The more time spent inside, outside and in the environs of the cathedral of Notre Dame in Chartres the more puzzling it all becomes. Different theories exist about how the cathedral was built, what the iconography and images represent and whether it expresses a sacred geometry. The building is the result of several building campaignsContinue reading “Chez nous, chez nous…le Notre Dame de Chartes”
Author Archives: DannyB
Neo-Liberalism & the Destruction of Paris
Paris has a terrible system for buying metro tickets. I’m ahead of myself having managed to catch the early morning train from Orleans to Paris Austerlitz. But here my plan to make further progress is tripped up by a queue of people waiting to use the single machine at the metro station. It takes meContinue reading “Neo-Liberalism & the Destruction of Paris”
The Cathedral of Saint Etienne in Bourges
There is an early train to Bourges and a mid-day train and nothing in between. The alarm goes off and I go back to sleep. There’s no rush. The alarm clock is one of the great tools of oppression. How I have hated it during a life of toil. A mental map is slowly beingContinue reading “The Cathedral of Saint Etienne in Bourges“
From Angers to Orleans
The train is going to be delayed. This of course means that it is impossible to connect to working wifi. Everything is all connected. When a butterfly flaps its wings…. It’s a feeling of melancholy with which Angers is left. The town sleeps, the town wakes, people go about their business, meet friends, sit outsideContinue reading “From Angers to Orleans”
Rue Pocquet de Livonnieres
On the corner of the Rue Pocquet de Livonnieres and the Place de Pilori there is a patisserie which bakes fine bread, good cakes and serves decent coffee. There are metal orange tables and chairs outside and it’s a good spot to have breakfast and watch Angers come to life each morning. I buy aContinue reading “Rue Pocquet de Livonnieres”
Art Deco & Electro-Gothic
Before one can start any sort of study there must be a great obstacle course of diversions to navigate through. And so the real study of the Gothic met a temporary set back today by hitting the submerged rocks of Art Deco. My little ship contains a notebook, a pen, some pencils, a sketch bookContinue reading “Art Deco & Electro-Gothic”
In France
The lifting of the tension and oppression of the general state of England can be tangibly felt. The constant howling of the right-wing has been silenced by the crossing of the channel. A new fool acts as the leader but it will be more of the same. Lying, the enrichment of the tax dodging managementContinue reading “In France”
The Situationist City
London can be rather fabulous on a Wednesday lunchtime, especially when toil is abandoned for a couple of weeks. I take the Crossrail to Liverpool Street and walk through the station. Down to London Wall and past the mysterious All Hallows church. There’s a cut through at Throgmorton Street and then Copthall Avenue. Uncorked hasContinue reading “The Situationist City”
Towards a taxonomy of Gothic
I was once told that if you are struggling to write something it’s because you haven’t done enough reading. So it is with trying to write about ‘Gothic Marxism’. As a starting point, Gothic architecture. This in itself went through many phases and developments but I find the study of built environments brings history alive.Continue reading “Towards a taxonomy of Gothic”
Wages, Price and Profit
The book is placed carefully on the table of the train. Moneybags should be so Lucky by Robert Paul Wolff. A woman is sitting at the table typing away. A paper cup is placed next to her laptop. I notice her reading the title.‘Have you read it?’ I ask‘No’, she replies. But she told meContinue reading “Wages, Price and Profit”
Cornucopia City 