Jonathan Bowden’s Correspondence with Greg Johnson, Febuary-August 2010

2,986 words

Edited by Greg Johnson

Editor’s Note:

What follows is all my extant correspondence with Jonathan Bowden from 2010. Once he started sending me articles for Counter-Currents, Jonathan would typically send the entire article as an email. For brevity, I have included just the titles. The articles themselves are found on Counter-Currents. There is one exception: the play Straight as an Arrow as well as Jonathan’s introductory note are included in their entirety, because I did not publish them at Counter-Currents.

***

February

 Jonathan Bowden to Greg Johnson

To: Greg Johnson
From: Jonathan Bowden
2/23/2010, 4:39 PM

Subject: The American Renaissance Conference

Dear Greg,

I am taking the liberty of sending you an e-mail that I have just sent to Sam Dickson.

Yours ever,
Jonathan Bowden

Jonathan Bowden to Sam Dickson

From: Jonathan Bowden
To: Sam Dickson
Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:20:02 +0000

Subject: The American Renaissance Conference

Dear Sam,

I have only just been informed—and indirectly at that by someone in Germany—about the tactics used to obstruct/destroy Jared Taylor’s conference. I did not know that Antifa had spread to the United States, but it in no way surprises me. Antifa began in Britain and is an extension of an anarcho-communist group called Class War which goes back to the early ‘eighties. It was founded by Ian Bone. It is (largely) a gestural group which is strongly influenced by Situationist ideas—by this I mean they use scatology, death threats, cyber-war propaganda, and very extreme threats of a criminal character. This is meant to be anti-bourgeois, frightening, and “transgressive.” Hardly any of their lurid threats are ever matched by physical violence—although I was once speaking at a meeting in East London years ago that came under mild ‘attack’ from a group of them. I seem to recall that one of them was CS sprayed or ‘gassed’ by the police. I do think, however, that certain things have to change. The conference which I attended in Atlanta was excellent, but, in security terms, it was wide open. I would earnestly recommend that you appoint a security chief or co-ordinator (preferably a discrete and sensible ex-military man) and that your future conferences are stewarded by the younger/more militant members. In Britain we have to use redirection points, multiple options over the venue, back-ups, false trails and a continuous security presence for virtually all radical right events in the United Kingdom. It appears that some of these tactics will have to be sensibly adapted to the American scene. I am afraid to say that civilised conferences which are wide open and almost academic in character, well, they are the easiest thing on earth to black propagandise or threaten. Take the group of which I am Chairman, the New Right here in England, no-one but myself and one other know where the conference is to occur until its very day, but nodal points (key individuals) are informed by mobile ‘phone during the run-up on the day in question. Touch wood, we have not had a problem thus far, and many of the questions that we have broached are ‘heavy duty’.

Yours ever,
Jonathan Bowden

Jonathan Bowden to Sam Dickson & Greg Johnson

From: Jonathan Bowden
To: Sam Dickson
CC: Greg Johnson

Thursday, February 25, 2010, 11:26 AM

Subject: The American Renaissance Conference

Dear Sam,

Thanks very much for your prompt and interesting reply. Yes, by all means, you can use any information about ultra-left tactics that I have intimated and send them out to your general membership. You can also use my name if it would be helpful. I have no problem with that. (Note: the point about some of these sabotage tactics is their extremity. The death threats, scatology, screaming, occasional use of pornographic images, piles of dead bodies from concentration camp photos, etc…, is their deliberately transgressive intent. Some of these ‘anti-bourgeois’ tactics originate in elements of modernist art—certain species of conceptualism, auto-destructive art, action art, et al. They are deliberately used to frighten mainstream or conservative people who have moderate psychologies —this creates a ‘situation’ where emboldened Republicans, for example, think that they don’t ever wish to associate with a tendency of opinion which brings such ignominous treatment in its wake. By doing so, the anti-fascist (sic) has frightened off the more moderate people in order to leave a hard-core. I suppose the ultimate goal is to provide an aura of criminality (perspectivally) to the presentation of radically inegalitarian ideas. Class War isn’t that important, but they used to have a journal called The Heavy Stuff in which they advocated this type of ‘struggle’. Their importance is solely in the intentional use of black propaganda, stunts, ‘happenings’ and minor league ‘psychological operations’. These groups are left anarchists, of course, and are therefore more psychological radical or emotionally deranged than communists who tended towards a certain conformism or left rigidity over time).

