Tags
consumerism, excess, Experience, Germaine Greer, innocence, Martin Amis, Money, Money: A Suicide Note, the world, wealth
“I, in common with many writers, feel that there’s a great convulsion of stupidity happening in the world. Mostly to do with television. People know a little about a lot, and put very little effort into accumulating knowledge and culture, and when they do, it’s almost like a sort of consumerism of culture…
But with regard to feeling disgust, I think every writer — even the blackest writer — actually loves it all. I suppose it is temperamental, but I don’t sit around feeling disgusted. I feel enthused.
Many of us think the world has reached its nadir, its low point. But in fact this era will be lamented, just like the last. That’s the paradox.
What you can say about the world is that, while it may not be getting any better, it’s getting infinitely less innocent all the time. It’s like, it has been to so many parties, been on so many dates, had so many fights, got its handbag stolen so many times. So the accumulation is what makes the world seem at its worst, always. Because it’s never been through as much as it’s been through today, the earth.”
__________
From an interview with Martin Amis in 1984, discussing his acclaimed novel about consumerism and excess, Money: A Suicide Note.
I’m glad to report that you, the consistent reader of this blog, most likely do not fall into that wide category of people who put minimal energy into absorbing culture and knowledge.
Watch the short discussion with Amis below:
Read previously posted excerpts from Money here:
john said:
Although I have to admit, Martin Amis has always been rather lost on me…
jrbenjamin said:
I can see how that reaction is possible — much of his work is complex, almost obtuse. He’s not for everyone, but his prose is very energetic and full. I like his general observations in interviews to. Always a fresh and perceptive voice.
Thanks for commenting and reading.
Andrew Lang said:
Such a complex character, Martin Amis, both in “Money” and in real life. One of my favorite authors, by far. “Time’s Arrow” is another one of his more perplexing novels.
jrbenjamin said:
Very true. As you can probably tell, I love ‘Money’. I’ve only read part of ‘Time’s Arrow’, but have heard great things. I know that it’s one of the only Martin Amis books which his dad, Kingsley Amis, could stand to read.
Of Amis’s other works, I especially like ‘The Rachel Papers’, ‘The Pregnant Widow’, and ‘Experience’, although his essays are great too.
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