Personalia
Matthijs van Boxsel, born in Amsterdam, in 1957. Régent du Collège de ’Pataphysique (chair de morosophie), OGGGFC.
Writer-in-Residence (1 Sept 2016 – 31 Jan 2017)
Handbook Bâtaphysics and The Topography of Stupidity
Research Question
What is ’Pataphysics, and how has it developped in the Netherlands since 1890 (vulgo)? What are the proverbially stupid places in the world, and why?
Project Description
In the first part of the Handbook Bâtaphysics I will be examining the history and the principles of ’Pataphysics, the structure of the Collège de ’Pataphysique, their calender and other parafernalia. The second part will be dealing with Dutch pataphysicans and the organisation of the ‘Nederlandse Academie voor ’Patafysica’ (since 2002 vulgo). Pataphysics has inspired a lot of authors and artists; less known is its popularity amongst scholars. The book will conclude with a search for the relationship between the ‘science of imaginary solutions’ and the role of failure, fantasy and wild hypotheses in ‘regular science’. The book on the Topography of Stupidity deals with the struggle (sake) that is hidden in national identity (Zaak), and the role of stupid jokes in the formation of the national Cause.
Selected Publications
1) The Encyclopaedia of Stupidity (Reaktion Books, London 2003); the book has been translated in seventeen languages. First published as: De Encyclopedie van de Domheid (Em. Querido Amsterdam 1999)
2) Morosofie (Em. Querido, Amsterdam 2001)
3) Deskundologie of Domheid als levenskunst (Em. Querido, Amsterdam 2006)