I don't think I've come across anything related to Borges that hasn't been worth reading. I really need to investigate him more.
My first introduction was the 'Celestial Emporium of Benevolent Knowledge'[0], from which I will never forget "those that tremble as if they were mad"
And in rare scenarios I've found 'On Exactitude in Science'[1] to be pertinent. The thing itself is it's own map (maybe even: the code _is_ the documentation).
I refer to Exactitude quite often, but more often to highlight that the code isn't the documentation, to use the same analogy.
When we make a map, it is a purposeful abstraction. It disregards some things and exaggerates others. The map cannot explain everything – to do so it would need to be exactly the same size as the land beneath it.
When you make a map, document code, present or listen to an argument etc. you need to focus on what's important for this specific purpose. Otherwise your map will be useless. Either from being incomplete, of from being too complete.
I was on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore last year and was disappointed that I wasn't able to see the labyrinth. Also if I remember correctly the tower of the church wasn't accessible due to renovations. I'm glad to hear that the labyrinth is getting reopened. In general there's so much so see in Venice, and most of it is not overcrowded at all once you skip the top 10 sights that get visits by mass tourism.
The original labyrinth in Knossos was (according to some) was the royal Minoan palace on Crete, with structure so intricate it was a maze. The labrys is the double-edged axe, symbol of power, at its gate.
Labyrinth is many things - substantially a maze (not e.g. a subset of it like specific shape).
"House of Asterion" is Borges's main labyrinth story as far as I can remember. "Library of Babel", "Tlön, Uqbar, Orbits Tertius", "The Immortal" and "The Aleph" are my favorites. His collected works fit in a single book and is a great example of quality beats quantity.
I suspect most would point to The Garden of Forking Paths as his "main labyrinth story" if he could be said to have such a thing. The Library of Babel is also a labyrinth of sorts. I recall another where a guy faked his own murder. He was really a labyrinthine guy.
This comes off as claiming that no one could possibly read Harry Potter if they haven't read The Illiad yet, nor the Illiad if they haven't read the Epic of Gilgamesh.
I once calculated the number of books in The Library of Bable, and had to try a number of numerical libraries to do so. one after another they kept puking on the large integers.
Well I guess its neat they added a tactile map for the blind at the beginning of the maze, except the solid hard barrier at the bottom within the very narrow spaces and with hard corners is a massive tripping hazard even for people who can see.
Can someone please tell me how is it different from any other labyrinth and what makes it special (because it's memorial to some writer?)? I looked at photos and besides curved corners don't really see anything special.
Well yes, Borges was especially fond of labyrinths. And Borges is not just any writer: his process and language is indelible to anyone who read him, especially in formative years.
Of course the labyrinth in Borges is a full concept, not just a plain geometric shape.
--
Spinoza
Las traslúcidas manos del judío // labran en la penumbra los cristales // y la tarde que muere es miedo y frío. // (Las tardes a las tardes son iguales.)
Las manos y el espacio de jacinto // que palidece en el confín del Ghetto // casi no existen para el hombre quieto // que está soñando un claro laberinto.
No lo turba la fama, ese reflejo // de sueños en el sueño de otro espejo, // ni el temeroso amor de las doncellas.
Libre de la metáfora y del mito // labra un arduo cristal: el infinito // mapa de Aquel que es todas Sus estrellas.
My first introduction was the 'Celestial Emporium of Benevolent Knowledge'[0], from which I will never forget "those that tremble as if they were mad"
And in rare scenarios I've found 'On Exactitude in Science'[1] to be pertinent. The thing itself is it's own map (maybe even: the code _is_ the documentation).
[0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celestial_Emporium_of_Benevole...
[1]: https://neilgreenberg.com/ao-quote-borges-on-exactitude-in-s...
When we make a map, it is a purposeful abstraction. It disregards some things and exaggerates others. The map cannot explain everything – to do so it would need to be exactly the same size as the land beneath it.
When you make a map, document code, present or listen to an argument etc. you need to focus on what's important for this specific purpose. Otherwise your map will be useless. Either from being incomplete, of from being too complete.
Have you read Libro del cielo y del infierno, and El libro de los seres imaginarios, and Cuentos breves y extraordinarios?
The poetry is also very, very worth it.
And there is a recording of Borges reading a selection of his own poems. (Of which do not miss, for example, "El Golem").
Begin argument https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labyrinth
Labyrinth is many things - substantially a maze (not e.g. a subset of it like specific shape).
(I adore Borges, his Aleph story follows me through life, such wonders he opened.. "but all space was there, actual and undiminished"..)
https://dn760105.eu.archive.org/0/items/borges-jorge-luis-bo...
I once calculated the number of books in The Library of Bable, and had to try a number of numerical libraries to do so. one after another they kept puking on the large integers.
I also think of "the secret miracle" often.
I guess it is a direct idea given the structure is there to celebrate a blind master.
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bFhmPUzXwoyNXtWmfaeGCb-102...
> memorial
Well yes, Borges was especially fond of labyrinths. And Borges is not just any writer: his process and language is indelible to anyone who read him, especially in formative years.
--
Spinoza
Las traslúcidas manos del judío // labran en la penumbra los cristales // y la tarde que muere es miedo y frío. // (Las tardes a las tardes son iguales.)
Las manos y el espacio de jacinto // que palidece en el confín del Ghetto // casi no existen para el hombre quieto // que está soñando un claro laberinto.
No lo turba la fama, ese reflejo // de sueños en el sueño de otro espejo, // ni el temeroso amor de las doncellas.
Libre de la metáfora y del mito // labra un arduo cristal: el infinito // mapa de Aquel que es todas Sus estrellas.