Barthes, Roland - Incidents

8/11/2019 Barthes, Roland - Incidents

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Preferred Citation: Barthes, Roland. Incidents. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1992. http://ark.cdlib.or /ark:/1!"!"/ft#v19n9$1/

Incidents

Roland Barthes

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS

Berkeley Los Angeles Oxford

1 ! The Re"ents o# the Uni$ersit% o# Cali#ornia

Preferred Citation: Barthes, Roland. Incidents. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1992. http://ark.cdlib.or /ark:/1!"!"/ft#v19n9$1/

The Li"ht o# the S&d'O&est

% ! %&oday, '(ly 1), the *eather is splendid. +ittin on the arden bench ands (intin so as to obliterate all perspective, the *ay children do, - see a daisy

in the flo*erbed, flattened a ainst the eado* on the other side of the road.&his road flo*s past like a cal river occasionally traveled by aotorbike or a tractor 0those are the real so(nds of the co(ntry no*,

(lti ately no less poetic than birdson : infre (ent, they e phasi$e nat(re ssilence and sta p it *ith the discreet si ns of h( an activity , the road *illirri ate a *hole o(tlyin district of the villa e. 3or odest tho( h it is, thisvilla e has its eccentric districts. -sn t the villa e, in 3rance, al*ays acontradictory space4 5i ited, centered, it nonetheless e6tends (ite far

ine, (ite classically, has one s (are, one ch(rch, one bakery, one phar acy, t*o rocery stores 0- sho(ld say, today, t*o s(per arkets b(t italso has7a sort of caprice that flo(ts the apparent la*s of h( an eo raphy 7t*o barbers and t*o doctors. 3rance, the co(ntry of the juste milieu 4


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Rather7and this on all levels of national life7the co(ntry of co ple6 proportions.

% 8 %y +(d ;(est is si ilarly e6tensible, like the daisy and like all i a es that

chan e their eanin *ith the level of perception *here - choose to locatethe . 3or e6a ple, - can identify, s(b


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y third +(d ;(est is even s aller: it is the city *here - spent ychildhood, later y vacations as an adolescent 0Bayonne , it is the villa e to*hich - ret(rn every year, it is the tra


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;(est as e ory refracts it *ithin e, it is beca(se - tr(st 'o(bert s for (la:>Go not e6press yo(rself as yo( feel, b(t as yo( re e ber.>

&hese inconse (entialities, then, are a kind of ate*ay to that h( ere ion *ith *hich sociolo ical data and political analysis are concerned. Hothin , for instance, has ore i portance in y e ory than the odors ofthat old nei hborhood, bet*een Hive and @do(r, *hich is calledle petit

Bayonne : all the obespadrilles> is not (sed braided by old Bas (e en, hot chocolate, +panisholive oil, the con

% I %ested look of the dark shops and the narro* streets, the flyspecked paper of

the books in the (nicipal library7it all f(nctioned like the che icalfor (la of a vanished co erce 0tho( h this nei hborhood still keeps a littleof the old char , or, ore e6actly, f(nctions today like the for (la of thatdisappearance. By its s ell - can detect the act(al chan e of a certain type ofcons( ption: the sandals 0soles pathetically lined *ith r(bber are no lon erhand ade, the chocolate and the olive oil are bo( ht o(tside the to*n, in as(per arket. &he odors are over and done *ith7as if, parado6ically, theincrease in (rban poll(tion drove off the ho(sehold s ells, as if >p(rity> *erea perfidio(s for of poll(tion.

@ f(rther ind(ction: in y childhood - kne* any fa ilies of theBayonnais bo(r eoisie 0there *as so ethin (ite Bal$acian abo(t theBayonne of those days - kne* their habits, their rit(als, their conversations,their *ay of life. &hat liberal bo(r eoisie *as chock f(ll of pres(btleties> of the socialdialectic. Ho*, these s(btleties7or these parado6es of Fistory7even if -co(ld not for (late the , - felt the : - *as already >readin > the +(d ;(est,- covered the te6t that proceeds fro the li ht of a landscape, fro thelan (or of a day oppressed by the *ind fro +pain, to a *hole type ofdisco(rse, social and provincial. 3or >to read> a co(ntry is first of all to perceive it in ter s of the body and of e ory, in ter s of the body s

e ory. - believe it is to this vestib(le

% 9 %of kno*led e and of analysis that the *riter is assi ned: ore conscio(s thanco petent, conscio(s of the very interstices of co petence. &hat is *hychildhood is the royal road by *hich *e kno* a co(ntry best. Ulti ately,there is no Co(ntry b(t childhood s.

5 FU @H-&J, 19))

% 11 %

Incidents


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% 1! % In Morocco, not long ago . . .

&he Bartender, in a station resta(rant, ca e o(t to pick a red

erani( and p(t it in a lass of *ater, bet*een the coffeeachine and the sink f(ll of dirty c(ps and sa(cers.-n the s (are in front of the +occo, his bl(e shirttails

flyin , an e ble of Gisorder, a f(rio(s boy 0*hich in thisco(ntry eans a boy *ith all the feat(res of adness

estic(lates and rails at a E(ropean 0Go home! . &henvanishes. @ fe* seconds later, the so(nd of chantin indicatesthe approach of a f(neral the procession appears. @ on the bearers 0in relays of the coffin, the sa e boy, te porarilys(bd(ed.

Feard the Kin s Co(sin, *ho is very dark, pass hi selfoff as an @ erican He ro 0pretendin not to kno* @rabic .

% 18 %&onsorial persec(tion: Rafaelito clai s his father c(t his hairoff *hile he *as asleep. ;ther boys say that the police cropthe *henever they can catch the in the street: rebellion andrepression on the level of the boys black hair.

&*o elderly @ erican *o en sei$e the elbo*s of a tall blind an even older than the selves and *alk hi across thestreet bet*een the . B(t *hat he *anted, this ;edip(s, *as

oney: oney, oney, not assistance.@ delicate, al ost entle, boy, his hands already a little

coarse, s(ddenly akes the tri erlike est(re that reveals theyo(n p(nk: flickin the ash off his ci arette *ith the back ofa fin ernail.

@bder asks for a clean to*el, *hich, o(t of a reli io(sfear of conta ination, (st be kept here beside the bed, to p(rify hi self after*ard of love.

@ venerable had

&he child - find in the corridor *as sleepin in an old

cardboard bo6, his head stickin o(t as tho( h c(t off.


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Hear the +occo, a E(ropean co(ple has set (p shop,sellin fast food for hippies. @ si n says: Hygiene is our

specialty . @nd the *o an e pties her ashtray in the street7 *hich is not British .

@ yo(n irl is p(nished in p(blic by her other, a peasant *o an. &he da( hter screa s. &he other is cal , persistent she has sei$ed the irl s hair as if it *ere a s*atchof cloth and proceeds to deliver a series of re (lar blo*s toher head. @ circle for s instantly. &he asse(r s


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b(y an antirhe( atis salve and a *histlin stopper for hiskettle.

% 1I %@ yo(n black, crN e de enthe shirt, al ond reen pants,oran e socks, and apparently very soft red shoes.?atchin a bearded an dancin , the Kin s Co(sininfor s e that this is a philosopher. -n order to be a philosopher, he says, fo(r thin s are necessary: 01 to have acertificate in @rabic 02 to travel a reat deal 0! to havecontacts *ith other philosophers 08 to be re ote fro reality,for e6a ple at the seaside.

