Jafsie and John Henry: Essays

By David Mamet

Book Overview

David Mamet has said that if he hadn't found a life in the theater, it is very likely he would have become a criminal. In Jafsie and John Henry the master improviser takes on a range of roles and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0684841207
• ISBN13: 9780684841205
• Release Date: April 1999
• Publisher: Free Press
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.88 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 1.3" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

A Search for a New Model.

Mamet quotes Hemingway among others here, "write the best story you can and then throw out all the good lines," as the best advice he ever heard about writing. This is essential to the style and grace of Mamet's writing, in that he sloughes off so much in the way of explanation to take the reader on a journey into his mind and life. And his mind is expansive and connected, aware and developed so much that this collection of essays, regarding numerous subjects becomes a treatise on Mamet's morality and appreciation for and of life at the end of the 20th century. Opening with his turning fifty, a mood that pervades the whole, he discusses his youth in Chicago, the meta-physical nature of a similar black sweater to bygone ones, the zone of owning a poker game, what it is to be a Scotch Whiskey connesiour, homes and their qualities, Hollywood and it's ironies, a "perfect" first car, the nature of man to desire enslavement, the coming and existent domination of computers and television in human life, fearful witch hunting, why bigots are afforded their prejudice, and the attempt to master nature-in the form of a buck deer. Among others, these encompass an interesting and fluid jam into life through David Mamet. Now, beyond skimming over what he writes about, there is much to say as to what he says. Why is there a folklore about John Henry defeating the machine drill, celebrating his accomplishment when he died immediately following? "I thought it hypocritical to celebrate John Henry's victory, for, surely, the next man couldn't beat the steam drill-John Henry himself couldn't beat it over a protracted period, and no one would be able to vanquish the next generation of the machine-and, so, our celebration of hime was disingenuous." As to anti-semitism, "it is caused by self-loathing. The deranged individual or culture, the oppressor, cannot bear the knowledge of his or her own worthlessness and, so, projects the hated qualities onto a group easily identified as the Other. The only other necessary factor is that the group elected must be seen as powerless." There must be a response then to bigotry, complicity/silence is acceptance, and that response is "not for the sake of the bigot but for the sake of the recipient Jew-to proclaim and, so, to enjoy one's membership in the group." On a lighter or perhaps more artistically anguished plane, Mamet exposes, as he is known for, the abominable Hollywood machine, which deals in destruction and is lead by fools who happen to have gorgeous homes full of incredible decor and artwork. The irony is that these people don't know, or care, they only pay, that is what they are good for, using money to look good, becaus ethey are supposed to, much to that chagrin or Mr. Mamet and the rest who hope to appreciate what they earn. Surprisingly there is humor too, and more. I would read this again, and mark that as a distinguishing factor in any reading and writing. He does not though, wrote much about theatre, or acting