AC

Andrei Codrescu

44quotes

Andrei Codrescu: A Life of Words and Witness

#### Full Name and Common Aliases
Andrei Codrescu was born on June 20, 1946, in Sibiu, Romania. He is also known as Andréi Călinescu.

#### Birth and Death Dates
June 20, 1946 (birth) - present

#### Nationality and Profession(s)
Romanian-American poet, essayist, novelist, playwright, critic, translator, radio commentator, and editor.

#### Early Life and Background
Growing up in a world of strict censorship and propaganda, Codrescu's early life was marked by an intense interest in words. His father, Vasile Codrescu, was a journalist who had been imprisoned for his anti-communist views. This family legacy would shape Andrei's future as a writer and critic.

Codrescu attended the University of Bucharest, where he studied Romanian philology and began writing poetry. In 1966, he left Romania due to growing tensions with the government. He settled in Paris and later moved to the United States, where he became a prominent figure in American literary circles.

#### Major Accomplishments
Codrescu's body of work spans over five decades and numerous genres. Some notable accomplishments include:

Poetry collections: "The Temptation to Exist" (1970), "Lorca in Ruins" (1972), and "The Posthuman Domains" (2005) showcase his unique voice, style, and themes.
 Essays and criticism: His work as a critic and essayist is marked by books like "The Active Substance" (1981) and "As I Walked Out One Evening" (1991), which demonstrate his keen insight into literature, politics, and culture.

#### Notable Works or Actions
Codrescu's writing often explores the intersection of politics, history, and personal experience. Some notable works include:

"The Active Substance": This collection of essays examines the connections between art, politics, and everyday life.
 "As I Walked Out One Evening": A memoir that blends personal narrative with historical and cultural commentary.

#### Impact and Legacy
Andrei Codrescu's impact on literature is multifaceted. As a writer, he has:

Influenced generations of poets: His unique style and themes have inspired many to explore the boundaries of language and form.
 Provided a voice for the silenced: Through his writing, Codrescu has given voice to those whose stories were previously ignored or suppressed.

#### Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Andrei Codrescu's quotes are frequently cited due to their:

Timelessness and universality: His words often capture the essence of human experience, transcending specific historical contexts.
 Unwavering commitment to truth: As a writer who has faced censorship and persecution, Codrescu's words carry an added weight of authenticity.

By exploring Andrei Codrescu's life and work, we gain a deeper understanding of the power of language to shape our perceptions and challenge our assumptions. His legacy serves as a testament to the enduring impact of words on individuals and society alike.

Quotes by Andrei Codrescu

Andrei Codrescu's insights on:

The worst part about zombies raging unchecked is the slow paralysis that they induce in people who aren’t quite zombies yet. The rest of us un-zombies turn our heads, hoping the ghouls will just go away.
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The worst part about zombies raging unchecked is the slow paralysis that they induce in people who aren’t quite zombies yet. The rest of us un-zombies turn our heads, hoping the ghouls will just go away.
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The peasants of all lands recognize power and they salute it, whether it’s good or evil.
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The peasants of all lands recognize power and they salute it, whether it’s good or evil.
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Two-thirds of what we call New Orleans culture is really myth-making, ... People feed myths of the city back to the city. These myths are now in pieces.
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Two-thirds of what we call New Orleans culture is really myth-making, ... People feed myths of the city back to the city. These myths are now in pieces.
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#call
There is a velvety sensuality here at the mouth of the Mississippi that you won't find anywhere else. Tell me what the air feels like at 3 A.M. on a Thursday night in August in Shaker Heights and I bet you won't be able to say because nobody stays up that late. But in New Orleans, I tell you, it's ink and honey passed through silver moonlight.
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There is a velvety sensuality here at the mouth of the Mississippi that you won't find anywhere else. Tell me what the air feels like at 3 A.M. on a Thursday night in August in Shaker Heights and I bet you won't be able to say because nobody stays up that late. But in New Orleans, I tell you, it's ink and honey passed through silver moonlight.
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#new-orleans
The real technology -behind all our other technologies- is language. It actually creates the world our consciousness lives in.
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The real technology -behind all our other technologies- is language. It actually creates the world our consciousness lives in.
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#learning
Cookbooks bear the same relation to real books that microwave food bears to your grandmother?s.
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Cookbooks bear the same relation to real books that microwave food bears to your grandmother?s.
AC
#real
How did you fall in love with New Orleans? At once, madly. Looking back, sometimes I think it was predestined.
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How did you fall in love with New Orleans? At once, madly. Looking back, sometimes I think it was predestined.
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#falling-in-love
In the grand collage that is Dada, past and future are equally usable.
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In the grand collage that is Dada, past and future are equally usable.
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There is no ´Complete Idiots Guide to Creationism,´ but perhaps one is not needed.
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There is no ´Complete Idiots Guide to Creationism,´ but perhaps one is not needed.
AC
#guides
It's still a mystery to me exactly how I learned the language. [But] I was 19 years old and I had very urgent things to tell girls.
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It's still a mystery to me exactly how I learned the language. [But] I was 19 years old and I had very urgent things to tell girls.
AC
#girl
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