tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4464222071440015933.post6727183528788064951..comments2024-01-23T17:14:04.067-05:00Comments on Jaltcoh: "Who do you trust?"John Althouse Cohenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11703450281424023177noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4464222071440015933.post-88553191327202173022009-07-26T12:46:06.844-04:002009-07-26T12:46:06.844-04:00If I know Almodovar has written and directed somet...If I know Almodovar has written and directed something, or Stephenson has written something all by himself, I don't even ask what it's about. I just throw my money at it. That's trust.<br /><br /><i>Haven't read Stephenson -- too many words.<br /><br /></i>Who would have thought that in an age where people are thought to have short attention spans that a baroque writing style, drenched in philosophy, would sell? <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/djwudi/3617012248/" rel="nofollow">He's a heroic author</a> who requires heroic readers. <br /><br />I've been thinking about trust for several days, and I think the best way for someone to gain our trust is to trust us. Don't tell us everything, leave problems for us to work out. Then when we understand what you are trying to say, it will be all the more meaningful.Jason (the commenter)https://www.blogger.com/profile/16045360562791361484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4464222071440015933.post-29321295711105090102009-07-24T10:20:08.625-04:002009-07-24T10:20:08.625-04:00Interesting! The only one I've read is Sei Sho...Interesting! The only one I've read is Sei Shonagon. I trust her to be witty and observant, a good teacher about a culture that's exotic to me. I've seen an Almadovar movie or two, and I trust him to be -- well, the same things I said about Shonagon, plus a clever visual storyteller. Haven't read Stephenson -- too many words. Just looked up Hong Zicheng on Wikipedia -- sounds like my kind of guy, a kinsman of Issa or Tu Fu: not too many words.Richard Lawrence Cohenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01951947957345891398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4464222071440015933.post-15122854773040952132009-07-23T19:32:44.861-04:002009-07-23T19:32:44.861-04:00Okay, I'll be daring and say who I trust: Neal...Okay, I'll be daring and say who I trust: Neal Stephenson, Sei Shōnagon, Pedro Almodóvar, Hanuman, and Hong Zicheng.Jason (the commenter)https://www.blogger.com/profile/16045360562791361484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4464222071440015933.post-74017936488195439302009-07-23T11:19:09.591-04:002009-07-23T11:19:09.591-04:00Good question, Jason, but you can compare translat...Good question, Jason, but you can compare translators and get the gist. As a reader of prose, I like to find the most accurate and readable (two qualities that may not coincide) translation I can, for my own pleasure; but it would be hard for any conscientious translation to significantly distort Chekhov's honesty, his lack of illusion, his love of reason and freedom.Richard Lawrence Cohenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01951947957345891398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4464222071440015933.post-36624984289428385142009-07-23T07:15:46.334-04:002009-07-23T07:15:46.334-04:00Anton Chekhov. Marcus Aurelius. Montaigne.
But ca...<i>Anton Chekhov. Marcus Aurelius. Montaigne.<br /><br /></i>But can you trust the translators?Jason (the commenter)https://www.blogger.com/profile/16045360562791361484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4464222071440015933.post-17606807929748157642009-07-22T11:48:10.280-04:002009-07-22T11:48:10.280-04:00George Orwell. Anton Chekhov. Marcus Aurelius. Mon...George Orwell. Anton Chekhov. Marcus Aurelius. Montaigne. <br /><br />Among living people? As Eisenhower said, "Give me a week and I'll think of one."Richard Lawrence Cohenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01951947957345891398noreply@blogger.com