On the practical points of security, it appears that you have many of the key issues in hand. The internet and discriminate use of texting on mobile or cell ‘phones can be widely used to inform a diverse range of people in CMS, say, about practical matters in or around a conference. This is self-explanatory and has nothing to do with the geographical size of the country or its travelling distances. I would also try and physically speak to as many people who are attending a conference as possible by ‘phone. This provides a human touch, can be kept brief, prevents infiltration, and possibly someone could be reimbursed for the calls they make on the organisation’s behalf?

I agree with your point about young ‘toughs’ providing the security and how this might well be detrimental from a legal point of view. Nonetheless, genuine security is not about standing around and looking ‘hard’—it is largely a mental process. An alert or intelligent individual can see ninety per cent of these things brewing before they flare up. Have you thought about using a tough and resourceful woman to do this (maybe an ex-policewoman or someone from the Forces)? Women create a different atmosphere, would not draw attention the way male toughs might, and can be very observant. Litigation threats are likewise reduced. The British National Party’s deputy head of security is female for this very reason.

To close, I would be pleased to meet up when you are next in London—just give me a week or so’s notice before you come over and we can get together for a meal.

Yours ever,
Jonathan Bowden

Greg Johnson to Jonathan Bowden & Others

To: Jonathan Bowden and Others
From: Greg Johnson
6/12/2010, 2:20 PM

Subject: Announcement/Call for Papers

Dear Friends,

I am pleased to announce the official launch of the Counter-Currents/North American New Right site:

http://www.counter-currents.com/

We will be putting our book catalog online over the next week, but I did not wish to delay the debut of North American New Right, since we already have material lined up for online publication.

North American New Right is a journal of ideas. It offers a critique of liberal modernity in North America in the light of Traditionalism and the ideas of the European New Right.

North American New Right includes original articles, translations, interviews, and poetry, as well as reviews of books, films, and music.

North American New Right is published in two formats. First, all submissions will appear online as they come in. Second, at the end of every year, the best of the online journal will be published as a handsome paperback volume in the manner of Alexandria and Tyr.

Please let me know if you have any projects you think suited for this new publication. I would also be grateful if you would pass this news along to anyone you think might be interested.

Best regards,
Greg Johnson
Editor-in-Chief

Counter-Currents Publishing, Ltd. & North American New Right

August

Greg Johnson to Jonathan Bowden

To: Jonathan Bowden
From: Greg Johnson
8/8/2010, 10:05 AM

Subject: California Visit in 2011

Dear Jonathan,

Would you be interested in speaking at a private, discreet WN conference in Southern California that I am organizing? We would pay your expenses and an honorarium, and it should be an enjoyable time. You will see some of the people you met in Atlanta plus many others. The dates are either July 30–31 or Aug. 6–7.

All the best,
Greg

PS: Your Evola talk was amazing.

Greg Johnson to Jonathan Bowden

To: Jonathan Bowden
From: Greg Johnson
Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2010 01:57:42 -0700

Subject: Review/Painting

Dear Jonathan,

Would you be interested in reviewing Alex Kurtagic’s MISTER for Counter-Currents? Do you still have Medusa Now Ventrix and what would it cost?

Do you have any interest in the 2011 Southern California conference I mentioned in a recent email. The dates are now firm: July 29–31, 2011.

Thanks,
Greg

Jonathan Bowden to Greg Johnson

To: Greg Johnson
From: Jonathan Bowden
8/12/2010, 3:37 PM

Subject: Review/Painting

Dear Greg Johnson,

Thanks for your recent clutch of e-mails to which I am replying. Yes, I still do have Medusa Now Ventrix and I suppose in a way that it is one of my favourites due to the fact that it was painted around a quarter of a century ago. One problem is that it was done on board so its transportation to the ‘States would be difficult but by no means impossible. I would probably endeavour to bring it over in an artist’s envelope or sachet on a flight out to the West coast next July. I think that you paid £250.00 in Dollars for Hitler and Leni which is the same size as Medusa, so, given its favouritism for me, shall we say £400.00? I know that it’s quite a bit but I can quite easily accept foreign currency, Dollars or Euros, which are immediately convertible to sterling in a bank back here, and perhaps you could build up slowly towards this summit over the year between now and July 2011.

