Development of the #GonzoLecture (03)

I'd like to thank you for reading me, in the 9th year of this peculiar experiment, initially conducted as attempting to model the "construct" of #gonzo as an art form - but now appears, thanks to the various interactions made possible by it, to have blossomed into a fine, learning vehicle, as well as small interest-group, art "school", gang of art outlaws, however you see it.

This Prof helped me with my doctoral directions, to exploit what I was "seeing" in the historical context of what occured, particularly between 2008 and 2013, which I was writing about, at the time.

She was saintly in her "management" of this mentally-ill, freak before her. She interviewed me, for this doctoral qualification they were seeking to establish, decided I was okay, and appeared interested in my proposed, educational construct of #gonzo. I thought I was really into something, at the time, but couldn't really get my head around what it was, I was dealing with.

I was waking up, to the harsh vision of seeing a society, that was being driven for the benefit of others who possessed huge wealth and privilege, and the rest of us were basically being fu¢ked over, expended, valorised into flames, so that this completely unjust state of affairs could be maintained.

I'd been concerned with this, first hand, and noted, in the environments I served, that much of what we as academics were doing, seemed to be a bit of a game (verging, sometimes on racket).

Some "customers" appeared to be complying with some of what they considered to be a not so good, or particularly useful "product", on the implicit understanding that they'd get the award, for which they'd paid.

I think, this state of affairs has been going on for a long time in UK Higher Education, because students didn't have to pay so much, for what was a well-earned path to relative riches.

However, the dastardly fee-change, implemented by the UK Con-Dem govt, which saw in September 2012, the first batch of undergraduates paying £7-9k per year, in fees. I only taught one semester that year and then were really easy-going, and happy with what what I was doing.

I had struggled to adjust to an environment that seemed to function more in accordance with what people fancied doing, than what was strategically expedient for the accomplishment of the mission of the organisation. This is something that I still don't understand.

People seemed to think that success was dependent on controlling the politics, not on doing the work. In the middle of it, some did do good work.

So, I'm recounting some memories of those days. In the middle of it, I hatched something innovative, that might ignite hearts, beneath the frozen facade of the dull, all-encompassing conditioning of this age.

Hello again, Shithead

You'll recall in the run up to the UK's last, fated general election that this blog wholeheartedly attempted to support Gordon Brown's Labour Party.

The basic cases made at the time were that Nick Clegg and his "third-way by default" party were theoretically quite good, with their little hearts in the right place, but basically were interested in power at any price, including the a willingness to renege on any of their "heartfelt" principles at the drop of a hat.

Cameron's evil Tories were going to shamelessly continue Thatcher's hollow, profit-driven dismantling of all unionised labour and public sector provision in a short-termist attempt to finance tax-cuts for the already-rich.

The problem with the only, true option was that Labour had been in power too long and frankly needed a big, fat boot up its arse and a few, healthy years in opposition, whilst it seriously got its shit together.
Well we got the latter arrangement. We did so thanks to the useless Gordon Brown.

Gordon had sat in the wings, presiding over an inevitable economic meltdown at the side of grease-ball Tony Blair. This followed lies regarding our involvement in Iraq and its associated cozying-up to the insane, Bush administration's covert campaign for world domination.

So with the view that it was his turn, Gordon wanted the Prime Ministership as and when it became available. So when Tony Blair had outstayed his welcome, the situation was on the verge of collapse, off he went to cushy, high-paid public-speaking engagements, leaving Gordon to manage the shop.

Though a likely genius and economically able to hold his own, good old Gordon suffered from an awkwardness as a public figure due to strange-looking, bog-eyes and poor communication skills. Bumbling along, more like a toad than an actual man, he ended up the antithesis of Cameron's slickness.
This went really bad for Gordon when the stupid population - about half of which is too dumb and apathetic to even bother voting - bowed to Murdochian, media pressure to allow a presidential-style debate.

What wasn't predicted, was how impressive the hitherto-trivial Clegg would be in his TV performance.
Gordon performed badly in 3 televised debates - he couldn't even look at the camera properly - and then the worst happened.

In a live, local "pressing of the flesh" circus appearance, Gordon did his part, before retiring to the comfort and safety of his convoy. Unbeknown to him, his microphone was left on as he continued to share his observations of his last conversation with a voter.

Unaware that the public could hear his comments, he described the woman as "dreadful" and a few other choice adjectives he should have left well-alone. At that point, Gordon showed his true, self-centred colours and I believe Labour lost the election.

All that was left to do was count the votes and listen to Gordon's pathetic apology to his minions for losing the election single-handedly. He condemned us all to these cruel years of an unelected Clegg-Cameron wasteland, the ramifications of which will likely never be eradicated.

Yesterday it was announced that Gordon was back and would be a special envoy to the international community. Good news for Gordon.

I've never been particularly bothered about the type of work Gordon will be doing in his new role, nor the kind of folk he'll be doing it with.

God help them, that's all I can say.

Do you like Gordon? Post a comment...
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