@ yo(n black *ho looks as tho( h he *ere po*dered*ith *hite, in a Gay =lo parka.

@t the +occo, in '(ly, the terrace is f(ll of people. @ro(p of hippies takes a table, one co(ple a on the the

h(sband is a pl( p blond fello* *earin nothin (nder hisoveralls the *ife is in a lon ?a nerian ni ht o*n she holdsthe hand of a tiny li p *hite irl *ho she enco(ra es to shiton the side*alk, bet*een the le s of her co panions *ho donot react.

Main atte pt to find a bl(e dles cabinets.>

@ de onstration of phonolo ical pertinence: a yo(nvendor in the ba$aar 0*ith an appealin lance :

tu/ti 0yo(/y(h: non pertinenteux tapis/taper 0*ant ar( /*ant to f(ck: pertinent 4

@li*a 0a ood na e to repeat over and over likesi ac(late *hite tro(sers 0late in the season , b(t the toilets bein *hat they are, there is al*ays a stain on these ilk

*hite ar ents.;n the beach at &an iers 0fa ilies, fa s, boys , so e old*ork en, like very slo*, very ancient insects, rake the sand.

+ela , a veteran fro &an iers, b(rsts o(t la( hin beca(se he has et three -talians *ho *ere of no (se to hi :>&hey tho( ht - *as fe inineL>

% 2" %@n old peasant in a bro*n d


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Ho, a pathetic initiation cere ony of the oha edia +choolof En ineerin : a irl in a iniskirt on a tr(ck, 3rench son s,edifyin slo ans: >?e Kno* ?e Fave ?ork to Go,>>3resh en &oday, En ineers &o orro*.>

3arid, enco(ntered at 'o(r et H(it, c(rses o(t a be ar*ho first asks e for a ci arette, then, havin otten it, foroney >so - can eat.> &his rad(al sche e of e6ploitation

% 2! %0tho( h banal eno( h see s to o(tra e 3arid: >&hat s ho* hethanks yo( for havin iven hi so ethin L> &hen, a in(telater, as - leave hi , ivin hi y *hole pack of ci arettes,*hich he pockets *itho(t a *ord of thanks, - hear hi askin

e for five tho(sand francs >so - can eat.> ?hen - b(rst o(tla( hin , he alle es thedi erence 0here everyone assertshi self as different, beca(se he conceives hi self not as a person b(t as a need .

@bdellatif7a vol(pt(o(s boy7pere ptorily ?hat doyo( *ant4 ?hy are yo( here4>7>-t s nat(reL> 0@nother boy,on another occasion: >-t s loveL>

Chella park: a tall yo(th *ith strai ht hair, dressed all in*hite, ankle boots (nder the *hite for this boy *hohad asked e for one: ?hat sort of pleasant trifle can yo(

ive so eone *ho is totally indi ent4 @ li hter47to li ht*hat ci arettes4 - opt for a coded, in other *ords, e6cessively

(seless, so(venir: a brass Eiffel &o*er.@ 3rench an, a derelict of the Protectorate 0hard*arestore , aphasic 0rifle b(tt in the face, he sta ers painf(lly , b(t ata6ic as *ell, slo*ly di in (p t*o *icks for y b(tanela p, s(ddenly finds a lo(d, clear voice to screa at his do0*hich has done nothin b(t be there , t*ice over: "amnbitch!

Griss @. doesn t kno* that sper is called sper 7hecalls it shit: >?atch o(t, the shit s oin to co e no*>:nothin ore tra( ati$in .

@nother boy, +la(i 0 oha ed =y nasti (e , saysdryly and precisely:ejaculate : >?atch o(t, - oin toe


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=oin do*nstairs, - hand (stafa 0char in , s ilin ,ardent, honest y sandals to carry, *hile - et o(t y key0>Fere, hold this> . 5ater - reali$e he has kept the0s(ppression of the loan .

% 2# %@t the bank: a blind be ar sta ers in, his cane f( blinaro(nd doors, co(nters, tellers *indo*s. @ c(sto er iveshi a coin. &he teller: >Gon t do that, yo( ll et the in thehabit.>

@t 'o(r et H(it, a shoeshine boy: splendid eyes ands ile, dili ent. Fis na e is Gri(ish 0little dervish . 5eavin ,already so e distance a*ay, he ives e a friendly *ave.

5ah(cine, at the ho(se. Fe is sittin opposite e, inert, placid, all ornin . Hever have hands been in s(ch repose:only a painter co(ld sho* it. -n his presence, - a e6cessivelyactive: constantly doin so ethin , contin(ally chan in*hatever it is - do: *ritin , readin a ne*spaper, sharpenin a pencil, p(ttin on another record, etc.

(lay, the b(ildin s(per, lets e kno* *ith ani perio(s est(re that *hile - a a*ay his yo(n *ife @isha,to safe (ard the apart ent a ainst >thieves,> *ill sleep on thefloor, here in the door*ay, on the attin near the co(ch 0tiny piece of attin , the si$e of a bath at on the tiles .

% 2D %&he yo(n pied#noir , a reconstr(cted petit bo(r eois, *earshis s*eater draped over his sho(lders, the sleeves knotted infront he drops his car keys on the caf table his accent isharsh and (ick, as tho( h abr(ptly t*isted off.

&*o la* st(dents:;ne, @bdellatif 03rench la* , ?esterni$ed, t*o years in

+*it$erland 0apparently , ele ant 0bl(e p(llover, e6pensive bei e cord(roy s(it , refined accent, a liar 0says he s in secondyear, *hich - kno* to be false , ives e the Boredo ro(tine0 ettin o(t of this co(ntry and asks this (estion: ?hat doyo( think of Po pido(4>

&he other, Ha


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% 2) %@ id the ro(p s rather lascivio(s horseplay, one of thelyc$e boys brin s (p the latest the e assi n ent: >Co pare the peda o y of Rabelais *ith that of ontai ne.>

@ccordin to his school ates, F. is >very sens(al> 0a phrase ade all the ore dist(rbin by the dryness of the pied#noir accent : in y ind, it beco es F. s na e: Mery+ens(al. et the nickna e s eanin is easy eno( h to (ess:F. lets hi self be f(cked.

>- afraid - fallin in love *ith yo(. -t s a proble .?hat sho(ld - do4>

>=ive e yo(r address.>?hile little oha ed recites the verses he has y na e isFope,> he says , deli hted *henever the *ord appears in ason .

% 2I %oha ed 0of co(rse , a police an s son, *ants 0later on,

*hen he s thro( h *ith thelyc$e , to be a police inspector:that s his vocation. oreover 0he says : he likes football 0ri ht

(ard , pinball, and irls.&ho( h the shop *indo* is cra ed *ith the latest

kinds of electronic e (ip ent, the t*o sales en *ho - askfor a cassette player can t sell e one. &he yo(n er andoesn t kno* ho* to operate the achine he sho*s e: a*hole series of b(ttons pressed *ith abs(rd res(lts: lid flyinopen, batteries reversed, painf(l noises, and no (sic. &heother an, the boss, b(sy *ith so ethin or other, s(lky,sho*s no interest and i ediately decides that it s the

achine that is defective. @ll of *hich is not (ch

enco(ra e ent to b(y a achine for ei hty tho(sand francs.oha ed 5., enco(ntered one ornin aro(nd ten, isstill half asleep he no characters,no plot,> etc.7and stayed (p very late. @nother oha ed,the little one, told e he *rote poetry >to keep fro bein bored.> -n this co(ntry poetry allo*s yo(to go to bed toolate .

