Perec - Practical Exercises

Observe the street, from time to time, with some concern for system perhaps.
Apply yourself. Take your Time.
Note down the place: the terrace of a cafe near the junction of the Rue de Bac and the Boulevard Saint Germain
the time: seven o' clock in the evening
the date: 15 May 1973
the weather: set fair
Note down what you can see. Anything worthy of note going on. Do you know how to see what's worthy of note? Is there anything that strikes you?
Nothing strikes you. You don't know how to see.

You must set about it more slowly, almost stupidly. Force yourself to write down what is of no interest, what is most obvious, most common, most colourless.

Georges Perec, Species of Spaces, 1997:50

Best question: Do you know how to see what's worthy of note? How do i see? When do i know what i'm seeing is either interesting or relevant? How do i mark this 'note-worthy-ness'? How do i share my 'things worthy of note'? Are thier different ways to explain why i find things 'worthy'? Do i have hierarchies of 'worthy-ness'?

Comments

[rodcorp]

So many things on that long spectrum of noteworthy to not-noteworthy, and sometimes it depends when the thing presents itself to the eye or mind, doesn't it.

Those ideas in the night that during the day would have been noted, but because the room is dark and the eyes closed and the hand immobile and the duvet so heavy... you don't and instead (usually foolishly) trust the mystic writing pad to do the job for you and remember.

[adam]

One approach to "worthiness" would be the information-theoretical one: the "difference that makes a difference," right? What differs from moment to moment over the course of a day, from day to day over the course of a year?

That's the way a frog's eye works, or so we're told. But under Nurri's influence I've almost begun to wonder if it isn't the things that do not change (even across technological paradigm shifts and political dynasties) that shouldn't be most closely attended to - the secret truth of a situation and its ultimate ground.

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