I hear a lot of people throwing around labels for Buk like “Nazi†and “Misogynistâ€. The Nazi thing seems to have come up most recently over a real estate deal in California. It seems to me that one of the parties involved was trying to vilify him in order to sway public opinion. According to an article that I read he was said to have looked around a café or coffee shop that was occupied by several Jews at the time and say “Turn on the gasâ€. This doesn’t seem entirely out of character for Buk seeing as he had a somewhat dark and twisted sense of style and humor, but still I wholeheartedly believe it to have been a joke. In response to the misogyny label he always said that people who said he hated women never knew the ones he was with. This misogyny thing seems to be growing legs. I’m not really sure how you define it. Is misogyny the hatred of women per se, or is it the act of womanizing, which we all know Buk engaged in with great vigor, or is it simply finding the views of the feminist movement to be a bit overstated and fanciful? As in the belief that a woman can do anything a man can do i.e. Police Officer, Firefighter or Soldier? I wonder how Bukowski would come down on all this babbling going on? Possibly he would side with the likes of the much-maligned graphic novelists Dave Sim. But that’s a whole other can of worms.
We have a couple of threads on the Nazi label and the bungalow in our Spotlight section: Was he really a Nazi? The campaign to save Bukowski’s De Longpre bungalow
He repeatedly wrote that women "are more trouble than they are worth." Not a misogynist, per se, but definitely a misanthrope.
Maybe he was just a MAN Any one ever in a relationship or marriage knows that truth of not being able to stand the opposite, at least until one wants laid!!CRB
I think that you can hate what you fear. He certainly did not get close to a woman as an equal until his last years, if he ever did. His last wife Linda finally got to him, I would say, from what I read. Although Jane, was the first woman to show him love and passion . It is not black and white. I would say that he was not a misogynist, but rather a scared man . A philanthrope, very possible but also scared.
Hate women? No. Or, rather, not JUST women...he hated men too: bartenders, bosses, & most every person he passed on the street. He hated a KIND of person, a kind of poetry & writer, & a kind of dull, brow-beaten life lived without gamble or spirit... Just as he loved a handful of well-documented people in his life, who were good & kind to him, & whom he was open & very caring towards... I certainly have people I like & don't like--as I'm sure you all do too. I don't see a difference...& “Nazi†and “Misogynist†seem like desperately inflammatory & irresponsible labels... My $.02
Amen; I've been reading this thread all day and trying to find the right words and Hosh (the fine poet) comes through. Those lines are more than 2 cents. Priceless answer to a BS accusation. Thank you to our dear Hosh.
Wanda: "I hate people, I can't stand them, do you hate them?" Henry: "No, but I seem to feel a lot better when they aren't around."
Since this was question about women, I don't think he hated them. In fact I am sure he loved them, but was bitter, that they didn't return the admiration/love he hoped for. Meaning, he just didn't have much luck with them. The women he wanted, in return wanted those "pretty and dull boys, and their sports cars..." And when, and if, he would somehow end-up with one of those "cupcake" sort, the relationships wouldn't last because, they were with him, at the first place, out of curiosity, or to use him in some way, or he would be probably too overbearing.
I find good answers to the women question in Women. It's funny how I react depending on my state of mind. Most times I've read it I think it's hilarious etc. The last time though, after having boy troubles, it at times does disgust me. But that's not his fault - he's just writing about the way things are between all men and women and people. Women is beautiful and tragic and hilarious. It has such beautiful examples of him being torn up and really caring for women. I just love the Thanksgiving story, oh Tammie, "This turkey needs more SPICES".
i was wondering... was bukowski faithful to his wife?? and also does he ever write about the working condition of his junk as he got older? this was the most suitable place i could think for these questions...
About ? 1, I don't know. ?2- I know he wrote often about performance issues in regard to his alcohol intake. Even trying to slow down/quit so he could better sustain/satisfy. The attempt to quit at one point is what got him onto the horses,('addiction swaping'). Of course, ultimately he ended up combining the two. CRB
does anyone know where i can find pictures of jane? google doesn't have shit. edit: that post was found here: http://plagiarist.com/poetry/7976/
h****d s****s' 'bukowski in pictures' has the only known photo of jane. highschool yearbook? I think? I'd have to look.
Hi, Uncle Howie does have the only unknown photo in his "book". Posting it here will only get him upset and in his threatening mode. Of course, if someone else located a copy of the yearbook, they could post it where ever they wanted as they would have just as much right to post it as he did to publish it. As much as he may think that he owns the copyright to the photo, he does not own the copyright to a photo from a yearbook from the 30's where he was not the photographer and did not get the photographers consent to reproduce it. It very well may be in public domain, but a photograph of the photograph from his "book" would be a violation of his copyright... Not that it is not fun to watch him get angry... Bill
That Unca Howie is incredible! Getting all worked up about some pics from his books being posted here when they´re all over the internet anyway. After all the praise we´ve given his books here, he should´ve viewed it as great promotion instead. Oh, well...