@ ido(, second year st(dent, f(t(re y teacher,enco(ntered one +(nday ornin in the d(st of the flea ar

% 29 %


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ket, poor and ood nat(red, his raincoat too short, his bishoes co in apart, his fine oroccan eyes, his kinky hair,has to >reflect> for to orro* on > oliNre s notion ofco edy.>

@ ido(: - prefer spellin y na e *itho(t anh , since: "oux comme l'amidon 0s ooth as paste In lammable comme l'amadou 0infla able as tinder .- en- startin to drea .> >-sthat allo*ed4> >- don t kno*.>

@., leavin the other day after havin >drea ed,> ca ein his (nder*ear once he *as o(t in the street b(t he co(ldn t*ash hi self off, as his reli ion prescribes, beca(se his boardin school rants only one sho*er every ei ht days, etc.0resent ent transferred to the +tate .

+ittin on the balcony, they *ait for the tiny red la p to be lit on the tip of the inaret, arkin the end of the fast.

% !" %Every afternoon of Ra adan, aro(nd five 0this is Hove ber ,the Resta(rant de la 5ib ration, in the edina, seen fro thestreet, is transfor ed into a hospice *ith lon ro*s of tables*here the en line (p to eat their so(p the sole *aiter ond(ty r(ns back and forth, like a lay brother.

Haciri kno*s 3rench *ell to prove it, he st(ds hisdisco(rse *ith forei n phrases: >-ls sont sortis ce soir,because %amadan .>

&he >head bookkeeper> 0a boy *ith an attractive face prono(nces sole nly: >Civili$ation is *hen yo( kno* yo(rri hts and are conscio(s of yo(r d(ties.> @fter *hich, like therest of (s, he b(rsts o(t la( hin .

&his 3riday evenin , *hen Ra adan ends, there is stillno s okin , beca(se *hen *e *alk off the street into a'e*ish ho(se, the +abbath is be innin .

3rench professors disc(ssin a doctoral candidate: *hatteachin skills has he sho*n4 Conf(sion, e barrass ent.+(ddenly, to the reat relief of all, so eone e6clai s: hisagr$gation lect(reL

% !1 %&onsorials: y shoeshine boy, bendin over y feet, revealsthe h( e bald spot on the back of his sk(ll, *hile behind hi ,on the side*alk, a boy in ra s obsessively rakes his closecropped d(sty hair *ith a toy co b.

Relation bet*een his very delicate, caref(lly roo edhands 0he had


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talked, into the pied#noir s est(re repertory. Relation bet*een the e6tre e delicacy of his e6pensive black socksand his *ay of stretchin his le s.

@ cl( sy, half ad shoeshine boy al*ays h(rls hi selfon e, insistently offerin : > e, shine, Chinese> 0theadstick the prof,> *hocontradicts e *ith a state ent so ridic(lo(s that nothinre ains in it b(t the essa e of ill *ill

on the other, (stafa, called (sta: hair cropped, fineal ond shaped eyes, an al ost Ro an head e6cept for thes*eetness of his e6pression born in 3e$, he is ei hteen andtoo poor to contin(e his st(dies lookin for *ork in Rabat,

% !2 %he has taken a o( ve

ot (ite a load there> : >&hey re s(ch thieves, these porters, b(t they don t take (s in for a o ent.> =ood nat(redla( hter of the ticket taker, tho( h he is as annoyed as the porters.

o(n co patriots7*ith irls to sho* off for7 pretendin to speak En lish *ith an e6a erated 3renchaccent 0a *ay of concealin the fact, *itho(t losin face, thatthey *ill never have a ood accent .

edina: at si6 in the evenin , in the street st(dded *ith peddlers, one sad fello* offers a sin le choppin board on theed e of the side*alk.

Behind e, on the plane, an old 3rench lady, chattin*ith the *o an beside her, is doin needlepoint: a rayish piece of b(ckra *ith old fashioned bo( (ets dra*n on it.

5ater, not ettin off at the inter ediate stop, she contin(es% !! %

her *ork d(rin the landin and the takeoff, absol(tely statica id the plane s ove ents: i pert(rbable fi (re.

&*o cond(ctors, off d(ty, sittin at the bar the yo(n erone hands a c(p of coffee to the older an, *ho ref(ses *ith as ile. 5ater, - reali$e that the older an is only an assistant,he has only one star on his cap, the yo(n er an has three.

-n the train, there are aro(nd e: 01 a *o an travelinalone, she has a &e(tonic accent 0@lsatian, +*iss4 , *ears a ponytail *ith a scarf knotted aro(nd it she tries to akecontact *ith e, accepts a l(nch tray *hen - do, orders


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nothin to drink then *ants sel&er *ater, ice, etc. she isreadin %i , erre de l$gendes 02 a black oroccan *o an, p(st(lar she *ears a *ine colored caftan and hi h b(ttonshoes and holds a kinky haired baby in her ar s 0! a odest

piednoir *o an doin so e kind of co plicated crochetstitch 08 t*o lesbians playin cards 0# a yo(n oroccan, barefoot.

=ro(p ta6i: a >d p(t > fro & to(an 0an architect, he has b(ilt a *hole street in adrid, *hich has ade hi a

(lti illionaire directs thro( h the dark and the rain o(r oldta6i driver 0 ray *orkshirt and yello* sk(llcap , *ho seesnothin , by lo(d, abr(pt, etallic inter )conomy : oin toarrakesh to b(y -ndian shirts, *hich they *ill sell at very

hi h prices in Folland. %itual : as soon as they are in

% !# %

the back of the car, they roll ci arettes and deliberately,echanically pl(n e into absence 0fro *hich they a*ake assoon as they are offered a coffee .

B(t also: at +ettat, - picked (p a hitchhiker t*elve yearsold he carries a h( e plastic ba filled *ith oran es,tan erines, and a packa e *rapped in filthy *a6ed paperdocile, serio(s, reserved, he sets none of this do*n, keepin iton his knees, in the hollo* of his d


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*a oir# i re in arrakesh: fleetin conversation froopen carria e to bicycle: ci arette iven, rende$vo(s ade,the bicycle t(rns the corner and vanishes.

-n the R(e +a arine, - *as *alkin a ainst the c(rrent of this h( an strea . - had the feelin 0nothin erotic abo(t itthat each one had a &ob 0@rab ar ot for penis and that allthese &obs , as - passed the , *ere lined (p like a ass prod(ced ob- ll do *hatever yo(*ant,> he says, eff(sively, his eyes filled *ith kindness andco plicity. ?hich eans: I'll uc+ you , and that s all.

@ black an, entirely s*athed and hooded in his *hitedB(t those >-t doesn t

atter: a thief s a thief.>

% !) %> onsie(r, re e ber, yo( sho(ld never ive a lift to a

oroccan yo( don t kno*,> says this oroccan to *ho -ivin a lift and *ho - don t kno*.

@ irl be in : > y father s dead. -t s to b(y a

notebook,> etc. 0&he nasty part of endicancy is the tedi( of the stereotypes.;n the road bet*een @ adir and &a ri, a person in so e

sort of (nifor : civilian, filthy, ra ed, b(t an official s capand a revolver holster: he is a forest ran er. Fe likes detectivestories, beca(se >he too, in a *ay, is a kind of detective 0keepsan eye on the thefts of *ood he occasionally finds hi selfconfrontin si ilar proble s,> etc.

