in st all t h e n exu ses specialized for
m an agin g t r an sfor m at ion s as con -for m -at ion an d dy n am ic
su r v iv al (t h e pse u do-flu x e s of su r v iv al e con om y ) t h r ou gh
affordan ce. Mu t at ion is t h e u n grou n ded t ran sform at ion
germ in at ed on t h e con t in u it y at m olecu lar lev el an d t h e
pest ilen t ial bon ds of epidem ic open n ess. Descen t t akes m u t at ion
as it s part icu lar speed diagram s; t h en , t h rou gh t h e
pan dem on iu m of dept h , t h e t h in g is n ot lost bu t becom es a
m u t an t , a progressively open in g com posit ion wit h an on ym ou s
rat es of speed. Descen t , open n ess, dept h , u n grou n d an d n on affordan ce-based m u t at ion , all ciph er (every ciph er is a silen ce
com posed by t h e waves an d m ot ion on t h e virt u al su rfaces of
Zero.) t h e origin at in g an d con -solidat in g processes t h rou gh
An on ym ou s-u n t il-Now ; ren derin g off t h e m et ron ich orizon of
Gen esis. Th is is wh y Dru j- is t h e 'lie or t h e blacken in g force' in
Persian ; sin ce, by n ecrot izin g t h e Gen esis Project of t h e Th in g,
t h en , it s su rvival econ om y, t h e t h in g is ren dered off t o t h e
'an on ym ou s' diagram s of in t en sit ies or open n ess m ech an ism s,
t o it s crypt ogen ic n igh t ; for t h e en t ire an t h ropom orph ic t h ou gh t
t h e t h in g u n grou n ded by su ch plagu es is som et h in g blot t ed ou t ,
a lie, a verm in , wildly st icky like a du n gh eap or a globe of sem en
on t h e T-sh irt people t ry t o avoid an d so blacken ed t h at on ly
welcom es blin dn ess. Th e THING wit h an u n grou n ded gen esis is a
h orror-viru s; it h as been t h e n ebu lou s su bject of n u m erou s n on t ran scen den t al h u n t s for an im m odest vocabu lary (a call for
s u m m o n i n g): m e t r o ph a ge , v i de o dr o m e , c a da v e r -f e t i , s o f t
m ach in e, n ih ilan t h , m ist -craw ler,residen t evil, et c. Th e
'blacken in g force' of Dru j- m adly glows as t h e 'realit y m ixed wit h
solid' reekin g u p in t h e dept h s of epidem ic Open n ess: darkn ess.
E vaporat ion (evaporat in g an d bein g evaporat ed) in t o Dru j- (lie,
an d Blacken in g agen t s) is ju st w h at sh ou ld be called t h e
econ om y of Abyss, t h e plast ic spirit of darkn ess an d epidem ic
open n ess, all t raversin g t h rou gh 'Kat a-' as it s m ach in eries.
Th e THING wit h an u n grou n ded gen esis is t h e plagu e of
'An on ym ou s u n t il Now'; it is on ly experien ced as a lacerat ion , a
wou n d or an irreproach able disease 'im m in en t ' t o everyt h in g
t akes it s gen t le t ou ch , t h e t ou ch of in cogn it u m h act en u s or
An on ym ou s-u n t il-Now: it is t h e in fern al core of t h e experien ce
it self, t h e Dru jih (Avest an adject ive for Dru j-) affect . Dept h an d
Dru j. Abyss is n on h u m an ly sexu al.
" Sh e n o lon ger kn ows wh ere t o begin : sin gin g, bu rn in g,
abolish in g, liqu idat in g, flowin g, gu sh in g; so sh e does it alm ost
all at on ce in m oist , glowin g disarray. Wh at is sh e t h in kin g t h is
very in st an t ? " [2 4 ]
(Helen e Cixou s, Th e Book of Prom et h ea)
... wh ere.
