Banderita

 Posted by at 2:56 pm  Atelier
Dec 292010
 

Or ‘traffic flags’, if you prefer, one red and one green, in either hand, because what else have we been doing all year but waving at you trying to get your attention, Over here, Over here.

‘Traffic flags’? Well, it used to be that way, before the coming of the traffic lights, at the centres of the great cities, say the main crossroads of Buenos Aires or Berlin, and there would be a man stood above the busiest intersections raised up on a platform directing traffic with flags and whistle.

We have spoken about those red and green men before (Walk/Don’t Walk) stood up there trying to get themselves noticed in order to stop the traffic and pedestrians from snarling up.

And our memories are also just long enough to remember the men on the railway platforms with their flags and whistles too, All aboard. Like your recollection of old-fashioned wireless, sitting down all together in the front room to listen to a good radio play.

What’s on today, The Story of Franz Biberkof, Never heard of it.

Well, you are right, because it was never broadcast, the powers that be cancelling its transmission a few days before it was due to go out; this Hörbilder  from Berlin during the Weimar days.

You are also right about Mackay’s obsessions with the ‘eastern provinces’. Since we saw him in the Café Buenos Aires in the company of the ladies from the ‘Typing Pool’ a few weeks ago, he has had his nose in a book by Peter Jalovich, Berlin Alexanderplatz; radio, film and the death of Weimar Culture.

But it was our friend Bolano that really kicked it all off earlier in the year, that reference to Alfred Döblin’s masterpiece on page 717 of 2666, which Mackay had by now underlined in pencil of course as well as tagging the page in his copy.

But enough for today, let us leave the last word to cousin Alfred: MAN FÄNGT NICHT SEIN LEBEN MIT GUTEN WORTEN UND VORSÄTZEN AN, MIT ERKENNEN UND VERSTEHEN FÄNGT MAN ES UND MIT DEM RICHTINGEN NEBENMANN.

(‘You don’t start life with good words and intentions, you start it with perception and understanding and the right companion’.)

Are we living in dangerous times, you ask. Look, look, what’s that curious message coming from the flag men, Oh yes, how droll – ‘Happy New Year’!