&he oroccan st(dent, *ith sli htly b(ck teeth and alittle beard, has a Catholic scholarship fro 5ille, beca(sethere *as a *hite father in his Upper @tlas villa e. Fe isreadin 0or not readin es -leurs du mal .


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3ront le s tied and folded, forced to kneel as tho( h inabase ent, a ca el akes terrible efforts to et (p. @nother,

% !I %cro(chin on the ro(nd, i obili$ed, bleedin fro the

o(th, e6hibited as tho( h in the stocks, a circle of spectatorsstandin aro(nd it 0incl(din to(rists, one potbellied and pink,in ti ht shorts, ca era sl(n over one sho(lder , the ca el

ean*hile shriekin horribly, kickin ith all its might . Fisaster, a s all black an, beats hi , picks (p a handf(l of

sand and thro*s it in his eyes.= rard, *hose father is 3rench and *hose other is a

native *o an, *ants to sho* e the *ay to the =a$elle d ;rhe spra*ls in the car in order to reveal his char s then, as arare delicacy, a final, irresistible ar ( ent: > o( kno*, ythin , it s not c(tL>

&hree yo(n Chle(hs, on the cliff, ask for a 3renchlesson. >Fo* do yo( say . . .4> @ns*erin the , - reali$e thatthe se6(al or an preserves a consonantal paradi :cul/con/ ueue . &he three yo(n fello*s, instant philolo ists,are a a$ed.

@ boy sittin on a lo* *all, at the side of the road, *hichhe i nores7sittin there as tho( h for eternity, sittin there inorder to be sittin ,ithout e ui ocation :

>+eated peaceably, doin nothin ,+prin co es and the rass ro*s of its o*n accord.>

% !9 %@ certain 'ean, a yo(n professor7of *hat47leans over y book: >- co(ld never et that (y 0Pro(st thro( h y head b(t - feel it ll happen one of these days.> Fis friend Pierre,d( bfo(nded, disdainf(l, and dry 0indifferent to the ans*er :>@re yo( takin notes4>

@$e (r: bo( ht a tin t(reen fro a yo(n and toothlessvendor *ho offers to eet e >in his gar0onni1re .>

Fappiness at ehi(la: the h( e kitchen, at ni ht, thestor o(tside, the si erin harrira , the bi b(tane la ps,

the *hole ballet of little visits, the *ar th, the d


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@ bi , toothless lo(t of a fello*, his tone convinced and passionate, *hispers abo(t the ost ordinary brand ofci arettes: > ar (ise: for e, it s as ood as kifL>

5ittle -. brin s e flo*ers, a real co(ntry bo( (et: a fe*heads of erani( , a spray of red briar roses, t*o roses, fo(rspri s of +co(ts are everyone s brother> . Bare le ed, the > aster> sported an erection, *hilethe others *ere sin in sad +co(t son s 0story of an orphan .

% 81 %;ver the door, in the ce ent, the ason @h ed idace hasen raved these *ords in cl( sy letters: CU-+-HE P@R3;RCE. &he father didn t *ant this e6tra kitchen, the otherdid.

&*o naked boys have slo*ly crossed the *adi, theirclothes in b(ndles on their heads.

&he peace of a d


18/39

enhance the ovin , dancin bodies, and to ani ate thespaces and the str(ct(res.

&hese days, theaters die easily. &he hall *here - sa* yfirst Beckett is no* a ara e others beco e ovie ho(ses,

ive *ay to apart ents. 5e Palace is a resc(ed theater first ofall beca(se sho*s *ill be iven here then beca(se, fro thetheater it ori inally *as 0and several ti es over , everythinhas been preserved: sta e, c(rtain, balcony, orchestra0transfor ed into a splendid dance floor, b(t fro *hich yo(can see the sho*, standin or sittin on c(shions , the reats*athes of red velvet: inveterate e otion: to cli b a staircaseand e er e into a h( e space, crisscrossed *ith li hts andshado*s, s(ddenly to enter, like an initiate, the

% 8D %sacred space of representation 0even and especially *hen, ashere, the sho* is thro( ho(t the entire hall .heater : this=reek *ord co es fro a verb that eans >to see.> 5e Palaceis certainly a site dedicated to lookin : yo( spend yo(r ti elookin at the hall and, *hen yo( co e back fro thedancin , yo( look so e ore.

5e Palace is *ell proportioned. &his eans that you arenot a raid here 0yo( *o(ld not ind sleepin in it : too s all,a theater is stiflin too bi , chillin . Fere yo( can circ(late7 (p, do*n, chan in places accordin to yo(r *hi 7afreedo al*ays fr(strated in other theaters, *here everyone isassi ned a seat, the one correspondin to his oney. etfreedo is not eno( h to ake a ood space. Certaine6peri ents have sho*n that the little *hite o(se s(ffers

reat an6iety *hen placed in an e pty arena lackin any pointof reference. &o feel co fortable in a space, - (st in fact beable to proceed fro one reference point to another, to inhabita corner as *ell as a platfor , and, like Robinson happy onhis island, to ake y *ay in co fort fro one do icile tothe ne6t. @t 5e Palace, the fa iliar places are any: a salonfor chattin , bars to eet in, to rest in bet*een dances, a belvedere fro *hich to a$e, above the intervals of the

bal(strades, do*n at the i ense spectacle of li hts playinover bodies. 3ro each place *here - take (p y position, -have the deli htf(l i pression of occ(pyin a sort of i perial bo6, fro *hich - can aster all that happens.

-s not the reat ra* aterial of odern art, of o(r dailyart7is it not, in this era, li ht4 -n ordinary theaters, li ht isre ote, fastened to the sta e. @t 5e Palace, it is the *holetheater that is the sta e here li ht occ(pies a deep space,*ithin *hich it co es alive and perfor s like an actor an

% 8) %intelli ent laser, *ith a co plicated and refined ind, like ane6hibitor of abstract sc(lpt(res, prod(ces eni atic traces,


19/39

*ith s(dden (tations: circles, rectan les, ellipses, tracks,cables, ala6ies, frin es. &he re arkable thin is not thetechnolo ical pro*ess 0tho( h that is rare eno( h in Paris , b(t the appearance of a ne* art, in its aterial 0a obile li htand in its practice for this is act(ally a p(blic art, in that it isachieved a on the p(blic and not in front of it, and a total art0the old =reek and ?a nerian drea , *here scintillation,

(sic, and desire (nite. &his eans that >art,> *itho(t breakin *ith past c(lt(re 0the sc(lpt(re of space by laser ayindeed recall certain plastic efforts of odernity , e6tends beyond the constraints of c(lt(ral trainin : a liberationconfir ed by a ne* ode of cons( ption: *e look at theli hts, the shado*s, the settin s, b(t also *e do so ethinelse at the sa e ti e 0*e dance, *e talk, *e look at eachother : a practice kno*n to the ancient theater.

@t 5e Palace, - a not obli ed to dance in order tos(stain a livin relationship *ith this site. @lone, or at leastso e*hat apart, - can >drea .> -n this h( ani$ed space, - cane6clai to yself no* and then: >Fo* stran e all this isL>+tran e, the old sta e c(rtain, *here - read an advertise entfor la -rench ine : 5e Favre Ply o(th He* ork 0bi$arre:in this chain of places, it is Ply o(th that sets e drea in : perhaps the ro antic yth of the port of call4 . +tran e, thedark dancers 0backli htin in the ist that o entarilycovers the floor, artic(lated like p(ppets (nder a ceilin of redand reen rays. +tran e, the revolvin irror. +tran e, thesooty, Fellenoid frescoes that r(n like a sli htly dated chastityalon the (pper *alls.