A PL AGU E (U N)NAME D KATA-: It t akes it s fligh t from m y
body, yet in t h is sen se fligh t is a crash -lan din g, an im plosion , a
kat abasis, a cat afligh t . To arrest Kat a- as 'de- +
scan dere' (n egat ive clim b) is an arch aic polit ical econ om y risin g
can on ically from t h e sph ere of solidit y (St at e of solid an d void),
t h e affordan ce of su rvival econ om y, t h e livew are [2 5 ], it s
Gen esis Project , Gest alt u n gen an d form -at ion . However, Kat ash ows n o n egat ion , n o posit ive posit ion , n o m ovem en t in an y
form , n o t ran s, it radiat es an d scorch es like t h e n u clear
cat ast roph e of t h e su n bu t n ot as an spect acle...it is wh ere
silen ce is m u t at ed t o cold an d t h en t o a n oise wit h n o son ar
wave. It is t h e sou n d of Dru j- wh o ru sh es (descen ds) from t h e
n ort h m ou n t ain s as a fly, as a wh irrin g m ach in e ... " wit h kn ees
an d t ail st ickin g ou t , dron in g wit h ou t en d, an d like u n t o t h e
foulest khrafstras(Avestan word for swarms and
scaven gers)" (Ven didad) [2 6 ]; t h en , wh at kin d of m u sic does
sh e oviposit ? Ru sh in g t o spread t h e con t am in at ion of t h e
epidem ic; on t h e ot h er h an d bu zzin g like a bu llet , Dru j- (an d it s
avat ars) is experien ced as an u lt im at e dru j- (lie), t h e U n real ...
as a bu llet , a prost h esis ou t of m et al, t h at is sh ot ju st for bein g
experien ced. Bu t it h as dissipat ed it s fem in in e epidem ic (Dever
[2 7 ]) lon g before, bot h from wit h in an d from wit h ou t . Th is is
t h e st rat egy of kat a- w h ich does n ot oppose t o An a-, it
possesses An a-, t ran slat es it self as it s t act ical dat a (an abasis),
in filt rat in g it , in vest in g secu rit y h oles all over t h e solidu s core of
An a-, m akin g it a good m eal [2 8 ] an d devou rs it . Th is is wh y
w h e n An a- be ar s, car r ie s an d clim bs t h e U n be din gt (t h e
Hegelian Absolu t e) t h rou gh affordan ce of su rfaces, su rvival
econ om y an d in st it u t ion alizin g it self on t h e com posit ion sof
s o l i ds a n d v o i ds w h i c h m a k e i t s l o c o m o t i o n po s s i bl e ; i t
t ran slat es it self as a st rat egic collapse in t o or affirm at ion of t h e
com posit ion al dept h s (com posit ion s are t h e com m u n icat ive
zon es in wh ich solid is en gin eered as m ess.) of Kat a-, as an
au t o-collapse, a t ot al collapse. E ach sin gle st ep of An a- for
r each in g som ew h er e is n ot h in g bu t ger m in at in g it self on
u n grou n d, descen din g in t o t h e com posit ion s of solid an d void
wh ere it becom es an st rat egic descen t ; for every com posit ion (of
solid an d void) h as a progressive t en den cy t o t h e im plosion of
dim e n s ion s (t h e u n gr ou n din g f or c e s ) a n d pr olif e r a t ion of
dist an ces on Zero. E ach com posit ion (t h ey are n ecessary for t h e
an abasis of an a-) diagram s t h e com m u n icat ion s wh ich can be
su m m arized as t h e lu st t ow ard epidem ic open n ess, or t h e
st rat egy before wh ich m ore isolat ion m ean s m ore lacerat ed,
bru t ally cracked an d laid open . An a- m ain t ain s it s progressive
solidit y by each m ovem en t ; it seeks t o solidify it self, m ore an d
m ore, t o pu rge (devoid) it self of an y void u n t il reach in g t h e
U n bedin gt or Absolu t e, t o set it self free (absolvere) from an y
com posit ion an d con t am in at ion , t o in st all a desert ed m ere-solid
su rface as it s grou n d wit h it s own m ovem en t s, t ran sform at ion s
an d econ om y; bu t solid is always u n der t h e dan ger of bein g
spot t ed an d evaporat ed by t h e u n grou n din g forces (bein g m ore
solid, wh et h er a m icro or m acro st ru ct u re of solid, is equ al t o
bein g m ore exposed); t h en , bein g m ore solidified an d fin ally
absolu t e m ean s bein g exposed t o m ore an d fin ally t h e m ost
bru t al u n grou n din g forces. Pu rged an d econ om ized t h rou gh t h e
m ovem en t s on t h e desert s of solids, t h e U n bedin gt becom es on e
of t h e m ost fan at ic bu t st rat egic affirm at ion s of u n grou n d, a
ragin g m ovem en t t o u n grou n d, w h ich is secret ly n on t ran scen den t al ... wh ere " in n igh t all cows are wash ed ou t
bl a c k " [ 2 9 ] , n o t a h e r d a n y l o n ge r bu t a n t h r o po ph a gi c
m ou t h s ... m ou t h fu ls of green m eat ... or t h e Persian blu e of...?
