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In 1926: living at the edge of time - Monoskop

In 1926: living at the edge of time - Monoskop

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User's Manual<br />

Where to Start<br />

Do not try "to start from <strong>the</strong> beginning," for this book has no<br />

beginning in <strong>the</strong> sense th<strong>at</strong> narr<strong>at</strong>ives or arguments have beginnings.<br />

Start with any <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> fifty-one entries in any <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> three sections<br />

entitled "Arrays," "Codes," and "Codes Collapsed" (<strong>the</strong> alphabetical<br />

order <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> subheadings shows th<strong>at</strong> <strong>the</strong>re isn't any hierarchy<br />

among <strong>the</strong>m). Simply start with an entry th<strong>at</strong> particularly interests<br />

you. From each entry a web <strong>of</strong> cross-references will take you to o<strong>the</strong>r,<br />

rel<strong>at</strong>ed entries. Read as far as your interest carries you (and as long<br />

as your schedule allows). You'll thus establish your individual reading<br />

p<strong>at</strong>h. Just as <strong>the</strong>re is no oblig<strong>at</strong>ory beginning, <strong>the</strong>re also is no<br />

oblig<strong>at</strong>ory or definitive end to <strong>the</strong> reading process. Regardless <strong>of</strong><br />

where you enter or exit, any reading sequence <strong>of</strong> some length should<br />

produce <strong>the</strong> effect to which <strong>the</strong> book's title alludes: you should feel<br />

"in <strong>1926</strong>." The more immedi<strong>at</strong>e and sensual this illusion becomes,<br />

<strong>the</strong> more your reading will fulfill <strong>the</strong> book's chief aim. Note: you can,<br />

if you like, experience this effect without reading <strong>the</strong> last two chapters,<br />

"After Learning from History" and "Being-in-<strong>the</strong>-Worlds <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>1926</strong>."<br />

Mode(s)<br />

<strong>In</strong> <strong>the</strong> sections "Arrays," "Codes," and "Codes Collapsed," <strong>the</strong> writing<br />

aims <strong>at</strong> being strictly descriptive. This discourse is meant to bring<br />

out dominant surface perceptions as <strong>the</strong>y were <strong>of</strong>fered by certain<br />

ix

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