D. A. Blyler
Encyclopedia
D.A. Blyler (born July 13, 1967) is the author
of the expatriate
novel
Steffi’s Club (BurnhillWolf, 2003) and two published works of poetry
, Shared Solitude and Diary of a Seducer (a collaboration with painter and filmmaker Marcus Reichert
). A political and cultural satirist, he has written for many international and online publications, including Bangkok
’s The Nation
, The Korean Herald, Democratic Underground
, and 3:AM Magazine
. His essay “The 7 Vices of Highly Creative People” is among the most widely read pieces ever published by Salon.com
.
as a generation of "thirty-somethings who have fallen through the cracks of parental, academic, and worldly expectations," this group is given voice in Blyler's debut novel, Steffi's Club, set in the subterranean streets of Plzeň, Czech Republic
, several years after the Velvet Revolution
and the fall of Communism
. In a 2003 interview with Dave Reidy, Blyler talked about the role that music played in forming the psychology
of this generation born on the cusp of the Baby Boom
and X Generations (1964-69):
. The column’s mixture of biting humor and informed analysis of the Bush
administration and American
culture quickly established Blyler as a weekly must-read among many young liberals
and progressive
s in the run-up to the presidential elections. Shortly after the victory of George W. Bush
Blyler retired the column, acknowledging that he'd been wrong and that Bush was the greatest politician
and artist
of his time:
In August 2005, Blyler appeared again at The Raw Story to offer an answer to a literary mystery surrounding the death of Gonzo
writer Hunter S. Thompson
. Before committing suicide, Thompson had typed the single word “Counselor” in the center of a blank page. Prior the publication of Blyler's essasy, journalists and friends of the author of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas expressed confusion as to the word's meaning, comparing it to the mysterious “Rosebud” of Citizen Kane. Citing the strong, and often over-looked, influence that the Bible
had on Thompson's work, Blyler argued that "counselor" referred to the 14th chapter of the Gospel of John
:
in 1997, after attending graduate school at Appalachian State University
. He taught writing at the University of West Bohemia
in the Czech Republic
from 1998-2000 before eventually moving to Thailand to teach at Rajabhat Rajanagarindra University in the provincial capital of Chachoengsao
. Blyler later moved to Sakon Nakhon
to become a faculty member of Kasetsart University
, where he began writing a comprehensive "thinking skills" textbook for Thais. In 2007, he developed the reading content and test material for SpeedBook, an advanced reading and learning system used by students across South Korea.
compound in the Isaan province
of Sakon Nakhon, where he lives today with his wife and two daughters. Today, he works as an education and business consultant, and a freelance writer. He is a regular contributor to Solitaire Pro, Asia's leading luxury trade magazine
for fine watch
es and jewelry. Blyler is also co-founder of TMD Communications Ltd., a Bangkok
marketing and communications agency that employs a narrative-based branding method to introduce Southeast Asian companies to Western markets.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
of the expatriate
Expatriate
An expatriate is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing...
novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
Steffi’s Club (BurnhillWolf, 2003) and two published works of poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
, Shared Solitude and Diary of a Seducer (a collaboration with painter and filmmaker Marcus Reichert
Marcus Reichert
Marcus Reichert is an American artist, author, photographer, and film writer/director.He was given his first exhibition of paintings at the age of twenty-one at the legendary Gotham Book Mart and Art Gallery, New York, home to the Surrealists during WWII...
). A political and cultural satirist, he has written for many international and online publications, including Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
’s The Nation
The Nation (Thailand)
The Nation is a broadsheet, English-language daily newspaper founded in 1971 and published in Bangkok, Thailand, and is owned by the Nation Multimedia Group.The Nation is a member of the Asia News Network...
, The Korean Herald, Democratic Underground
Democratic Underground
Democratic Underground, also known as DU, is an online community for U.S. Democrats and progressives. Its membership is restricted by policy to those who are generally supportive of progressive ideals and support Democratic candidates for political office. DU was established on January 20, 2001,...
, and 3:AM Magazine
3:AM Magazine
3:AM Magazine is a literary magazine, which was set up as 3ammagazine.com in April 2000 and is edited from Paris. Its editor-in-chief since inception has been Andrew Gallix, a lecturer at the Sorbonne ....