5e Palace is not abo2te , a >bo6,> as *e 3rench call ani ht

% 8I %cl(b: it collects in an ori inal site pleas(res ordinarilydispersed: that of the theater as an edifice lovin ly preserved,the pleas(re of *hat is seen the e6cite ent of the odern, thee6ploration of ne* vis(al sensations, d(e to ne* technolo iesthe deli ht of the dance, the char of possible eetin s. @ll

this co bined creates so ethin very old, *hich is calledla -3te and *hich is (ite different fro @ (se ent orGistraction: a *hole apparat(s of sensations destined to ake people happy, for the interval of a ni ht. ?hat is ne* is thisi pression of synthesis, of totality, of co ple6ity: - a in a place s(fficient (nto itself. -t is by this s(pple ent that 5ePalace is not a si ple enterprise b(ta or+ , and that those*ho conceived it ay re ard the selves *ith ood reason asartists.

?o(ld Pro(st have liked it4 - don t kno*: there are nod(chesses any ore. et, leanin do*n over the dance floor of

5e Palace throbbin *ith colored bea s and dancinsilho(ettes, divinin aro(nd e in the shado* of levels and of


20/39

open lo es an entire eb(llition of yo(n bodies b(sy in their(ns(spected circ(its, - see ed to reco ni$e, transposed to the

odern, so ethin - had read in Pro(st: that evenin at the;p ra, *here the ho(se and the bo6es for , (nder the yo(n Harrator s i passioned eye, an a (atic ilie(, entlyill( inated by ai rettes, by lances, by


21/39

noticed a thin yo(n black prod(cin thisenor o(s, >inconsiderate> noise. %un#do n character of the nei hbor

% #2 %hood. - took the R(e d @bo(kir, thinkin ofCharl(s, *ho entions it - didn t kno* it ca eo(t so close to the Bo(levards. -t *as not yetei ht thirty - delayed a little so as not to t(rn(p e6actly on ti e at 1"8, *here Patricia 5.*o(ld have to co e do*n to let e in. &henei hborhood *as deserted, dirty, a stron*ind *as blo*in , raisin h( e piles of papersand e pty bo6es, the detrit(s of the factories of this nei hborhood - discovered a tinytrian (lar s (are 0R(e d @le6andrie, - think it*as char in and sordid, three old plane trees0- sy pathi$ed *ith their lack of air , so eoddly shaped benches that looked like t(bs, andalon one side a lo*, bri ht painted b(ildin 7 - tho( ht it i ht be a tiny, very shabby (sichall b(t no, it *as another bo6 factory besideit, on a patch of *all, a h( e ovie poster0Peter Ustinov flanked by t*o yo(n *o en- *ent on to the R(e +aint Genis b(t there*ere so any prostit(tes yo( co(ldn t really>stroll> here *itho(t see in to be doinso ethin else - retraced y steps, it *as borin , no shop *indo*s to look at, and - satdo*n for a in(te on one of the benches of thelittle s (are so e kids *ere playin footballand sho(tin others *ere flin in the selveson top of h( e piles of paper that the *ind *as be innin to scatter. - tho( ht: ho* (ch likea ovieL - o( ht to shoot this to et it into afil - fantasi$ed a little, i a inin onetechni (e that *o(ld allo* e to fil the

scene i ediately 0a per ect ca era *here ysecond shirtb(tton is , and another that *o(ldake this s (are *ith the *ind blo*in

thro( h it a settin *here yo( co(ld p(t acharacter after the fact. 3inally - *ent to 1"8,still (sin , alar ed by the ri po*er of thiscorner of Paris, passin in front of the hotelRoyal @bo(kir 0*hat a na eL . @ll this *aslike so e dis

% #! %inherited He* ork nei hborhood, on thes aller Parisian scale. @t dinner 0a ood


22/39

risotto, b(t the beef, of co(rse, not cooked atall , - felt co fortable *ith friends: @. C.,Philippe Ro er, Patricia, and a yo(n *o an,3r d ri (e, *ho *as *earin a rather for al

o*n, its (n(s(al shade of bl(e soothin shedidn t say (ch, b(t she *asthere , and -tho( ht that s(ch attentive and ar inal presences *ere necessary to the ood econo yof a party 0@ndr &. e6a erates, tho( h . &heytalked abo(t *hat they called >sha y dostories> 0>@t Mictoria +tation, in En land, - eta +panish irl *ho spoke 3rench> , ar (ine6citedly over the definition of the conceptand abo(t Kho eini 0- said ho* (ch -re retted havin only ne*s b(lletins thesedays, never analyses no one tells (s, forinstance, *hat s happenin to the class conflictin -ran, issin , on this point, ar6 , thenabo(t Hapoleon 0beca(se - happen to bereadin Chatea(briand . - left first, aro(ndeleven thirty, very ea er to take a piss and,afraid - d never find a ta6i and *o(ld have totake the tro, - *ent into a Bo(levard bistroopposite the Porte +aint Genis in a corner,h(ddled near the toilet door *hich - co(ldscarcely open, three indefinable creat(res 0half pi ps, half (eens talkin abo(t a *hore fro

arseille 0as far as - co(ld ake o(t ahandso e tattooed @sian 0- sa* the bl(e reentattoos belo* the short sleeves of his & shirt*as standin at the pinball achine *ith afriend. &he bar an and the proprietress, v(l ar,tired, kindly: - tho( ht, *hat a then- contin(ed, fascinated, *ith the history of

Hapoleon in M$moires d'outretombe . @ftert(rnin o(t the li ht, - *ent back to the radio


23/39

for a *hile: a so(r, fra ile soprano doin aninsipid classical aria 0so ethin like Ca pra,they re all alike , - t(rned it off.

2# @U=U+& 19)9@t the 3lore *ith Eric ., *e order soft boiled e s and sa(sa es, and a lass of

bordea(6. Ho one to look at. @ ray haired, bearded @r entinian co es to y table andrene*s an invitation he says he has already

ade to co e, all e6penses paid, to hisCo (nications -nstit(te since - a evasive,he s(ddenly adds so ethin like: >?e are politically (ite independent> 0- *asn tthinkin of that, b(t rather of the boredo ofhavin to et thro( h several dinners *ith hiin B(enos @ires7*e had to co (nicate inEn lish . @ yo(n boy ca e in and sat do*nalone i possible to deter ine his nationality0only the al ond shaped eyes are forei n hisclose fittin 2 3rancs a Ca bodian Fead> and L , -read a little ore of the latest ves Havarre0better than the others and M/* 0>yeah, yeah> b(t these see like chores and as soon as so e

of y obli ations are f(lfilled - p(t the asideand t(rn *ith relief to Chatea(briand, the real


24/39

book. @l*ays this notion: s(ppose the oderns*ere *ron 4 ?hat if they had no talent4

2D @U=U+& 19)9@t the Bonaparte, *here - a to eet

Cla(de '. for dinner, = rard 5. finds e 0-loathe these i pro pt( eetin s, - prefer bein alone in a caf to look aro(nd, to thinkabo(t y *ork, etc. : he is ore do*n and o(tthan ever incoherent, abblin , s ilin ently(nder his c(rly hair and his bl(e eyes 0either

yopic or astonished behind his ro(ndspectacles , he reports that he has iven (p hisroo to share the apart ent ofthis guy , inhopes of havin a place to paint *hile theJcole des Bea(6 @rts is closed 0for thes( er

