Pataphor Pataphors Official Site

Pataphorology.

A science invented by p.a. lopez and derived from the science of 'pataphysics as described by
ALFRED JARRY.


What is a pataphor?

Table of Contents:

Closet 'Pataphysics
- pataphors explained

Pataphor Test

My Pataphorical Farewell

My Pataphorical Grandmother

A Pataphorical Note

Beyond Pataphors: Other Writing

 
     


String theory may be said to be a kind of mathematical pataphor, insofar as it is 'supposition based on supposition'. In other words, as string theory is speculation based on ideas that are themselves speculative (in this instance, theories of general relativity and quantum mechanics), string theory is not in fact physics, but 'pataphysics.

We have to remember that 'pataphysics is, in essense, a degree of separation from reality. So, for example, if we see someone we know on the street and believe they are ignoring us (even if it is not true), and then begin to imagine a reason they are doing so, we are essentially thinking pataphorically. So pataphors (and 'pataphysics) may also be said to describe the world of our fears, mistaken assumptions and belief systems run amok. They are worlds built of assumptions based on assumptions.


Wikipedia pataphor pataphors pataphore
Portrait of Monsier Ubu by Alfred Jarry
Collage (top) by Max Ernst, from Une Semaine de Bonte



Pataphor (noun):


1 An extended metaphor that creates its own context.

2 That which occurs when a lizard's tail has grown so long it breaks off and grows a new lizard.



La pataphore est une métaphore exceptionnellement élargie inventée par l'auteur Americain Paul Lopez. De même qu'Alfred Jarry définit que la ’Pataphysique « s'étend aussi loin au-delà de la métaphysique que la métaphysique au-delà de la physique », une pataphore crée une expression qui existe aussi loin de la métaphore que la métaphore s'étend elle-même au-delà du langage non figuré.

 



Links to Pataphorical Art, Poetry
and Thought

Pataphores, appearing in France's Carnets du College de 'Pataphysique
(ISSN 0339-7203)

Pataphors and the Chilean Government (Article in Chile's El Clarín newspaper in Spanish)

New book of artwork called Pataphor by Dutch artist Hidde van Schie
(ISBN 978-90-8690-165-4)


(In Dutch)

The Pataphor (Movie)

Pataphor.ro (Romanian Site)

"Pataphor" by Ben Wilkinson (Poem)

"Khun Pataphor" by Evan Swanson (Poem)

Pataphors and Computers (Article)




Wikipedia

Pataphore (French)

Patáfora (Spanish)

Patafora (Polish)

Pataphor (English)


Other Links

Pataphor on GotPoetry.com (Poet's Resource)

Palad1n.com (Friendly Blog)








 

 

 


 



literature is beautiful b.s.

NOTE: Some of this information can now be found on the Wikipedia, and on MySpace,
to which the author grants permission for usage and/or reprint.

all works (c) P.A. Lopez