[...] " an d for an in st an t t h e h erd froze t o absolu t e silen ce.
St riat ion s of locked m u scle cast ligh t webs of sh adow across
sh ou lders an d legs, fu ll capacit y lu n gs bled oxygen in t o frot h in g
blood an d in every an im al brain swit ch es clicked t o act ion m ode.
Tim e st art ed again wit h a sn ap an d t h ey rocket ed alon g t h e
plat form , swirlin g lit t er in t o m in i t orn adoes wit h t h e win d of
t h eir passin g." [3 0 ]
(Mat t h ew St okoe, Cows)
Kat a- is n ot fall bu t a jou rn ey wit h t h e corpse of solidu s; it
is a darkn ess wh o glu es: Wh ere. It h as a cold ch em ist ry, in deed.
Kat a-, it 's all verm in .
CATADRON E : I n Gr e e ce , Asia, Afr ica an d am on g t h e
In dian s, t h e boat w as an in su rgen t m ach in e carryin g t h e
m at erials (t h e m at t er) rot t in g t o t h e core: corpses, in it iat es,
o m e n s , pr o s t i t u t e s , o u t s i de r s , v i l l a i n s , pl a gu e s a n d t o t a l
sickn ess; im passion at e for t h e liqu idat ion of m ap t o ocean .
Th ere is always a deliriu m for a m ap t h rou gh self-abasem en t .
Boat is a vect or of a fem in in e epidem ic open n ess wit h it s lin es of
con t agio an d con t am in at ion (an on ym ou s becom in gs of basepart icipat ion ), lit t erin g dim en sion s as it sails t h em , en t an glin g
a n d s c a v e n gi n g t h e m a s di m e n s i o n a l i t y w r e c k a ge s . B o a t
diagram s t h e an on ym ou s ch art s of becom in g wom an ; it is a
vect or in t o U n derworld, t h e Wh ereor Tart aru s - t h e void in t h e
t erm of corpse of solidu s an d n ot it s pu rgat ion , wh ere it s
t h resh old is m et al an d t h e n igh t is sprayed off in t riple lin es:
n igh t , n igh t an d n igh t all over again , n o day in bet ween ,
bla ck ou t ...w h it e ou t ...t h e N igh t s ... a n a u t oly t ic bla ck n e ss
illu m in at ed by it s ow n m et alloid decay - an d back t o t h e
cu lt ivat ed lan ds of liveware. Th e n igh t beckon s ... Boat is a
n ecroph ilic m ach in e; it crosses dim en sion s, a m ach in e for
spreadin g t h e vile m at t er of corpse, a dim en sion alit y wreckage
on t h e con t agiou s lin es of life. It does n ot n avigat e accordin g t o
a m ap bu t m u t at es across t h e desolat ed ocean s of experien ce,
t h ose ocean ic m ilieu s wh ich n ever exist ed before (is it a t ou ch
of GAS, of an on ym ou s u n t il n ow? ) ... t h e ocean s of vapor, of t h e
t idal waves wit h t h e u biqu it ou s st eps, of t h e liqu idat ed flu ids,
acid rain s an d t h e coast lin es gon e awry for et ern it y. Boat , t h e
creepin g ch asm , con t in u es an d ru n s (m iscarries) t h e in fern al
cell of corpse(s), t h e vow elless deat h ; it h arvest s an d is
h arvest ed by an an on ym ou s m at erial wh ich kn ows n ot h in g of
liveware, su rvival econ om y, flu vial process, bedload, lam in ar
flows an d m ovem en t in all it s form s: a prost h esis, an affix called
Cat a- (Kat a-) risin g as t h e im m in en t 'con t am in at ion (basecom m u n icat ion ) of solid an d void' or t h e corpse of solidu s. Boat
is a cat adron e. Kat a-, t h e prost h esis, is t h e Wh erein it s dark
(m in u s ch rom at ic valu e) alch em y. Kat a- evaporat es as bot h
wh erean d t h e processu s of experien ce, of com m u n icat ion an d
descen t , t h at is t o say, it is wh ere t h rou gh wh ich on e m u t at es,
bleeds an d open s as an ou t lan dish lacerat ion . However, t h ese
becom in gs do n ot sign ify t h at som et h in g or som ew h ere is
ach ieved or reach ed bu t t h ey ru n as a kat abasis in t h e t im e-zero
of n ow (an on ym ou s u n t il Now or GAS) w h ere dept h is t h e
com posit ion al wreckage of solidu s; wh ere dept h of t h ou gh t is
green of ju n gle or Persian blu e of (a) corpse ... Kat a- is t h e
pest is cru en t o [3 1 ] of vision . Ru sh of blood on t h e screen ...
