The book Indiani in citta appears to me to gloomily confirm the journalistic evolution of [Gianfranco] Sanguinetti. He mentioned this book to me with interest -- perhaps he never actually read it -- and he offers us a Leftist version of it so as to engage in a certain kind of rivalry[1]; whereas he simultaneously tried to excite me with the idea of a more serious project, which aims at justifying a meeting between us!
Although it includes several sympathetic inscriptions and more, this book (in its commentary) is an ignominious anthology of the worst recuperative thought. And, as photography, it is not [the 1968 equivalent of] the Sorbonne, but Nanterre. And, as explicative exposition, it is not Morin-Lefort,[2] but Hallier,[3] with a hint of university-provincialist nationalism. The ridiculous form [parti pris] of the "art book" derives from all of its infamies. Thus, it is to be discarded. Would you like me to return this copy of it to you?
At least Kiejman[4] had the sense not to respond to me, and Levy[5] has now begun praiseworthy action.
Could you please send me a check from Simar: funds are low.
The film[6] progresses. And Pandora?
See you soon. Best wishes,[1] Translator's note: the French word here, emulation, means both rivalry and emulation.
[2] Edgar Morin was a sociologist. Claude Lefort was an existentialist, ex-Trotskyist, co-founder [with Cornelius Castoriadis] of Socialisme ou Barbarie, which he quit in 1958 to found Information et correspondance ouvriere (I.C.O.), and was later a member of the editorial board of Arguments.
[3] Jean-Ederm Hallier, founding member of Tel Quel, then the newspaper The International Idiot.
[4] Translator's note: Georges Kiejman, former attorney employed by Editions Champ Libre.
[5] Thierry Levy.
[6] Translator's note: In girum imus nocte et consumimur igni.
(Published in Guy Debord Correspondance, Vol 5: Janvier 1973-Decembre 1978 by Librairie Artheme Fayard, 2005. Translated from the French by NOT BORED! April 2007. Footnotes by Alice Debord, except where noted.)