. His essay “The 7 Vices of Highly Creative People” is among the most widely read pieces ever published by Salon.com
Salon.com
Salon.com, part of Salon Media Group , often just called Salon, is an online liberal magazine, with content updated each weekday. Salon was founded by David Talbot and launched on November 20, 1995. It was the internet's first online-only commercial publication. The magazine focuses on U.S...
.
The Jaded Generation
Blyler is among a new generation of expat writers, which the author labeled The Jaded Generation. Described by the Midwest Book ReviewMidwest Book Review
Midwest Book Review is an organization which maintains several book review publications. Established in 1976, the organization's Editor-in-Chief is James A. Cox. Midwest Book Review produces several book review publications per month, with a goal of encouraging small press and increasing literacy....
as a generation of "thirty-somethings who have fallen through the cracks of parental, academic, and worldly expectations," this group is given voice in Blyler's debut novel, Steffi's Club, set in the subterranean streets of Plzeň, Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
, several years after the Velvet Revolution
Velvet Revolution
The Velvet Revolution or Gentle Revolution was a non-violent revolution in Czechoslovakia that took place from November 17 – December 29, 1989...
and the fall of Communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
. In a 2003 interview with Dave Reidy, Blyler talked about the role that music played in forming the psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
of this generation born on the cusp of the Baby Boom
Baby boom
A baby boom is any period marked by a greatly increased birth rate. This demographic phenomenon is usually ascribed within certain geographical bounds and when the number of annual births exceeds 2 per 100 women...
and X Generations (1964-69):
MusicMusicMusic is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
plays a hugely important role in the psychological development of many, if not most, people. This is especially true of thirty-somethings, who in the 1970s were the last generation to grow up listening to music by pressing tiny AM boxes against their ears. These transistor radioTransistor radioA transistor radio is a small portable radio receiver using transistor-based circuitry. Following their development in 1954 they became the most popular electronic communication device in history, with billions manufactured during the 1960s and 1970s...
s were an intimate and almost secretive way for a child to be initiated into the adult world of popular music. And when such songs are characterized by highly sentimental depictions of tragic love affairs and early deaths ("Fire and Rain," "Billy Don't Be a Hero," "Run Joey Run," etc.), and enveloped in catchy, easily remembered lyrics, it has long lasting resonance. In Steffi's Club I tried to intimate this ripple effect on the psyche, especially as it pertains to the main character Daniel Fischer. I'm quite certain that he isn't the only one who memorized all the lyrics to "Seasons in the Sun" as a seven or eight year old in the early 70s and thought that he or she too would die young.
American Abroad
In August 2004 Blyler launched the op-ed column “American Abroad” at The Raw StoryThe Raw Story
The Raw Story is a progressive news, politics and weblog publication founded in 2004. Updated continuously, it is known primarily for its investigative reporting...
. The column’s mixture of biting humor and informed analysis of the Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
administration and American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
culture quickly established Blyler as a weekly must-read among many young liberals
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
and progressive
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
s in the run-up to the presidential elections. Shortly after the victory of George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
Blyler retired the column, acknowledging that he'd been wrong and that Bush was the greatest politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
of his time:
Unlike dreary politicianPoliticianA politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
s who never soar above the level of misrepresentation (and actually condescend to argue, prove, and discuss), W flaunts the temper of a true liar, with his frank, fearless statements, his superb irresponsibility, his healthy, natural disdain for proof of any kind…Weapons of Mass DestructionWeapons of mass destructionA weapon of mass destruction is a weapon that can kill and bring significant harm to a large number of humans and/or cause great damage to man-made structures , natural structures , or the biosphere in general...
? Who cares! Osama Bin LadenOsama bin LadenOsama bin Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden was the founder of the militant Islamist organization Al-Qaeda, the jihadist organization responsible for the September 11 attacks on the United States and numerous other mass-casualty attacks against civilian and military targets...
? Not my concern, anymore! Budget Deficits? No big deal! New York Times Report? Don’t read newspapers! Protect the Borders? Manana, Manana! How damn refreshing! Only artistic genius like W could have realized how unhealthy a thing like thinking is to the average “red” blooded American, who eschews prickly thoughts as the bulwark of their happiness.