isn 't red a gas?
Sh elley Jackson 's st art lin gly rich voyage, " I was m ade t o
ext in gu ish m yself in t h e flesh of an ot h er" [3 2 ], com poses it self
as an experien ce of dept h an d Kat a-. It em it s as t h e im plosion
sou n d of an arch it ect u re t riggered by a fem in in e epidem ic
open n ess, liqu idat in g all m aps of t h e grou n d an d it s com m odit ies
via t h e con volu t ion s an d m azin g processes of on e com posit ion in
an ot h er t o en gin eer t h e abyss u n foldin g on t o it s im m in en t
darkn ess wh ich is com posit ion al (ou t of allian ce, sym biosis,
parasit ism , possession , et c.) an d n ot devoid ... exh u m in g all
sides of t h e pan oram a an d proceedin g t h e decen t t o t h e pin kou t dept h s of an ot h er. Proceed t h is voyage as far as it will go:
t h e m elt down of t h e com posit ion , t h e GAS.
It is cru cial t o say, t h at Kat a- excarn at es spat ial reason in g
wit h ou t bein g locat ed as a n egat ory or dialect ical or even a
relevan t at t ack u pon solidit y wh ich in carn at es every en cou n t er
as a m ode of solidu s-in -circu lat ion , a lin e of affordan ce or a
fert ilizer of gru n d; recordin g it in t o it s m em ory; bu t , it rises
from t h e corpse of solidu s from all direct ion s, from t h e core t o
wit h ou t an d wit h ou t in t o t h e core, oblit erat in g su rface-core
con ju n ct ive discou rse on t h e on e h an d an d solid affordan ce on
t h e ot h er; coin ciden t ally, in t rodu cin g an d in filt rat in g solidu s in t o
an d wit h collapse ...Wh ere is collapse? - It is Now. Call it
c a t a f ligh t , c a t a ple x y of la u gh t e r , c a t a t on ia , c a t a c ly s m or
kat abasis of a boat , corpse or t h e vowelless deat h ; t h ere is
som et h in g diabolic in t h e m ach in ery of t h is plagu e (kat a-) t o
an yt h in g t h at h as som et h in g of liveware or solidu s an d it s
su rvival econ om y, a diabolic fu m e im m in en t t o t h e m an eu verin g
en gin e of paran oia wh ich in t u rn is fu lm in at ed by t h is in fern al
sm oke. Allan Poe's " Com e wit h m e in t o t h e ou t er n igh t , ..."
wh ispers t h e lu m in ou s gloom of a voyage wit h ou t solid, or a
solidit y n ecrot ized by t h e cold yet m u t at ive ch em ist ry of Kat a-.
Kat a- is wh ere t h e fu m es of corpu s blossom . Sm ell it ; it sm ells
of t h e bu rn t solid.
Notes:
[1 ] Kat abasis (in Greek) refers t o t h e voyage in t o U n derworld
for visit in g or askin g for h elp from t h e dead, in a dan gerou s
rit u al called Neku ia referrin g t o everyt h in g wh ich h as been
n ecrot ized.