% #D %no* it appears that this (y is cra$y, akinlife i possible for both of the . Fo* old isthis (y4 &*enty fo(r, a painter. Goes hecr(ise yo(4 Ho, that s


25/39

co e to love, since y first trips to -talystea ed fish and ve etables *hich - sprinkle*ith vinai rette. Cla(de '. tells e abo(t histrip to &(rkey *ith his friend '. P. -t so(ndslike ni ht after ni ht in the car, arrivin in(nkno*n to*ns at one in the ornin , 11,"""kilo eters in t*enty days, all of *hich - *o(ldfind i possible. @t first - feel like talkin abo(t

y *ork proble s, b(t as al*ays *hen -anticipate

% #) %talkin abo(t so ethin , - beco e selfconscio(s and say nothin . 3inally - dispose ofthe atter 0*hich sho(ld have constit(ted a*hole conversation in a sentence. -n co es a

ro(p of en, t*o of *ho are bearded fiftyyear olds, t*ins fro the look of the , Hat(re

akin a second atte pt at *hat she botchedthe first ti e one of the *aves to e7the@r entinian fro yesterday 0at the 3lore theother, - have so e va (e recollection, is an artcritic. @t another table, beyond the , *e area a$ed to see t*o boys eatin to ether: theylook poor, badly dressed, sickly, one see s to be Horth @frican, the other, *earin dark

lasses, has the coarse, dirty hands of a laborer.?hat are they doin here4 &*o en *ho *orkto ether, spl(r in 4

- a lad that all - have to do is et ho eand cli b into bed. ;n the radio, a reedy*o an s voice *itho(t vibrato, borin and>retarded,> connects a Beethoven sonata 0b(t itis played by the F(ndred Gays.>

2) @U=U+& 19)9:change to per ect tense;- *ait for Philippe +. at the +elect 0the

Co(pole is closed for @( (st the terrace iscro*ded, - find the caf (npleasant7perhaps beca(se it isn t one of y ha(nts a *o an by

herself7a pick(p4 Ho, she leaves *itho(tsayin a *ord. Be


26/39

% #I %hind e, a nicely pitched *o an s voice,speakin to a (y *ho (st be akin a passso ethin abo(t a horoscope they are lookinfor the ri ht si ns to atch +a ittari(s, *hich(st be the (y s si n co ically, they all

atch, >even &a(r(s.> &he *aiter is talkin*ith a c(sto er, his attention is not to beattracted (ntil he has caref(lly finished hissentence, the *ay one folds one s napkin0Pro(stian scene: the c(sto er s bell rin in inthe kitchen . ?e o to the Rotonde for dinner,in a booth ne6t to (s, a very e6cited little oldfello* is akin 0another pass at a yo(n er*o an, issin a fe* teeth. Philippe and - talk abo(t Chatea(briand, abo(t 3rench literat(re,then abo(t Jditions d( +e(il. ?ith hi , -al*ays feel e(phoric, f(ll of ideas, confidence,and e6cite ent abo(t *ork he enco(ra es yold notion of *ritin a history of 3renchliterat(re 0accordin to Gesire . - ake the

istake7a bi$arre, (nc(sto ary idea7oforderin a pear brandy *ith a second ci ar ande6tendin the evenin *hence a rather intensesto achache. - *alked ho e alone. Everythindeserted this @( (st +(nday at eleven at ni ht.R(e Mavin, - passed a yo(n , lovely, ele ant,elaborately ade (p *o an *alkin her doshe left a delicate scent of lily of the valley behind her. - skirted the 5(6e bo(r , the R(e=(yne er e pty as far as - co(ld see. ;n akiosk, a h( e poster for a fil the actorsna es 0'ane Birkin, Catherine +paak printedin h( e letters7as if they *ere incontestableattractions 0b(t *hat do - care abo(t Catherine+paak, do yo( think - *o(ld cross the street to

see Catherine +paak, etc. . -n front of 8D R(ede Ma( irard 0a sort of eneral head (arters ofProtestant activities , an attractive boy, *ho

oes in before - can et (ch of a look at hi .-n bed, *itho(t forcin yself to

% #9 %read the conte porary chores, - et on *ithChatea(briand ri ht a*ay: a a$in passa eabo(t the e6h( ation of Hapol on on +aintFelena.

2I @U=U+& 19)9


27/39

@l*ays this diffic(lty abo(t *orkin inthe afternoon. - *ent o(t at aro(nd si6 thirty,for no ood reason in the R(e de Rennesnoticed a ne* h(stler, hair in his eyes, a tinyearrin since the R(e Bernard Palissy *asco pletely deserted, *e disc(ssed ter s hisna e *as 3ranOois b(t the hotel *as f(ll -

ave hi so e oney, he pro ised to be at therende$vo(s an ho(r later, and of co(rse neversho*ed. - asked yself if - *as really so

istaken 0the received *isdo abo(t ivinoney to a h(stlerin ad ance! , and

concl(ded that since - really didn t *ant hi allthat (ch 0nor even to ake love , the res(lt*as the sa e: se6 or no se6, at ei ht o clock -*o(ld find yself back at the sa e point in ylife and since ere eye contact and ane6chan e of *ords erotici$es e, it *as that pleas(re - paid for. 5ater in the evenin , at the3lore, not far fro o(r table, another h(stler,an elic *ith his lon hair fallin on either sideof a part do*n the iddle of his head no* anda ain he lances at e - a attracted by the*ay his *hite shirt opens do*n his chest he isreadin e Monde and drinkin a Ricard, -think he doesn t leave, finally s iles at e hehas coarse hands, *hich belie the s*eetnessand delicacy of the rest it is fro his handsthat - ded(ce his h(stlerdo 0he ends (p byleavin before *e do - stop hi , beca(se hes iles, and ake a va (e rende$vo(s . Go*nthe street, a *hole noisy

% D" %fa ily: three or fo(r children, all hysterical0al*ays, in 3rance : they *ore e o(t, even ata distance.7Back ho e, on the radio, - heard

abo(t the -R@ attack on 5ord o(ntbatten.Everyone is o(tra ed, b(t no one entions thedeath of his randson, a boy of fifteen.

6rt, !1 @U=U+& 19)9?ed ed into the *icker ar chair,

s okin y ci ar, *atchin &M . . . Racheland ., *ho had one o(t for an afterdinnerstroll, have co e back to take e *ith the ,the evenin is apparently so lovely. @t first -*as annoyed: *hat, not a in(te *itho(t

so eone askin e for so ethin , even if it*as for y o*n oodL &hen - *ent *ith the ,


28/39

re rettin y irritable i p(lse, especially since. is so affectionate and so naive, so sensitive

to anythin lovely, as a (sed to be. &he latet*ili ht *as of an e6traordinary bea(ty, al oststran e in its perfection: a fleecy pale ray, notat all elancholy, banks of ist on the otherside of the @do(r, the road lined *ith tran (ilho(ses and flo*ers, a olden half oon,crickets chirpin ,as in the old days : nobility, peace. y heart filled *ith sadness, al ost*ith despair - tho( ht of a , of thece etery *here she *as, (ite close by, of>5ife.> - felt that ro antic i p(lse as a certainval(e, and - *as sad at never bein able to sayso, >al*ays *orth ore than *hat - *rite>0the e of the co(rse in despair too at notfeelin at ho e either in Paris or here ortravelin : no real ref( e.