In August 2005, Blyler appeared again at The Raw Story to offer an answer to a literary mystery surrounding the death of Gonzo
Gonzo journalism
Gonzo journalism is a style of journalism that is written without claims of objectivity, often including the reporter as part of the story via a first-person narrative. The word "gonzo" is believed to be first used in 1970 to describe an article by Hunter S. Thompson, who later popularized the style...
writer Hunter S. Thompson
Hunter S. Thompson
Hunter Stockton Thompson was an American journalist and author who wrote The Rum Diary , Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72 .He is credited as the creator of Gonzo journalism, a style of reporting where reporters involve themselves in the action to...
. Before committing suicide, Thompson had typed the single word “Counselor” in the center of a blank page. Prior the publication of Blyler's essasy, journalists and friends of the author of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas expressed confusion as to the word's meaning, comparing it to the mysterious “Rosebud” of Citizen Kane. Citing the strong, and often over-looked, influence that the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
had on Thompson's work, Blyler argued that "counselor" referred to the 14th chapter of the Gospel of John
Gospel of John
The Gospel According to John , commonly referred to as the Gospel of John or simply John, and often referred to in New Testament scholarship as the Fourth Gospel, is an account of the public ministry of Jesus...
:
“16 And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you for ever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him; you know him, for he dwells with you, and will be in you.”
Teacher
A professional educator, as well as a writer, D.A. Blyler left the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1997, after attending graduate school at Appalachian State University
Appalachian State University
Appalachian State University is a comprehensive , public, coeducational university located in Boone, North Carolina, United States. Appalachian State, also referred to as Appalachian, App State, or simply App, is the sixth largest institution in the University of North Carolina system...
. He taught writing at the University of West Bohemia
University of West Bohemia
The University of West Bohemia is a university in Pilsen, Czech Republic. It was founded in 1991 and consists of seven faculties.-Organization:The faculties are the basic units of the university. The units implement their own academic programs...
in the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
from 1998-2000 before eventually moving to Thailand to teach at Rajabhat Rajanagarindra University in the provincial capital of Chachoengsao
Chachoengsao
Chachoengsao ) is a town in central Thailand, capital of the Chachoengsao Province. It is located on the bank of the Bang Pakong River. It occupies the tambon Na Mueang and parts of Ban Mai, Bang Tin Pet, Wang Takhian and Sothon of Mueang Chachoengsao district...
. Blyler later moved to Sakon Nakhon
Sakon Nakhon
Sakon Nakhon is a town in Thailand within the Isan region, and capital city of the Sakon Nakhon Province, with a population of approximately 76,000. It has a regional airport in the north, Sakon Nakhon Airport. During World War II, the town became a haven for Free Thais, and a base for Communist...
to become a faculty member of Kasetsart University
Kasetsart University
Kasetsart University is a public university in Thailand and a top-ranked Public University in Thailand. It is ranked No.401-500 in the world by QS. It was also the first agricultural university and the third oldest university in Thailand...
, where he began writing a comprehensive "thinking skills" textbook for Thais. In 2007, he developed the reading content and test material for SpeedBook, an advanced reading and learning system used by students across South Korea.
Current Life
In 2006, Blyler designed and built a plantationPlantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
compound in the Isaan province
Province
A province is a territorial unit, almost always an administrative division, within a country or state.-Etymology:The English word "province" is attested since about 1330 and derives from the 13th-century Old French "province," which itself comes from the Latin word "provincia," which referred to...
of Sakon Nakhon, where he lives today with his wife and two daughters. Today, he works as an education and business consultant, and a freelance writer. He is a regular contributor to Solitaire Pro, Asia's leading luxury trade magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
for fine watch
Watch
A watch is a small timepiece, typically worn either on the wrist or attached on a chain and carried in a pocket, with wristwatches being the most common type of watch used today. They evolved in the 17th century from spring powered clocks, which appeared in the 15th century. The first watches were...
es and jewelry. Blyler is also co-founder of TMD Communications Ltd., a Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
marketing and communications agency that employs a narrative-based branding method to introduce Southeast Asian companies to Western markets.
External links
- The 7 Vices of Highly Creative People at Salon.com
- W's Renaissance at Rawstory.com
- Hunter S. Thompson's Counselor at Rawstory.com
- Website for TMD Communications Ltd.