Re: Ramblings of Randroids

Matthew_Stevenson@baylor.edu
Mon, 26 Oct 1998 11:50:03 -0600

actually i was trying to rally people around thoreau's contention that the
physical act of writing itself engenders ideas which the writer probably would
not otherwise have produced.  this is an interesting phenomenon from a
physiological point of view.  the act of writing involves the simultaneous use
and stimulation of many different areas of the brain (motor cortex, visual
cortex, wernicke's and broca's language areas, &c.).  this causes an increase
in blood flow to the brain and higher intensity of brain waves which will
"spill over" into other areas of the brain not directly involved in the act of
writing.  this high level of brain wave activity can in many cases result in
the startling development of ideas the writer had no intention of producing.

the really great part about all this is thoreau hit the nail on the head
without any thoughts as to brain waves and their affiliated crap.--matt

ps i use the lower case to distinguish myself from the inimitable Monsieur
Kozusko whose brilliance throws all else into perpetual shadow.

pps erin (one n), in response to camille's post retained below, posted
something about "Matt always having a purpose."  did you mean big "M" or
little "m"?

On Fri, 23 Oct 1998 09:10:53 +1000 verona_beach@geocities.com (Camille
Scaysbrook) wrote:

>
>
>> "I myself write often solely for the purpose of writing.  you'd be
>> surprised at some of the things you can free your mind to say when
>> you're not trying to say anything."--matt
>>
>>
>> Isn't there an inherent contradiction here? You're purposefully doing
>> something with the aim of doing nothing so that you will end up
>> surprising yourself, and doing something. Therefore, with no
>> expectations, you have hopes, and with hopes, you have some dregree of
>> the aim of doing something.
>
>No, I don't think so. The original distinction was between writing for a
>purpose and writing for no purpose. I think what Matt is trying to say is
>that sometimes it's possible just to write for the enjoyment of writing,
>for no real aim or purpose but to exercise your writerly muscles.
>
>Camille
>verona_beach@geocities.com
>@ THE ARTS HOLE www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Theater/6442
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