All of this is a long-winded way of saying that, yes, I would be interested in speaking at your conference in Southern California on July 29th-31st next year. I seem to recall from a previous e-mail that all reasonable expenses would be met. (Note: I would be cautious about security and revealing the venue too much ahead of time. I seem to have heard dark stories about the most recent American Renaissance conference ‘stateside. It doesn’t really matter that you’ve already told me, of course).

Finally—and also positively—I would be interested in reviewing Alex Kurtagic’s Mister as well as Troy Southgate’s novelisation Hitler: the Adjournment. The reason that I have bracketed these two together is that I promised both their authors way back that I would do such a thing. Troy’s work is published by one of Alex’s imprints. I would be in a position to send you raw text as an e-mail (perhaps in instalments) and then you can design it/Americanise it as you see fit. What time-line would you envisage given that Alex’s novel is very long?

Yours ever,
Jonathan Bowden

Greg Johnson to Jonathan Bowden

To: Jonathan Bowden
From: Greg Johnson
Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2010 06:59:27 -0700

Subject: Review/Painting

Dear Jonathan,

Thanks for your reply. You can send the reviews any time you like. But sooner is always better for me, since I am trying to get more original material. The site has been up less than 2 months, and I have been doing a lot of translations and reprints. But it is just now starting to draw more originals. Perhaps you could begin with the Southgate novel, which is short.

I am very glad you are interested in the 2011 “writers’ workshop,” which is what I am calling it. I am keeping everything very secret, trust me. I hope Adrian Davies can come as well–his sister lives near there–and also Alex Kurtagic. I might invite Troy Southgate too, now that you mention him. Yes, I think he would be a good addition. I think that it will be a lot of good, subversive, treasonous fun.

Medusa Now Ventrix would be a good companion to Hitler and Leni, as Hitler and Leni both seem to be part of the subtext or subimage.

I am broke right now, but I follow three maxims:

1) Take care of the luxuries, and the necessities will take care of themselves.–Frank Lloyd Wright
2) Extravagance is the only consolation of poverty.–Oscar Wilde
3) Not paying one’s bills is the only way to live on in the memory of the commercial classes.–Oscar Wilde

So if you will hold onto the picture for me, I should be able to put aside the sum in almost a year’s time. Perhaps also, I can persuade you to reduce the cash component through book barters and the like.

Maybe in the future, I can commission you to do portraits for the covers of some of my future Counter-Currents books. In fact, I will treat Medusa as such a business expense. Hitler and Leni too.

Best,
Greg

Jonathan Bowden to Greg Johnson

To: Greg Johnson
From: Jonathan Bowden
8/16/2010, 5:41 PM

Subject: Review/Painting

Dear Greg Johnson,

This is a relatively short article which I have just produced. I don’t know if you could use it on the Counter-currents web-site?

WHY I WRITE

Jonathan Bowden to Greg Johnson

To: Greg Johnson
From: Jonathan Bowden
8/16/2010

Subject: Review/Painting

Dear Gregory Johnson,

I have sent a copy of Omnibus 2 to your box number in San Francisco for Counter-Currents. The publishing platform on the ‘net has informed me that it left New York late on Monday evening. I would compute that it should be with you on the West coast by Wednesday of this week, say. This collection brings together three books in their entirety—the non-fiction work or Platonic dialogue, Apocalypse TV, together with a collection of four Nietzschean plays, Lilith Before Eve, and a series of short stories, Goodbye, Homunculus! Altogether the volume has about 560 pages.