[2 ] For m ore discu ssion s on solidit y (solidu s-in -circu lat ion ,
solidit y, solid) an d grou n d see | Pest is Solidu s|
[3 ] Th e t erm affordan ce exploit ed h ere h as som e
in con sist en cies t o t h e origin al t erm coin ed by Jam es Jerom e
Gibson ; apart from t h ese in con sist en cies an d differen ces
wh ich are discu ssed in t h e t ext , bot h delin eat in g t h e sam e
h orizon : t h at t h e regu lat ion s of syst em com m u n icat ion s by
wh ich t h e syst em n ot on ly t races (dem arcat es, defin es, m aps
an d perceives) it self an d it s en viron m en t an d by wh ich
m ain t ain s it s livin g (su rvival) wit h in it s en viron m en t
origin at es from a deeply en m esh ed econ om ic-based n et work
of in t eract ion s, con n ect ion s an d relat ion sh ips in wh ich bot h
t h e syst em an d it s en viron m en t work. Th is n et work
m ain t ain s t h e su rvival of t h e wh ole by m ean s of t h e
affordabilit ies of each syst em t o t h e ot h er t h at is t o say,
syst em s work an d com m u n icat e accordin g t o h ow m u ch t h ey
afford; t h e relat ion sh ips are m apped an d dem arcat ed by
affordabilit ies. Th ese affordabilit ies or affordan ces wh ich are
dist ribu t ed t h rou gh t h e Wh ole act u ally are effect u at ed
t h rou gh bou n daries an d h orizon s. Affordan ce of an
organ izat ion (or a series of syst em s) does n ot on ly m ain t ain
t h e su rvival of it self bu t also t h e ot h er en viron m en t al
organ izat ion s t o wh ich it in t eract s. Wh ole brin gs all
in t eract ion s an d com m u n icat ion s t o t h e h orizon of affordan ce
t h rou gh wh ich syst em s in t h eir prim al object ive are
en gin eerin g t h e life an d t h e su rvival of t h e wh ole an d in t h e
n ext object ive, t h eir own su bsist en ce. Th rou gh t h is h orizon ,
open n ess can n ot go fu rt h er t h an an affordan ce wh ich
m ain t ain s t h e su rvival of wh ole t h rou gh an econ om ic
n et work (su rvival econ om y). Th e logic of n egat ivit y an d
n egat ion s are t h e bu lky sym pt om s of affordan ce an d su rvival
econ om y. E ach n egat ion is n ot h in g bu t an affordan ce
cooperat in g wit h t h e affordan ce of wh ole an d keepin g it s
su rvival econ om y workin g. Th rou gh t h is h orizon of su rvival
econ om y, each in t eract ion or dialect ic of t h e organ izat ion
wit h it self or t h e ou t side is con st ru ct ed on h ow m u ch t h e
syst em affords it or if syst em affords it or n ot aft er all.
However, Gibson ch art s t h e affordan ce t h rou gh visu al
percept ion an d eco-cogn it ive sph ere; su ggest in g t h at
affordan ce t akes su rfaces of all kin ds (occu lt ed, in t ern alized,
abst ract , ..., coiled su rfaces) as it s work-grou n d.
[4 ] Ascen sion (An abasis): t h e appropriat ed an d con cen t rat ory
processes of rise, erect ion , on t ogen esis an d fin ally, above all,
Origin at in g or con figu rat ion t h rou gh Gen esis Project ,
su rvivin g an d dwellin g t h rou gh Su rvival E con om y.
[5 ] For followin g t h e dwellin g / accom m odat in g t rait s of rau m
(room ) an d h orizon , see Bu ildin g Dwellin g Th in kin g in
'Poet ry, L an gu age, Th ou gh t ', Mart in Heidegger, t ran slat ed by
Albert Hofst adt er, Harper Coloph on Books, New York, 1 9 7 1
[6 ] Th is capacit at ion is bot h qu alit at ive an d dim en sion al. On
t h e dim en sion al side, capacit at ion is n ot developed by
workin g on t h e scales of dim en sion s or m ore precisely, t h e
qu an t ifiable m easu res bu t t h e dim en sion s t h em selves or in
an ot h er sen se, t h e organ izat ion of t h e dim en sion s is
recon figu red t o t h e poin t wh ich en ds in a qu alit at ive ch an ge
