Blaser discussing the notion of duality in Egyptian cosmology as found in The Book of the Dead. He then goes on to speculate on the alterations in the relationships between the Egyptian gods. Further speculation is given to the results of Set; homosexual tendencies. Notion of duality. Blaser draws interesting assumption as he displays that Oasis is death from which life arises and Set is life... Show moreBlaser discussing the notion of duality in Egyptian cosmology as found in The Book of the Dead. He then goes on to speculate on the alterations in the relationships between the Egyptian gods. Further speculation is given to the results of Set; homosexual tendencies. Notion of duality. Blaser draws interesting assumption as he displays that Oasis is death from which life arises and Set is life from which death arises. As the relationship between the two gods deteriorates, Death becomes a visible, semi-separate entity unto itself. The shift in emphasis on the worship of Set by the Egyptians. Blaser describes the ideas, mainly the "layers of the world" concept, that he wants the students to keep in mind as they read and re-read the text(s). Discussion turns to the "central issues", relating from two particular texts, they being Causual Mythology and Poetry and Truth. Some of these "issues" include the notions of narrative and vocabulary. Beginning of a discussion on the narrative as having two particular facets, that of speech and that of speaking. Blaser goes on to say "...narrative is made up of events, not facts." He stresses the ability of the narrative to pull the reader into the work. Investigation into what Blaser calls "the means whereby we wish to speak of the active mode...". Topics such as sense, nonsense and a "pure" language are to be raised. Reiteration of the active role the reader must play in the events of the narrative. "Presense" in the work of Jack Spicer, who most of the preceding discussion dealt with. Also, introduction of Surrealistic concepts into the discourse, specifically "the violent displacement of language that is then intended to control the marvelous". Suggestion to read specific letters of Arthur Rimbaud. The letters announce the psychological notion of "otherness". Blaser lays great emphasis, perhaps even the major emphasis of the entire course, on the "constant operation of the language". Elaboration follows. Foucuat, French poet, and his analysis of the evolution of the modern mind is stressed. It too utilized the concept of "otherness" in a slightly economic sense. Tape ends, cutting Blaser off in a discussion of scientific principles. Tape cuts in on some humorous interplay between Blaser and his students. Discussion moves back to the multi-textured issue of language. Language, it is stressed, by its very nature involves a sense of "otherness". "I'm not paying any attention, at this point, to God and all that stuff" says Blaser; he is dealing with direct experience. The consciousness of modern language and its restructuring. Blaser reads from an essay by Zollah, the title of the essay is unintelligible- that stresses social oneness. Linguistic origins and the developments of Indo-European tongue are brought to the discussion, especially the connection between myth, symbols and the resulting language in the construction of the self. Question of a point of detail from a member of the seminar. Blaser responds by reading from the text and repeating some of what he said previously. He uses the question as the link to "the consistent movement inside language". Blaser turns to a book by Western Labarr called Ghostdance for which he expresses particular distain for its overly simplistic and naturalistic approach to the subject of religion. Question from a seminar member concerning Spicer. Blaser feels the student has misunderstood his position and goes to reexplain that "the consistent efforts of all these texts is to speak to its own historical past", adding further examples to strengthen his position. The student seems satisfied with the response, as do others in the seminar. Turn to Causual Mythology as reading for next seminar is assigned. Class breaks up with Blaser commenting on how much he appreciates question and dissent in his classes. Sound ends. Side Two over. Show less