The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, April 11, 1980, Page Page 8, Image 8
Hawkcs e
his 'eccen
Bv Lisa Milos
Gamecock Staff Writer
John Hawkes, the third speaker
in the English Department's
Spring Writers Series, was able to
reveal his absurd, yet at times
grotesque world to a receptive
audience Tuesday night in the Belk
Auditorium.
Hawkes, whose first full-length
novel entitled The Cannibal was
published in 1949, has since added
to his list of iiccomplishments
considerably. His books include
Travesty. Second Skin, The Blood
Oranges. The Owl, and most
recently. Passion Artist.
HAWKES APPEARS to take his
field of interest quite informally,
however. As if mentioning some
aspect of the weather, he tells
stories about taking a year off to
write a novel in the South of
France. Even normal "writer
pnoDia (me ever-present tear
that ideas will cease to flow into
Robe i
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trie' brand
the bodily form of syllables and
mental stasis will set in) doesn't
seem to concern him to any
significant degree. The smallest
details, such as ants and
oceanliners, carry with them the
capability to trigger yet another
novel in Ilawkes' mind.
ADMITTING he is "obsessed"
and, one might add, fixated with
sex, Hawkes turns his personality
quirks into contemporary fiction
that comments on "the kinship of
love and terror" in twentieth
century life with pallid humor.
Although the majority of the
audience appreciated Hawkes
macabre comedy, the absurdity
and grotesque eccentricity of his
passages evoked at best a few
uneasy, almost tense chuckles
from others. His humor is the type
commonly found in mental institutions
or at the scene of an
accident. In such serious, grave
' mrjffinY&- Hk
BSI W WF
-.'- " ' " T ' ^rt^-Tr-t^-ll' . "%. " '- - '
t Gordon
fBy Joe Musg
Gamacock Staff
When browsing throug
releases, it is easy to m?
about Robert Gordon's
Boy. At first glance it a
another nf?w wavp alhn
F mistake.
First, there is Gordon
sleeve white shirt, blacl
look are reminiscent <
Presley. Add his foe
dangling cigarette and 1
over. The song titles like
Boy," "Born to Lose," i
very little to dispell tl
impression. Robert Goi
not a punk.
HIS MUSIC is rock ai
classical sense. It ranj
inspired rockabilityto c
love songs. Robert Gord(
the music of the fifties, t
said, "I'm not tryi
something. This is how I
believe him. He is cons
with the intense deliver}
reportedly is the same (
! onstage.
t Bad Boy, Gordon's fo
W most polished and wel
L but does not take any ol
L off his inspired vocals
jj^ "Sweet Love on My Mi
the album rocking and
^ IL great guitar work by
gkgfll "The Worrying Kind" p<
Wr* syncopated beat which
W"',' the classic "Summertim
HP''v" "Bad fioy," the title tr
f/\nrrl un+lt
LUWU WILII
of humor
situations there is something
inherent that often elicits a
response of laughter from individuals
who sincerely might not
wish to be cruel or insensitive.
Hawkes is a master at achieving
this type of humor.
FOK EXAMPLE, Hawkes
describes his novel. Second Skin,
as "a comic novel about suicide."
One passage read centered around
a young fat boy named Skipper
who earnestly attempts to deter his
father from suicide by sawing
away on his cello. The father, a
mortician who has holed himself
up in the bathroom with a pistol, is*
not sufficiently moved by his son's
musical prowess; he completes his
dastardly deed. As Hawkes puts it,
"It's a scene in which art fails."
A passage from his latest novel,
Passion Artist, follows the same
vein of black humor In it n vnunt*
? ? J o
boy who one evening oberved his
mother setting fire to his father
has been placed in a Home for
Disordered Children. His many
experiences at the home include
sexual assaults by an older woman
and sexual arousal by a young girl
who persistently refers to herself
in the third person singular.
JUST AS THE point of climax of
the latter encounter draws near,
the two discover that they have
been followed to their secret love
nest by one of the Disordered
Children. A chase ensues, during
which the boy accidentally
disturbs a wasp nest. The result is
severe wasp stings on many
discreet and indiscreet portions of
the young protagonist.
Another work entitled Travesty
is equally consumed with "sex and
the imagination." Hawkes explained
that the book contains "the
only passage I've ever written in
at his bet
ove beat that bounc
Vfit?r comes "A Pictui
1 the new record easily be mistak
ke a big mistake Elvis movie. The
new album Bad as well as the n
jpears to be just suited for the K
n. It is an easy "Torture," whicl
emotional songs,
very vivid imprej
himself. His long by a very exhaus
pants, and surly affair. "Crazy M
f the late Elvis and gets things r
-high hair and work from horn a
e is new wave all
"Torture," "Bad
nd "Nervous" do "In an
is powerful first - .
don, however, is 'S fGtUrnir
age. Robe
d roll in the true not have t
es from country .locIir, . ^
ooning Elvis-like always be
n does not imitate
b lives it. He once Side two mys
ig to recreate original Gordon
Feel." It is easy to Lose." The instn
antly impressive liveliness which i
of his vocals and throughout the e
erson offstage as side two are thre<
the honky tonk ti
being "Uptown"
hit "NWrl V
irth album, is his a beautiful slow r
produced effort,
the rugged edges Robert Gordon
The first song, He can sing all ki
id," really starts jazz rock to movii
rolling featuring it like Elvis, Bi
Chris Speddling. casion, like hims<
is returning to
Gordon does not
ssesses a driving always been the
s very similar to popular to imitat
iBlues.". and roll, he is r
ack, has a slower Gordon is the gen
Author John Hawkes durit
Auditorium Tuesday night. Han
presented in the USC Writer s S
praise of a child," citing the rather t
obvious fact that, in past books, the s
"children Hnw'l fam " L
v.wa? ?. IMI V U VII . >
However, the praise of children in \
Travesty is purely in a com- i
parative sense; taken separately I
without juxtaposing the book f
beside his other endeavors, the s
character of little Pascal is clearly t
it with 'Be
:es lightly along. Then
re of You" whirh rotild
en for the opening of an ^
lead and backup vocals, W7 r
lusic would be perfectly
ing. Also on side one is
1 is one of Gordon's most K|!
His drained vocals give a
5sion of someone tortured luting
and frustrating love wi
an Crazy" ends the side tg
oiling with excellent jazz ^
nd guitar solos.
sra when music
ig to an earlier
rt Gordon does
o return, he has
en there."
teriously opens with an
composition "Born to
imental sets the mood for
s remarkably maintained
ntire song. Houdnint? nut
5 songs which are more in
adition, the most notable \
which was a Hoy Orbison
finishes the album and is
loving love song. Jj
is a versatile performer.
nds of rock and roll, from Jr
lg love ballads. He can do Jtt&m
iddy Holly, and, on oc- JESsjp
If. In an era when music jSBBH
an earlier age, Robert ...
have to return, he has
re. In a day when it is
e the style of early rock
10 impersonator. Robert
nine article. 4IHH
4 *
< ?
JXHI
Wm
?
i ^ 1^6:
Dave Carlson ? GAMECOCK
ig his reading at the Belk
fkes was the third author to be
eries.
jelabored with an almost
iadistically contrived, incurable
Jedipal complex.
Hawkes, in his own inimitable
vay, pokes repulsive fun at fiction
tnd the repulsiveness of life itself,
lis technique that is comfortable
or John Hawkes, and one that
leems to be gaining appreciation
hrough a burgeoning audience.
id Boy*