% D1 % (aris , 2 +EP&E BER 19)9

Back fro Urt yesterday afternoon planecra ed *ith a st(pid p(blic: kids, fa ilies, a*o an ne6t to e vo itin in a paper ba , anadolescent brin in back a pelota racket.+l( ped do*n in the seat, *itho(t evenloosenin y safety belt or akin a sin le

ove for over an ho(r, - read so e of Pascal s (ens$es , reco ni$in in > an s iseries> all

y sadness, y heavy heart at U. *itho(t a0all this really i possible to *rite: *hen - think of Pascal s dryness and tension . 5andin inParis, everythin *as heavy, ray. Ginner thatevenin *ith '. 5. 0 . not there : he had ade aroast 0overcooked , there *ere avocados *ith avery black vinai rette, 3rench and +panish

elons, bread fro onopri6 in a plastic ba ,

and *ine in a carafe. Garla e talked a lot 0veryfast, a little dr(nk on the *ine - reali$ed aftera *hile that this *as ore or less for y benefit 0to sed(ce e for a lon *hile therehas been so e sort of disp(te bet*een (s, andno*, for the first ti e, there *as a positive actof speech on his part b(t - *as e barrassed bythe presence of Eric . and '. 5. P. ?hen -left, early, he *anted to leave *ith e in theelevator, - kissed hi , rested y head on hissho(lder b(t *hether this *asn t his sort of

thin , or beca(se of so e other reticence, heresponded only va (ely. - acco panied hi in


29/39

the ta6i, he holdin y hand, as far as Clichy0crossin Paris . @t table, *e had talked >abo(t*o en.> &hat evenin , e6ha(sted andenervated, in bed 0radio i possible:(ltra odern (sic, so(nds like rabbit t(rds -read the personals in ib$ration and the 9ou el 5bser ateur : nothin interestin , nothin for>old hands.>

% D2 %! +EP&E BER 19)9

&he Ge(6 a ots havin reopened, thereare fe*er people at the 3lore al ost e ptyinside. - read, lookin (p often, b(t still ettinso ethin o(t of Pascal s (ens$es . Hearby, ane6cited ro(p 0- ve seen the before : fashion

(eens and in the iddle a tiny hysterical irl0she is sho*in the pict(res, talkin , b(tterin toast, all her fin ers hi h in the air .&o a ne*co er, a pretty boy, peacockin : > o(have s(ch bi feet> 0- co(ld look at nothinelse, in *hite socks . Rena(d C. passes, all in bl(e, eyes, shirt, everythin - ve never kno*nanyone less etaphysical, that is, ore >ironic>0*ith the sli htly disa reeable (ality thisi plies also 3ranOois 3laha(lt and adeleine*ith her h( e eyes e braces co in and

oin she (st think this a bit (ch. 'ean5o(is P. doesn t *ant to eat at the 3lore 0nodo(bt he resists bein seen there *ith e, thatis, passin for >kept,> iven the difference ino(r a es . ?e dined, (nco fortably, at 5a

alNne. - kno* that @ndr telephoned hifro FyNres and that *hat he really *ants is to


30/39

% D! %for ind(strial desi n he has no place to liveand co plains constantly oves fro onefriend to the other, picks people (p in thestation or at friends , etc. if only he had ast(dio in short, he s in deep shit. 3or the rest,typical h(stler s lan (a e: that is, rather chaste,in *hich the thin itself is never entioned.Each ti e - insist, in order to ake hi sayhe s ready to o to bed *ith e, he ans*ers:>- free.> - *ake (p in the iddle of the ni ht 7five o clock - think bitterly and sadly of yrelation *ith '. 5. P.

# +EP&E BER 19)9&ired of *orkin , - o o(t earlier than

(s(al not *antin to o to the 3lore, *here -have a date at ei ht o clock *ith 3.?. and+evero, - *ent to the terrace of the Royal;p ra to read e Monde the cars are back, theevenin no lon er has the @( (st e ptiness -so en


31/39

of these days - ll have to e6plain yself abo(tthe rescandalo(s> that - don tdare be o(tra ed: there (st be a rationale6planation for this anachronistic adness it*o(ld be too easy


32/39

neither the te6t nor the boy, very tense tho( hood lookin , attracts e7*ith 'ean =. abo(t

his novel 0- offer a fe* co ents to sho* that- a cooperative, b(t - have the i pression hetakes the >personally> and closes (p , an old

oroccan h(stler 0@la i4 @lao(i4 , *ho -kne* at least ten years back and *ho sincethen, each ti e he sees e, tells e the story of his life and hits e for oney, appears, be instellin e so e ri tale abo(t an inheritance0a *o an *ho *as in love *ith hi has died,leavin hi a villa in Cannes, b(t there are proble s, the police s(spect hi of bein a pi p, etc. , and act(ally sits do*n at o(r tableto tell the details in reater co fort. - ref(se0his r(deness ives e the ener y to ref(se he

akes an an ry est(re and knocks over chairsin his abr(pt depart(re. &hat evenin *e o tothe little

% DD %Chinese resta(rant in the R(e de &o(rnon *ithBernard =. and his 0ne* -talian friend,Ricardo at first nothin (ch, b(t rad(ally heappeals to e beca(se of a kind of bodilyfreshness 0hands, chest in the (nb(ttoned *hiteshirt : the trio of Gesire inevitably for s, B. =.havin , by his choice, desi natedhom I

should desire. - envy their bein to ether andoin to Mienna to orro*. - leave the

tenderly7b(t a little bitterly, as far as -concerned, since they re oin a*ay for a lonti e, and besides, in any case . . .

I +EP&E BER 19)95ast ni ht, dinner at 5a Palette *ith

Miolette. @t the ne6t table, a black an eatinalone: sober, silent, discreet a civil servant4 &o

end his eal he orders a yo h(rt and tea. &heevenin is *ar , the street f(ll of people andcars 0 onstro(s procession of otorcycles . -e6tend it by headin aro(nd eleven for the3lore, (nprofitable a rather *retched type sitsdo*n beside e and i ediately be instalkin to e. @nnoyed, - b(ry yself in y paper. Mery diffic(lt to read one s paper in peace.

9 +EP&E BER 19)9Evenin : not (ch to tell: at Resta(rant )

*ith friends a ood o ent, despite the st(pidenviron ent: heavily ade (p old *o en,


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a(dy clientele sho*in off. B(t earlier in theafternoon of this +at(rday, a kind of insatiablecr(isin : first of all at the Bain M, nothin :none of the @rabs

% D) %- kno*, no one interestin , a lot of nervo(sE(ropeans the only e6ception, an @rab, notyo(n b(t not bad, interested in E(ropeans.@pparently *itho(t askin for oney, heto(ches each one s cock, then oves on to thene6t *ho kno*s *hat he *ants4 P(re parado6:an @rab for *ho so eone else s cock e6istsand not only his o*n 0*hich is his e o .-nter inable, proli6 onolo (e 0not aconversation at all of the o*ner, *hodescribes his disappoint ents in a &(nisianhotel 0*retched food and all the yo(n&(nisians i p(dently cr(isin hi , hee6plains, hypocritically disapprovin . -tocc(rred to e to o lookin for a h(stler in

ont artre *hich is perhaps *hy, in badfaith, - fo(nd nothin at Moltaire. Mery stor ysky, heavy raindrops, a lot of cars. @t 5a H(it,absol(tely nothin 0e6plodin the r( or thatit s hot at five in the afternoon . &hen appears atall dark fello* *ith a rather stran e, so e*hatdelicate co(ntenance his 3rench is coarse, -take hi for a Breton no, his other isF(n arian, his father a ?hite R(ssian 04 , inshort a ( oslav 0very ild, very si ple .