in t h e wh ole st ru ct u re an d arch it ect u re. For m ore det ails on
t h is recon figu rat ion , see: | Pest is Solidu s|
[7 ] On 'Solidu s-in -Circu lat ion ', see: | Pest is Solidu s|
[8 ] On 'An on ym ou s-u n t il-Now', see: | Pest is Solidu s|
[9 ] On 'Wh ere' see: | Pest is Solidu s| an d | Aceph alou s
Mou t h s|
[1 0 ] On 'Met ron ' see: | Pest is Solidu s| (especially en dn ot e 3 )
an d | Decay|
[1 1 ] On t h e 'st rat egic open n ess' m ore at t h e side of bein g
open ed an d Niet zsch ean affirm at ion see: | A Good Meal|
[1 2 ] Ceron et t i, Gu ido, Th e Silen ce of t h e Body: m at erials for
t h e st u dy of m edicin e (Il Silen zio del corpo), t ran s. Mich ael
Moore, Farrar, St rau s, Girou x (New York), 1 9 9 3 , pp. 1 1 1 -1 1 2
[1 3 ] On t h is st rat egy, see: | A Good Meal| an d | Decay|
[1 4 ] For t h e delin eat ion s of GAS: see | Pest is Solidu s|
[1 5 ] Negarest an i, R., Hom o.st asis, u n pu blish ed
[1 6 ] See | Pest is Solidu s|
[1 7 ] For fu rt h er discu ssion s on com posit ion s, see: | Pest is
Solidu s| an d | Aceph alou s Mou t h s|
[1 8 ] Mich au x, Hen ri, Darkn ess Moves: an Hen ri Mich au x
an t h ology, t ran s. David Ball, U n iversit y of Californ ia Press,
1 9 9 4 , p. 9 1
[1 9 ] On fibroproliferat ion , see: | Aceph alou s Mou t h s|
[2 0 ] For t h e first t im e, Freu d t alked abou t t h e arch it ect u ral
t error of corn ers, as corn ers are t h e zon es of u psu rges an d
wast es of en ergy, wh ere t h e en ergy-produ cin g crash bet ween
t h e edges con figu res a t opograph ic an om aly wh ich can be
easily t h e h ost of n u m erou s visu al expression s (as in t h e
cin em at ic visu alizat ion s of corn ers) in h igh er degrees;
besides, t h ey m ap t h e su dden deform at ion s or t wist s in t h e
con t ou r wh ich t em porarily dist u rb t h e fam iliarizat ion process
of t h e arch it ect u re. However, corn ers becau se of t h eir
depen den cy on su rfaces an d facial m ach in es can n ot go
fu rt h er t h an 'bein g a swam p of en ergies' an d t em porary
u n fam iliarizin g zon es wh ich st ealt h ily fu n ct ion as t h e n odes
passin g t h e circu lat ory con -solidat in g processes of t h e
arch it ect u re.
[2 1 ] On E xh u m at ion , see: | Pest is Solidu s| , | Aceph alou s
Mou t h s| , | Coldies E n gin eerin g| an d | Rem arks on
E xh u m at ion (or filt h en gin eerin g)|
[2 2 ] From t h e San skrit 't o blacken '; it is always experien ced
as Dru j- (an affix, a prost h esis) an d n ot Dru j (e.g. Dru jNasu : t h e corpse-fien d) ... it st icks as Napalm or viral-dam p
(t h e avat ars of GAS)...it st icks in t o everyt h in g. For t h e
delin eat ion s of Dru j- (Mot h er of Abom in at ion s), see: | Pest is
Solidu s| , | In t rodu ct ion t o Maraka Project | an d | Dru j-|
[2 3 ] On 'Mu t at ion ', see: | Rem arks on Asiat ic Peace| an d t h e
rest of t h e art icles at Cold Me
[2 4 ] Cixou s, Helen e, Th e Book of Prom et h ea, t ran s. Bet sy
Win g, U n iversit y of t h e Nebraska Press, 1 9 9 1 , p. 6
[2 5 ] On liveware an d su rvival econ om y, see: | Pest is
Solidu s|
[2 6 ] For m ore in form at ion on Ven didad, see: | In t rodu ct ion
t o Maraka Project | an d | Dru j-|
[2 7 ] Hebrew: Plagu e
[2 8 ] See | A Good Meal|
[2 9 ] Com pare wit h " t h e n igh t in wh ich ... all cows are
black" (Hegel)
[3 0 ] St okoe, Mat t h ew, Cows, Creat ion Books, 1 9 9 9 , p. 1 6 2
[3 1 ] Alch em y of Gore: " Pest is Cru en t o" (L at in : t o m ake
bloodier) ... or blin dn ess by blood ... experien cin g t h e
blacken in g elect ricit y of t h e Red.
[3 2 ] Jackson , Sh elley, Hagfish , Worm , Kakapo, Con ju n ct ion s:
2 2 , Sprin g 1 9 9 4