A student in class said it’s possible that death also is life. They all complained that makes no sense, death is the absence of life. Yes, I know he said but imagine the world contains everything, then part of the life of the world is that is contains death too, right? The life of life, get it? They kicked him out for being difficult.

He walked into the elevator, got off on the floor where the button was depressed, turned the corner and tried the door to another class. The teacher assumed he was a late entry and paid no mind. He sat at the back. The teacher continued the discussion about Eric Hoffer’s book The True Believer re: the psychological make up of totalitarian leaders. He was just where Hoffer explains failed artists and their belief about missed masterworks and how this often turns them fanatical, embracing revolutionary movements to eclipse their personal frustrations. They yearn for radical societal change because of their own failings.

The student raised his hand,
“Yes?” acknowledged the professor.
“Could it not also be that humans are pack animals? And like all pack animals follow a leader? Something within us incentivizes being followers instead of being self reliant?”
“But young man Hoffer is not discussing that. But ok, let us say you are right and we are pack animals. Then you mean to say we are not responsible for our actions?”
“Oui. Vraiment.” replied the young man in another language.
“If we are not responsible for our actions then life itself is just a zoo, a world of chaos.”
“Oui. Vraiment.” the young man repeated.
“I for one do not wish to live in a world that has no design.”
“Mais oui, c’est ca!” exclaimed the young man, “is that not beautiful? Designlessness is the design, you see?”
“That means our lives are meaningless, I do not agree with you, not beautiful at all. Why do you speak in French and English?”
“Please define meaningless.”
“Pointless, alive for no reason. Comprenez-vous?”
“You don’t see something fishy about assuming there is a reason?”
“It would be a sad world indeed if life had no meaning, don’t you think?”
“A sad world? Who can say that with authority? Does the cockroach or the planet Venus believe the world is defined by emotion?”
“Are you going to tell me Cecil Taylor’s records make sense?”

“They do.”
“They are a series of clusters. Barely anyone in their right mind can follow, let alone enjoy repeating the experience.”
“It is the lack of a reason you agree with that disturbs you, yes?”
“Just the boredom. The boredom disturbs me.”
“What would you say if I said there was passive art and active art. Some music is passive, you sit back and let it present easily understandable melodies whereas other forms were active, one must pay attention to every strum or beat or pluck. Otherwise, it can’t be followed.”
“I would say you should probably leave.”
“That would be two courses I got kicked out of today.”
“You remind me of a character from a song.”

“By Bob Dylan, Robyn Hitchcock or Sister Rosetta Tharpe?”

“By Deep Purple.”