DOCUMENTATION: Cheryl Penn's Chapter #5 Contribution to the Asemics 16 Collaborative Book Project (Kwa Zulu Natal, South Africa)

Mail-art by IUOMA member Cheryl Penn (Kwa Zulu Natal, South Africa)

 

October 10, 2011 - The envelope containing Cheryl Penn's contribution to the fifth edition of the Asemics 16 collaborative mail-art book project presents a key to understanding the chapter: "The seeping fade to Post Literacy." Indeed, this chapter is far more subdued than its predecessors. Here is the opening page:

 

 

This is a case where scans cannot adequately capture the subtle tones and textures of language floating like apparitions over whiteness. Penn is experimenting with partially obscured or fragmented backwards letters, an interesting idea for sure.

 

This fifth edition has the theme of "Asemic Syntax." I believe Penn is offering the fairly ingenious suggestion that we should look to the blankness of the page and its interaction with written or printed symbols (like the spoken word's relationship to silence) as a fundamental root of syntax. And - following her stated concept on the envelope - words fading back into silence - represent the oft-lamented loss of literacy that so many believe we are witnessing. Here are pages two and three:

 


Most of the chapter focuses on partial words and phrases. While her concept is built on minimalism, Penn has added considerable depth to the piece with what appear to be small, bits and shred of symbols so subtle or faded they can barely be perceived by the eye. The paradox - the reversal of expectations - comes when one looks for a time at the whiteness of the pages and begins to find more and more symbols that can be barely seen let alone read or understood. This seems to be yet another novel approach to asemic writing: reverse disappearing ink? Here is the center section, pages four and five:

 


The colored layering on these pages is more pronounced, and it's not unlike the effects achieved by David Baptiste-Chirot (Cheryl Penn invents Chirot Lite?). As yet another possibility for asemic syntax, she uses linear structures very similar to her earlier (and very successful) work with grids. Her overlaying of hand-written asemics on (apparently) randomly typed letters generally works, more effectively in some areas than others, I think. Here are pages six and seven:

 

 

The incredible textural achievements of this chapter are very clear on these pages. Even the grain of the paper seems to be asemic, which brings me back to Cheryl Penn's stated intention: "The seeping fade to Post Literacy." This suggests that her Chapter 5 is a eulogy to the Age of the Printed Word and an assumed decline of literacy. Certainly the possibility of this decline provokes nostalgia and regret in many. It does not, however, in any way suggest The End of Language. 

 

For me, the conceptual roots of this chapter are derived from postmodernism, which might fairly be described as a decades-long dirge about the death of literature and the limits of language. Penn's chapter immediately made me think of John Barth's seminal "Literature of Exhaustion" essay: All the inherited forms are worn out. I think of Samuel Beckett's insistent, "I can't go on; I must go on," as his own writing, over a lifetime, grew less and less, finally melding with silence. Cheryl Penn seems to raise pomo tropes in asemic writing. Here is the final page:

 


For me, this chapter works only partially as a eulogy to literacy. The idea of post-literature is different from post-literate. Post-literature refers to art, produced in a post-literate era, that in various ways does not abandon but instead draws upon literary and related artistic traditions. Cheryl Penn's fifth chapter contribution to the Asemics 16 project, I think, achieves the status of post-literature. The pretense of nihilism and despair is relegated to a secondary concern by the beauty and achievement of the work that is a synthesis of both the old and new. This provides wonderful closure to her five contributions to this phase of the Asemics 16 Project.

 

Views: 438

Tags: Cheryl-Penn, Sloan, asemic-writing

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Comment by De Villo Sloan on October 10, 2011 at 7:05pm
Thanks for the comment, Cheryl. I do think this piece should be viewed in the context of all five chapters.
Comment by cheryl penn on October 10, 2011 at 5:28pm
Just getting back to Asemics - I wanted to say that working on all 5 books has been a gratifying process - some sort of milestone and a process based practice.  In doing all 5 I found almost a 'life-cycle' happening within asemic text - like all texts I suppose.  A beginning - for me - founded in ancient writing systems (1), the mechanics of this writing form (2), the mechanics plus Place (3), an attempt to systematize, see through, ask questions about the nature of asemics  - make logical the  appearance of aasemic writing and finally, some sort of look at the future - don't know if this makes sense, but just wanted to say :-) X
Comment by cheryl penn on October 10, 2011 at 5:11pm
Remember "Fade to Grey"?
Comment by De Villo Sloan on October 10, 2011 at 5:07pm

FLUXUS BARBIE

Comment by cheryl penn on October 10, 2011 at 4:39pm
Looks like dinner is fading too? :-) X
Comment by De Villo Sloan on October 10, 2011 at 4:26pm
Comment by DKeys on October 10, 2011 at 3:45pm
I think that was DVS' attempt at replicating the baked asemic recipe. We did say we were coming to dinner and I bet his 'dish' has remained preserved for us even withOUT refridgeration.
Comment by cheryl penn on October 10, 2011 at 3:30pm
Thanks DK :-) - by the the way - did we say we were going to come to dinner - bearing in mind the processed offering? I suppose its like baked asemics in a way? Just not so attractive :-)))X
Comment by DKeys on October 10, 2011 at 3:28pm

I know Cheryl--I have NO idea how the type got that big but It really does express how much I LOVE your chapter. We both know the asemic baking secrets and must not tell under penalty of death (plus I have no idea what I did)

I finished your photo project Cheryl and it was so much fun to do-your projects are fabulously stimulating!!

Comment by cheryl penn on October 10, 2011 at 3:21pm
DK - seeing you write SO BIG made me hunt for a MAKE THIS BIGGER BUTTON!! - Still cant find one :-(.  This is a secret recipe too :-))))

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