Empty Mind

"No matter what cage you find yourself in, you must leave it," was the credo of John Cage (1912 to 1992), the most internationally renowned experimental composer of the 20th century. His literary work, which stands equally alongside his musical endeavors, is less well-known. Cage drew inspiration from Erik Satie, Robert Rauschenberg, James Joyce, Merce Cunningham, and Marcel Duchamp—kindred spirits with whom he interacted daily throughout his life. By subjecting his poetic-philosophical attempts to musical processes, he transformed lectures on composition, chance, or the category of indeterminacy into events, floating and free from definition—much like the music of purposelessness he dreamed of. John Cage as a word artist is still waiting to be discovered in this country. "Empty Mind" brings together a selection of poetic works.