bLOGOS/HA HA: Professor Laughwell

David Jones, artist and poet (1895-1974) begins his PREFACE TO THE ANATHEMATA :

'I have made a heap of all that I could find.' (1) So wrote Nennius, or whoever composed the introductory matter to Historia Brittonum. He speaks of an 'inward wound' which was caused by the fear that certain things dear to him 'should be like smoke dissipated'. Further, he says, 'not trusting my own learning, which is none at all, but partly from writings and monuments of the ancient inhabitants of Britain, partly from the annals of the Romans and the chronicles of the sacred fathers, Isidore, Hieronymous, Prosper, Eusebius and from the histories of the Scots and Saxons although our enemies . . . I have lispingly put together this . . . about past transactions, that [this material] might not be trodden under foot'. (2)

(1) The actual words are coacervavi omne quod inveni, and occur in Prologue 2 to the Historia.
(2) Quoted from the translation of Prologue 1. See The Works of Gildas and Nennius, J.A.Giles, London 1841.

06 August 2017

Professor Laughwell

Young and old at bLOGOS/HA HA have been enjoying the Friday evening re-screenings of the 1960s Batman television series on SBS Viceland.

The most recent, episode six - Batman Is Riled, featured our favourite supervillain The Joker played by Cesar Romero.

Cesar Romero as The Joker : "HA HA! Look, I've been framed!"

detail

A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/

someone looks at something...

LOGOS/HA HA

Holy Headline #1 :

The responsibility of the press

Robin: All the same! "The Joker is wild!" "Batman and Robin foiled again!" Holy Headlines, do we look like page one dumbbells!

Batman: Too true, Robin. The responsibility of the press is to report the truth, despite what it might do to our public image. Our main concern is to a frightened public, whom we seem to be failing.

Robin: Gosh, you're right. I can't help thinking of only myself. I'm sorry.

Batman: Well, that's okay, chum. We all have the right to be selfish sometimes.

Holy Headline #2 :

Holy grammar!

Joker: Batman and Boy Wonder? Are your blindfolds in place? Very well, then. Ask yourselves, "What is wrong with this sentence?" "He who laughs last laughs good!" [laughs]

[Batman turns off the television.]

Robin: Holy grammar! Is that all?

Batman: He who laughs last laughs best, not good! Best! Best! Best!

Robin: Do you suppose "blindfold" might have something to do with it?

Alfred: If I may venture an opinion, sir, I think Master Dick may have put his finger on it.

Batman: Blindfold?

Alfred: No, sir. Grammar. The sentence was gramatically incorrect. One does not laugh good, sir. One laughs well.

Batman: Why, that's it, Alfred! Laughs well! Laughwell! Professor James J. Laughwell!

Robin: Holy safari! The one that just got back from Africa, with a collection of rare masks and objects of art!

Alfred: That's where the blindfold part would come in, sir.

Batman: And they're being stored at the Lasts Longer Warehouse! To the Batmobile!

Masks of The Joker : Theatre of the Actors of Regard