Yours ever,
Jonathan Bowden

Greg Johnson to Jonathan Bowden

To: Jonathan Bowden
From: Greg Johnson
Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2010 14:28:52 -0400

Subject: Review/Painting

Dear Jonathan,

Thanks for this. I will put it online at midnight tonight, Pacific
Standard Time. I made no changes to the text, but introduced some paragraph breaks.

Thank you for sending the Omnibus. I need to find someone who is capable of appreciating your work to do a review.

All the best,
Greg

Jonathan Bowden to Greg Johnson

To: Greg Johnson
From: Jonathan Bowden
Monday, August 23, 2010, 7:22 AM

Subject: Review/Painting

Dear Greg Johnson,

Thanks very much for your recent e-mail and the posting up of the H. P. Lovecraft article on his 120th birthday. Please feel free to make use of any other articles which take your fancy over time. These would include the piece on Hans-Jurgen Syberberg, Troy Southgate’s HERR (music review), the article on Nietzsche, Troy Southgate’s review of Kratos and Apocalypse TV, together with an eleven point interview between myself and Troy Southgate. Troy has also done two film reviews of feature films that I’ve written and produced/acted in with the Italian director Andrea Lioy. These films were pretty ‘extreme’ and were probably not designed for a TOQ audience—but I don’t see any problem with Counter-currents. The films in question were Venus Fly-Trap and Grand Guignol. Troy has reviewed these and you can find both of them via the film page on my website. (The full run through of Venus Fly-Trap is available via Googlevideo and embedded on this web-page).

On other fronts, I shall endeavour to send you the Nosferatu review as soon as I can. It will take a little while due to its length. I shall then proceed to other matters, reviews, and so forth. Within reason—and other things considered (ceteris paribus)—I will try and do something for your web-site every week (or so). That’s a target anyway…

Yours ever,
Jonathan Bowden

Greg Johnson to Jonathan Bowden

To: Jonathan Bowden
From: Greg Johnson
Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 13:15:08 -0400

Subject: RE: review/painting

Dear Jonathan,

I would have been a loyalist in the war of American Independence, and in the real world, I am looking for more material for Counter-Currents, so I welcome all your suggestions.

I would be very interested in the NOSFERATU essay.

I am very interested in running numerous, regular music reviews of classical, folk, popular, neofolk, martial-industrial, and even various forms of hyphenated metal albums. So I will gladly repost the HERR review, and I would welcome any others. They need not be long. 200-400 words is fine.

I love the idea of you reviewing your own books. Please feel free to do so.

I want to publish poems and short stories on Counter-Currents. I am publishing essays on the many great fiction writers in our larger cause because I would like to encourage more such writing. Eventually, I will inaugurate a new series of contemporary fiction from our ranks.

RE TOQ: years ago, someone sent me a short story for TOQ. It was quite good, but I had to reject it, because I knew that CMS people would be in a flutter because the couple it featured were not married! Needless to say, I rejoice in being able to edit without a Calvinist looking over one shoulder and a scientific materialist over the other.

All the best,
Greg

Greg Johnson to Jonathan Bowden

To: Jonathan Bowden
From: Greg Johnson
8/23/2010, 9:34 PM

Subject: Review/Painting

Jonathan,

I will post the Southgate interview later this week.

I am delighted at the idea that you might do something every week or so.

Eventually, we will start a Counter-Currents “telly” tab with videos. So I will post your videos as they come out as well.

Best,
Greg

Greg Johnson to Jonathan Bowden

To: Jonathan Bowden
From: Greg Johnson
8/25/2010, 11:40 PM

Subject: Czech translation of your Lovecraft article

http://deliandiver.org/2010/08/h-p-lovecraft-arijsky-mystik.html

 

Jonathan Bowden to Greg Johnson

To: Greg Johnson
From: Jonathan Bowden
Sent: Friday, August 27, 2010 8:14 AM

Subject: NOSFERATU

A POLYP DEVOURS ITS FEED: Paracelsus Unzipped
An analysis of F. W. Murnau’s film Nosferatu

 Greg Johnson to Jonathan Bowden

To: Jonathan Bowden
From: Greg Johnson
8/27/2010, 6:27 PM

Subject: NOSFERATU

Thanks, I will get this online this weekend.