e adeleine, *ho - had been told *asvery sick 0an infarct , appears, h( e andli pin o(t of her kitchen, *here an e plantis lyin on the table she introd(ces ahandso e oroccan *ho is (ite *illin to

ake contact and ives e a lon stare he *ill

*ait in the dinin roo (ntil - co e backdo*n, see s disappointed that - don t take hiri ht a*ay 0va (e date for to orro* . - leaveli ht headed, physically at ease still follo*in

y notion of a diet, - b(y a loaf of very cr(sty bread 0a sober b(t not a self denyin diet andnibble at the heel the cr(st cr( bles in the

tro, *hile - ake co plicated transfers7 b(t - persist, deter ined to find o(t the baro etric press(re, @ven(e Rapp, in order tore (late y ne*

% DI %


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baro eter. -n the ta6i on the *ay ho e, storand heavy rain. - han aro(nd the ho(se 0eatinso e toast and feta , then, tellin yself - (stlose the habit ofcalculating y pleas(res 0or

y deflections , - leave the ho(se a ain and osee the ne* porno fil at 5e Gra on: as al*ays 7and perhaps even ore so than (s(al7 dreadf(l. - dare not cr(ise y nei hbor, tho( h- probably co(ld 0idiotic fear of bein re


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co(rse. @fter all, that s *hat a do(ble ans*er is.E6cellent ethod to erase desire: a lon tercontract it drops of its o*n accord. -n bed,finished Ren(cci s "ante a*f(lL - ot nothino(t of it.

12 +EP&E BER 19)9@t the @ erican cocktail party forRichard +ennett 0ad irable: a *hole sociolo yin the fact that he cannot e6press hi self inanother s presence, as if e6pression *ere a selfevident hi her val(e , *here - find Ed ar

orin, 3o(ca(lt, and &o(raine, trapped 0*e*ere told it *as a cocktail party, it *as adebate , - *as thinkin of nothin b(t y date*ith ;livier =. ?e *ent to Bofin er for dinner, b(t it see ed not so ood this ti e, and not so pleasant, ore e6pensive, too any people, thecha pa ne not chilled eno( h, etc. @fter*ard*e *alked slo*ly do*n the R(e +aint @ntoineand the R(e de Rivoli, it *as ild, a little

isty, deserted 0these are dayti enei hborhoods . - *as faintly apprehensiveabo(t ho* *e *o(ld say oodni ht 0stillhesitatin abo(t the ana e ent of Gesire , b(t at the sa e ti e feel

% )" %in rela6ed. ?e had been havin a oodconversation, and ;livier see ed co fortable0*hat fine eyes he hasL . ?e took a c(p of teain a caf on the Place d( Ch telet it *as a bitodd. &he separation *ent easily eno( h ;.didn t *ant to co e back to the ho(se7*hich- had anticipated, and - *as afraid of thatany*ay 0beca(se of y desire and beca(se -*as sleepy *e ade a date for +(nday l(nchand separated in the Place d( Ch telet he

didn t kiss e, b(t - *asn t h(rt by that as*o(ld once have been the case. - *alked ho e,takin the Bo(levard +aint ichel and the R(e+aint @ndr des @rts tired as - *as, - still*anted to see boys faces b(t so any *ere soyo(n that - be an to feel depressed. 5eGa(phin *as e pty e6cept, at the end of theterrace, for one black boy, *ith lon , delicatehands, in a red


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*indbreaker, bo( ht in He* ork, practically brand ne* 0- have replaced the $ip in linin itfits badly, the sleeves are too lon and there isno inside pocket, so - feel cra ed *ithob re arks one

entle an in lasses, scribblin so ethin in anotebook: an ans*er, probably ti id andinsincere, to t*o beefy fello*s *ho pro*lthro( h the sho* *ith a provocative hostility.- see +ollers, Pleynet, then sneak off, neverable to look at an e6hibition lon . - *alk a*hile to*ard the Pont de l @l a *ith 5(cien Haise: very nice, b(t - can t ana e to en


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Bo(levard *hich *as fatal to Pinter, for -decided not to retrace y steps 0act(ally: noconse uence - *anted to o to the 3lore, b(tit *as too early and *o(ld have ade too lonan evenin - looked for a ovie: nothinappealed, or else the fil had already be (nthen -

% )2 %fo(nd one theater *here they *ere sho*inPialat s fil abo(t kids passin theirbaccalaur$at 0'. 5. had said it *as *onderf(l,in his *ay, of co(rse, *hich eans aside froany esthetic criterion, and accordin toaffective intellect(al i pressions that concernhi self e6cl(sively . &he fil , tho( h perfectand there*as a sort of >yo(th> racis 0one feltabsol(tely e6cl(ded , it *as ab(sively hetero,and - don t like that very conte porary sort of

essa e in *hich yo( have to sy pathi$e *ithdo*n and o(ters 0li ited hori$on of the yo(n ,etc. , and *here the *hole (niverse is idiotic:the arro ance of the derelict, so (ch for o(rti es. 5eavin the theater and headin to*ardthe ;p ra, ro(ps of yo(n people a irl saysso ethin tr(e,> since it contin(es inthe street. @rrivin at +aint =er ain,


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inti idated e no e(phoria of relation7farfro it. - asked hi to co e and sit beside eon the bed d(rin y nap he ca e *illin lyeno( h, sat on the ed e of the bed, looked at anart book his body *as very far a*ay7if -stretched o(t an ar to*ard hi , he didn tove, (nco (nicative: no obli in ness

oreover he soon *ent into the other roo . @sort of despair overca e e, - felt like cryin .Fo* clearly - sa* that - *o(ld have to ive (p boys, beca(se none of the felt any desire for

e, and - *as either too scr(p(lo(s or toocl( sy to i pose y desire on the that thisis an (navoidable fact, averred by all yefforts at flirtin , that - have a elancholy life,that, finally, - bored to death by it, and that -

(st divest y life of this interest, or thishope. 0-f - consider y friends one by one7 e6cept for those *ho are no lon er yo(n 7ithas been a fail(re each ti e: @., R., '. 5. P.,+a(l &., ichel G.7R. 5., too brief, B. . andB. F., no desire, etc. Hothin *ill be left for

e b(t h(stlers. 0B(t then *hat *o(ld - do*hen - o o(t4 - keep noticin yo(n en,i ediately *antin to be in love *ith the .?hat *ill the spectacle of y *orld co e to be4 7- played the piano a little for ;., after heasked e to, kno*in at that very o ent that- had iven hi (p ho* lovely his eyes *erethen, and his entle face, ade entler by hislon hair: a delicate b(t inaccessible andeni atic creat(re, s*eet nat(red yet re ote.&hen - sent hi a*ay, sayin - had *ork to do,kno*in it *as over, and that ore than;livier *as over: the love ofone boy.

% )8 %

Gesi ner: +andy Grooker Co positor: ?ilsted Q &aylor &e6t: 11/1!.# 3o(rnier Gisplay: 3o(rnier Printer: alloy 5itho raphinBinder: alloy 5itho raphin

Preferred Citation: Barthes, Roland. Incidents. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1992.http://ark.cdlib.or /ark:/1!"!"/ft#v19n9$1/


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Documents

Barthes, Roland - Incidents