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Umberto Eco has died

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Re: Umberto Eco has died

#41

Post by coliveira »

coldtea wrote: post #26
johnhattan wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It took me four months to get through that thing, what with its weird random digressions. One chapter would be talking about the Knights Templar building treasure-tunnels under France, and suddenly the next chapter would open with a paragraph explaining why a woman's physiology is better suited for playing pinball than a man's. A compelling read, but I was never quite sure what facts would end up being important to t…

> A compelling read, but I was never quite sure what facts would end up being important to the plot. The plot is seldom the main point in literature, especially good literature -- it's mostly a vehicle to convey thoughts and observations about life, the universe and everything as opposed to the end goal (as in a (common) detective story or a pulp thriller).

I wish writers (and readers) really understood that. It is so boring to open a book that reads just like a Hollywood movie script and has no depth to justify reading.

Re: Umberto Eco has died

#42

Post by aswanson »

vanderZwan wrote: post #35
zorpner wrote: post #10

Umberto Eco on operating systems and religion, in 1994: The fact is that the world is divided between users of the Macintosh computer and users of MS-DOS compatible computers. I am firmly of the opinion that the Macintosh is Catholic and that DOS is Protestant. Indeed, the Macintosh is counterreformist and has been influenced by the "ratio studiorum" of the Jesuits. It is cheerful, friendly, conciliatory, it tells th…

Did he ever say something about Linux?

Paganistic druids without the priestly shroud, revealing all sources of revelation to man, existence its barest form, for all to extend, rewrite, and revise for the solitary path of revelation must bear the unique fingerprint of the journeyman.

Re: Umberto Eco has died

#43

Post by coliveira »

fenomas wrote: post #14

Foucault's Pendulum was maybe the most transformative book I've ever read - it changed how I think about literature (and of course the Knights Templar). Ah well, guess it's time to reread it. :(

I also suggest Baudolino. It is a fantastic story exploring the world of war and religion in the Middle Ages.

Re: Umberto Eco has died

#44

Post by mcphage »

coliveira wrote: post #43
fenomas wrote: post #14

Foucault's Pendulum was maybe the most transformative book I've ever read - it changed how I think about literature (and of course the Knights Templar). Ah well, guess it's time to reread it. :(

I also suggest Baudolino. It is a fantastic story exploring the world of war and religion in the Middle Ages.

Also it's freaking hilarious.

Re: Umberto Eco has died

#45

Post by pmoriarty »

fenomas wrote: post #28
johnhattan wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It took me four months to get through that thing, what with its weird random digressions. One chapter would be talking about the Knights Templar building treasure-tunnels under France, and suddenly the next chapter would open with a paragraph explaining why a woman's physiology is better suited for playing pinball than a man's. A compelling read, but I was never quite sure what facts would end up being important to t…

Well, yeah. Foucault's Pendulum is to me what Finnegan's Wake is apparently to many others - certainly not a casual read; more something to pick apart slowly and ponder the subtle mysteries of. But even underneath all the digressions and metaphysics, I still find the core story enjoyable as well. Plus it's as brilliant a takedown of conspiracy-theory-thinking as ever the world will see.

"Plus it's as brilliant a takedown of conspiracy-theory-thinking as ever the world will see."

How does it compare on that score to The Illuminatus Trilogy[1], written more than a decade before Eco's book?

[1] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illuminatus

Re: Umberto Eco has died

#46

Post by jplahn »

We read Name of the Rose in my 10th grade English class and it was a tome that challenged us all for the couple of weeks that we pored over it. I love that book. I've read it one other time since then and it's amazing the number of layers that continue to appear when you read it a second (and, presumably, a third) time. When you spend so much time dissecting somebody's work, you develop a sort of relationship with them, one that forms easily when you have a teacher that distills a deep appreciation for the work you're knee deep in trying to understand.

Mr. Eco you will be missed.

Re: Umberto Eco has died

#47

Post by Fordrus »

Shog9 wrote: post #36
vanderZwan wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did he ever say something about Linux?

Let's go with Mormons.

Anciently, there was the UNIX. But the UNIX was held close by those who had received it, and the world trembled in darkness, because there was no UNIX to light the way. But then came Linus Torvalds, attempting to discover which of the systems was true, and, as he reviewed the ancient operating systems, discovered wisdom enough to seek the UNIX.

And BEHOLD, as Linus went forth to meditate on which operating system was best, he was visited by the UNIX in a pillar of Code. The UNIX told him that all operating systems had departed from the best way, and informed Linus where he must go to seek a restoration of the true ways of UNIX.

And Linus was led to the side of the hill Codemorah, wherein he discovered golden algorithms and clear glass compilers. And will the clear glass compilers, he translated the golden algorithms into this: the Linux operating system. It is evidence of his prophesional calling, and any who use it can attest the Linus was truly shown the best way, through the Spirit and Power of UNIX.

(I will show myself out now :) )

Re: Umberto Eco has died

#48

Post by felipellrocha »

vanderZwan wrote: post #35
zorpner wrote: post #10

Umberto Eco on operating systems and religion, in 1994: The fact is that the world is divided between users of the Macintosh computer and users of MS-DOS compatible computers. I am firmly of the opinion that the Macintosh is Catholic and that DOS is Protestant. Indeed, the Macintosh is counterreformist and has been influenced by the "ratio studiorum" of the Jesuits. It is cheerful, friendly, conciliatory, it tells th…

Did he ever say something about Linux?

Buddhism. Leading you towards the path of enlightenment!

Re: Umberto Eco has died

#49

Post by schoen »

jplahn wrote: post #46

We read Name of the Rose in my 10th grade English class and it was a tome that challenged us all for the couple of weeks that we pored over it. I love that book. I've read it one other time since then and it's amazing the number of layers that continue to appear when you read it a second (and, presumably, a third) time. When you spend so much time dissecting somebody's work, you develop a sort of relationship with th…

I had kind of that experience with the Aeneid, and my friend had kind of that experience with the Divine Comedy. There's a lot of it out there to be had when people are lucky enough to get into the right situation with the right people!

Re: Umberto Eco has died

#50

Post by mcguire »

pmoriarty wrote: post #45
fenomas wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, yeah. Foucault's Pendulum is to me what Finnegan's Wake is apparently to many others - certainly not a casual read; more something to pick apart slowly and ponder the subtle mysteries of. But even underneath all the digressions and metaphysics, I still find the core story enjoyable as well. Plus it's as brilliant a takedown of conspiracy-theory-thinking as ever the world will see.

"Plus it's as brilliant a takedown of conspiracy-theory-thinking as ever the world will see." How does it compare on that score to The Illuminatus Trilogy[1], written more than a decade before Eco's book? [1] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illuminatus

The Illuminatus Trilogy is a couple of guys getting stoned and screwing around with various goofy ideas. Like a lot of postmodern stuff, it doesn't take much of anything, especially its subject seriously.

Foucault's Pendulum is a very smart guy who knows a lot, pointing out that, if you peel an onion you won't find anything in the center.

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