The world according to Tomas Šinkariukas 2

Rūta Šetikaitė
www.kamane.lt, 2013-05-28

In brief: The writer Tomas Šinkariukas does not advertise himself in the press, does not organise pompous presentations of books and expresses bitter criticism about mass culture. Also, he asserts that art is of no use in general. Nonetheless, he writes. About his imagination – world of phantoms.

In the interview the writer speaks about a creating man and his dependence on the public, impact of mass culture, about the culture of views and written words, about things that encourage him to write.

“Mass culture makes a huge impact and this impact increases very rapidly. It becomes absolute and penetrates even the ones who consider themselves to be nonconformists fighting against mass culture,” the writer believes.

“Even though Europe usually imitates America on the cultural-mental layer, it has some special qualities. They give honour to it. This is why the nastiness of Europe is slightly different – more refined than that of the plebeian and rough USA – it is soft power. It is soft like mucus, suffocating, multi-human, politically correct, softly demanding like a clever sensitive boss, it is formless and principled as Non-life, Death of Idea.

If Muhammad did not forbid to drink, perhaps I would become a Muslim, a Sufi, who are not even considered to be Muslims by radical Islamists. They wrote such beautiful poetry. Baghdad of the Middle Ages and other cities were so mysterious. I would drink Shiraz wine, read Persian or Arabian poetry, sit in the garden,” T.Šinkariukas shares his thoughts.

When asked about the relation of view and written word, he states that new technologies have mixed all the cards. He notes that books written by contemporary intellectuals, academicians and critical theoreticians or thinkers  during the latter ten-fifteen years appear doubtful and dull in his eyes the most often. “Art and philosophy have neither nails nor wisdom any more. Meanwhile, business has very sharp nails and mind instead. As for the written word and view, perhaps the view is deeper, more mysterious and primeval than language and letters,” the writer speaks.

“The absolute majority adore the so-called information society and its ambiguous, threatening but glorious vision. Art and especially religion is not information. And they are of no use,” T.Šinkariukas observes.

As for writing and incentives of creation, the writer states that he does not know what makes him create. “Literature does not have a big impact nowadays. (…) If I walk on the edge, it is only in my imagination, world of phantoms. If the reader understands what I want to say and feels the mood I want to render, it is enough and wonderful for me,” says the writer.

Readers will find a novella, short story and five dramas full of strange visions and surrealistic dreams in the book “Rainbow of Moon” that will be published soon. According to the writer, the novella, short story and two plays were written during the latter two or three years, “Sepia” – in 2005, and the latter two plays – ten years ago.


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