A Blog for RCBZ "Alexander Wept"

[cheryl penn]

Mail Art Received Beginning November 2010.

Across the ether eye RCBz spotted a title that tickled his keyboard.

The result was a series of 10 postcards which will be collated into a book. The first problem Alexander encounters is the Rubik's Cube. As opposed to ONE Gordian Knot, over 100 million cubes were sold between 1980 and 1982. But, I think Alexander tackled the knot like the record cube solve - 16.5 seconds! An intractable problem solved by a bold stroke. So why's the jester on the throne? The licensed fool, the wild card? The fool on the throne will "turn him to any cause of policy, the Gordian Knot of it he will unloose" (Shakespeare). A complex wild card.

Alexander as a genetic variation of Napoleon - think so. In fact Alexander had to borrow Napoleons horse when he invaded South Africa as Bacephalus was suffering from jet lag.

But, for all his winning and conquering and defeating and acquiring, Alexander is beset with melancholia. Poor man - I cant see why a pair of stilettos cant cure anybody? Alex was short, stocky but tough - Green, quoting ancient sources writes "his neck was in some way twisted, so that he appeared to be gazing upward at an angle. His eyes (one blue, one brown) revealed a dewy, feminine quality. He had a high complexion and a harsh voice." I think his megalomelancholia outweighed his megalomania - it may have had to do with his congenital scoliotic disorder. Poor Alexander, life is never perfect.

RCBz ends his cards with a note "upon realizing there were no other gods, that each man is his own god, Alexander Wept".

WHAT does Alexander REALLY need I wonder?

[Marie Wintzer]

!!!
Brilliant!