Maynard James Keenan: Events and Rituals

MJK has the ability and the 'rank' to change the world.. if only people would listen.. or he would maybe speak louder.. in other ways.. John Lennon and the Beatles did it.. i would love to see this happen..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzV-8TofHTw

Beautiful...

"For those stories to accurately span multiple generations, the architect of the verse must have a firm grasp on the important details and be able to wrap them around archetypal frameworks that speak to our daily lives. And then the architect must also understand the importance of a compelling delivery. A skillful storyteller must be employed to pass down the story. And they in turn must be able not only to pass on the story, but also to pass on the skills necessary to effectively deliver the story."

is it just me or does Mr Keenan sound like a Hunter S Thompson fan?

For those artists who tell stories other than by oratory, bravo! Quilts, painting, photography,songs, novels, plays and the millions of other ways to tell a story that doesn't involve something to be plugged in, in order to receive it, I commend you. However, Mr. Keenan is speaking about oratory. Those that have passed down time honored and universal themed stories generation to generation whether it be by stories told around a fire or in a theatre or in your mind as you read. Examples like, gee I don't know, Shakespear, or perhaps Mark Twain.  Then there are "modern" orators, Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Mr. Guthrie, Lennon etc....For me, it's not about "funding" so much as it is about valuing those who we choose to be the voices of our history. Nurture that value, elevate it as a society and as humans sharing the human experience - the funding will take care of itself.

Just a quick observation - 1st article garnered hundreds of comments. We are a fickle bunch :-)

Hmmm...very intuitive. Love the Coates/Goggins reference. I'm sure anyone watching that particular SOA scene was doing the same uncomfortable mental dance. I did as well...so I'm sure there wouldn't be much explaining necessary. I have a hunch she didn't marry due to your Moral Attributes. Besides, it's the surfacing of these situations that make or break it.

Interesting that you mention "B list" actors as among the best, as it seems most of the best actors are not "A list" celebrities, in part because being on the A list makes an actor so famous that his/her celebrity becomes a distraction from the storytelling.  I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic, Reverend, perhaps in a future article, as you are in a rare position to understand the effects of idolatry and fame on storytelling and art more generally.  You also know a thing or two (ahem) about transvestite mammaries, come to think of it.  Maybe not as good a topic.

Bravo, sir. Just picked up the war of art last night. Digging the muse.

Another day to size the day Carpe dium,to gather ye pollen as ye may. For what be fraught, and tossed away for yet another day Will only seep and quietly fade away. So take this moment, and take this time In life, to seek out and add your own rhyme. For as a moment is short, so are our lives No time to live life through vicarious eyes. For if the seed we do not plant, the plant shall not grow. So we only continue to starve, 'till our days grow old. Wanting and wishing our time not to be of waste We store and crush our visions, desires, nay! needs as a paste. For this mask we wear to look like all others Encasing ourselves deep, within our own slumber. Constantly chocking, steadily sleeping as we may. Oppressing our inner child, alas! Never again to let it play. So grab yet what life you have not thrown away, And gather ye pollen, carpe dium, go and seize the day!

@puscifer I really like your column and not because you wrote it. Its a good read through and through.

The Muse is not an artistic mystery, but a mathematical equation. The gifts are those ideas you think of as you drift to sleep. The giver is that one you think of when you first awake. (Roman Payne)

@mjkeenan @phoenixnewtimes if there were a weekly, say hour long Maynard rant/ commentary, I would dvr the shit out of that shit

"For those stories to accurately span multiple generations, the architect of the verse must have a firm grasp on the important details and be able to wrap them around archetypal frameworks that speak to our daily lives. And then the architect must also understand the importance of a compelling delivery."

Seems you're over-thinking it. The architects you're referring to are acting spontaneously; essentially "losing themselves in the charioting". Conduits of the archetype, magicians pulling the unknown out of their hat, surprising themselves and others simultaneously. It surprises me you'd put much weight on a rational approach. Who plans their dreams? 

And everyone: stfu about his itunes reference.

I could definitely do without the itunes reference. It saddens me that all music is somehow being bought from a computer company and making them wealthier than say, oh... maybe the musicians themselves.

But no matter what Maynard writes about, I can't help focusing on the "I've got 3 bands, a vineyard, and I watch Sons of Anarchy and Walking Dead. And now I'm writing this column." WTF, I don't think he'll be happy until he has so much to do he is unable to sleep, lol.

NIce article and point of view. One thing I have to disagree with is your reference to passing by crafts without a glance. If you think I can't tell a story with a quilt you're sadly mistaken. People who have some talent in the art world usually are gifted with more than one. In your case they would be music and wine making so far as I am aware. Try not to denigrate all forms of art, there may be more to it than your own understanding.

Keep up the good work and looking forward to your next blog. 

A free-market system doesn't give a shit about walking on the moon -- it required an arms race and government intervention(what you yanks call 'stalinism', ironically) to make that happen. If you want the arts funded because they have some long term gain then I suggest you re-evaluate your position on 'entitlement' (which is basically the same as what Reagan and Thatcher were saying -- and, hilariously, it was also a reaction to economic downturn). Again, free markets generally don't precipitate any long term contingencies. You'll have to accept a little 'entitlement', i'm afraid.

hysterical paroxysm out.

Nice itunes plug...

Interestingly I agree on all aspects. I'm glad I'm not the only one that wakes up to such thoughts. Thanks for the fuzzy feeling that I'm not alone .-)

good ethnographic observation. cheers!

Very inspiring article! I could not agree more with you on actors/actresses not being able to "be" the character they have been fabricated to do.  Yeah it would be hard to explain that one to the wife as well, ha! :)