James Lee Byars: 100.000 Minutes
First broadcast: BRT 1, 15/04/1970, 19:52
Black and white, 04’ 00″
Programme: Zoeklicht
Reporter: Georges Adé
Director: Walter Van Dyck
Programming: Antoon Carette
[00’01”] [Title]
Zoeklicht
[00’08”] [An unknown woman shows the book 100.000 Minutes or The big sample of Byars or 1/2 an autobiography or The first paper of philosophy]
Voice-over [unknown male voice]: Van James Lee Byars verscheen wat hij noemt een autobiografie.
[00’16”] [One page of the book 100.000 Minutes – with the phrase ‘It matters’ – followed by other pages, while leafing through the book]
Voice-over [unknown male voice]: Het boek is te verkrijgen in de Wide White Space Gallery te Antwerpen. Het interview moest gemaskerd gebeuren, vond Byars.
[00’29”] [Georges Adé and James Lee Byars; Georges Adé sitting at a table, with his back to the camera; James Lee Byars, masked, walking up and down, while answering the questions Georges Adé poses; the five dresses of The World Question Center hanging on the wall]
Georges Adé: Would your autobiography be the same work of art if it was not in handwriting?
James Lee Byars: No.
G.A.: Is this book of you a work on paper?
J.L.B.: Yes.
G.A.: Is the pink paper on purpose?
J.L.B.: Yes.
G.A.: Did you really fly with Santa Claus over the North Pole?
J.L.B.: Yes.
G.A.: Are we playing a game right now?
J.L.B.: No.
G.A.: Is fast writing necessary to write an autobiography?
J.L.B.: No.
G.A.: Are short sentences necessary to write an autobiography?
J.L.B.: No.
G.A.: Did you already make your edible book?
J.L.B.: Yes.
G.A.: Do you note your dreams?
J.L.B.: Yes.
G.A.: Are you still writing your autobiography?
J.L.B.: Yes.
G.A.: Did you learn something from Japanese artists?
J.L.B.: Yes.
G.A.: Is philosophy obsolete?
J.L.B.: No.
G.A.: Do answers exist?
J.L.B.: No.
G.A.: Must we try to make every moment as intense as the moments of your autobiography?
J.L.B.: Yes.
G.A.: Do direct questions exist?
J.L.B.: No.
G.A.: Is a Byars’ show necessary?
J.L.B.: No.
G.A.: Is this piece vital to you?
J.L.B.: Yes.
G.A.: Did you ever make a work of art on paper?
J.L.B.: Yes.
G.A.: Are you the unofficial poet laureate of the United States?
J.L.B.: Yes.
G.A.: Did you ever meet Wittgenstein?
J.L.B.: No.
G.A.: Could you define the word beautiful?
J.L.B.: No.
G.A.: Did Herman Kahn learn something from you?
J.L.B.: Yes.
G.A.: Do you think the generals of the Pentagon could take advise from you?
J.L.B.: Yes.
G.A.: Did you found a fictitious museum in New York City in 1963?
J.L.B.: Yes.
G.A.: Do you believe in answers?
J.L.B.: No.
G.A.: Are you hyperkinetic?
J.L.B.: No.
G.A.: Has your work a strategic purpose?
J.L.B.: Yes.
G.A.: Are you interested by mathematics?
J.L.B.: Yes.
G.A.: Did you write your autobiography to escape your real self?
J.L.B.: No.
G.A.: Is your autobiography a work of art?
J.L.B.: Yes.
G.A.: Did you show a nine months police man’s memory in 1962?
J.L.B.: Yes.
G.A.: Do you consider cutting your hair?
J.L.B.: No.
G.A.: Is a puppy still your favourite flower?
J.L.B.: Yes.
G.A.: Are you relaxing in Europe?
J.L.B.: Yes.
G.A.: Are you still collecting questions?
J.L.B.: Yes.
G.A.: Is this mask a part of our game?
J.L.B.: Yes.
G.A.: Would you like growing flowers yourself?
J.L.B.: No.
G.A.: Is the ghost of James Lee Byars still calling?
J.L.B.: Yes.
G.A.: Is a question a structure?
J.L.B.: Yes.
G.A.: Can someone replace you and do what you are doing?
J.L.B.: No.
G.A.: Did you like your latest tv-show?
J.L.B.: Yes.
G.A.: Is it difficult to answer?
J.L.B.: No.
G.A.: Do you speak Japanese?
J.L.B.: Yes.
G.A.: Is the question the argument?
J.L.B.: Yes.
G.A.: Are dreams important?
J.L.B.: Yes.
G.A.: Do you fear revolution?
J.L.B.: No.
G.A.: Must we also write our own autobiography?
J.L.B.: Yes.
G.A.: Iedereen die zijn autobiografie in een enkele zin wil schrijven in het Engels kan die autobiografie sturen naar Zoeklicht, Vlaamse Televisie. Dit was Zoeklicht. Reportage: Georges Adé. Realisatie: Walter Van Dyck. Samenstelling: Antoon Carette.
[03’43”] [Georges Adé and James Lee Byars; Georges Adé sitting at a table, with his back to the camera; James Lee Byars, masked, walking up and down; the five dresses of The World Question Center hanging on the wall]
[Silence]
[03’49”] [Title]
This book was written by James Lee Byars while on display in April 1969 at W.W.S. Antwerp. Copyright ’69 Anny De Decker, W.W.S., Schildersstraat 2, Antwerp. First edition.
[04’00”] [The end]
Transcription: Koen Brams
