Fidget

by Kenneth Goldsmith

The follow-up to the critically acclaimed No. 111, Fidget ruthlessly documents every movement made by Goldsmith's body on Bloomsday (June 16) 1997 from 10 am to 11 pm. Literary critic Marjorie Perloff compares Fidget to 'a Beckett prose text,' and says many witty and intelligent things about it in her afterword.

Genres: Poetry

116 pages, Paperback

First published January 18, 1994

Reviews

[M.W.P.M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

every move Kenneth Goldsmith's body made on June 16, 1997.

* * *

10:00
Eyelids open. Tongue runs across upper lip moving from left side of mouth to right following arc of lip. Swallow. Jaws clench. Grind. Stretch. Swallow. Head lifts. Bent right arm brushes pillow into back of head. Arm straightens. Counterclockwise twist thrusts elbow toward ceiling. Tongue leaves interior of mouth, passing through teeth. Tongue slides back into mouth. Palm corkscrews. Thumb stretches. Forefingers wrap. Clench. Elbow bends. Thumb moves toward shoulder. Joint of thumb meets biceps. Elbow turns upward as knuckles of fist jam neck. Right hand clenches. Thumb rubs knuckles. Fist to right shoulder. Right elbow thrusts. Knuckles touch side of neck. Hands unfurl. Backs of hands press against flat of neck. Heels of hands push into jaw. Elbows raise. Fingers wrap around neck. Thumbs tuck. Hands move toward jaw. Cover ears. Tips of fingers graze side of head. Hairs tickle tips as they pass. Thumbs trail behind fingers. Arms extend. Fingers unfurl. Shoulder stretches. Arms out. Legs bend at knees. Pelvis thrusts right. Left knee drops to bed. Right knee drops to bed. Left leg extends. Right hand grabs. Elbow moves toward nose. Touches. Fingers open. Air from lungs expelled through nose. Thumb and forefinger pinch, wiping mucus from lip. Mucus pools in right nostril. Wipes. Index finger blocks right nostril. Exhale. Mucus out right nostril. Elbow extends. Fingers open. Forefinger caresses outside of thumb. Breathe. Right hand twists. Right foot propels body forward. Right hip stretches. Right knee drops, almost touching bed. Muscles in right thigh and left buttocks stretch. Mucus drawn from nose into back of throat. Tongue gathers saliva and mucus. Swallow. Right hand moves to nose. Right thumb covers nostril. Exhale. Expel. Right index finger moves to forehead near top of hairline. Itches four times. Finger moves from hairline to eyebrow. Body contracts into fetal position. Right arm rests between knees. Knees curve as body flips right. Left hand slides beneath right ear. Elbow bends. Mucus pulled from nose to throat. Floods back of mouth. Gathers in pouch of right cheek. Tongue coats top row of teeth in mucus. Pushes to back of mouth. Swallow. Tongue produces watery saliva. Curls. Swallow. Neck muscles tighten. Inhale. Air pins tongue to teeth. Swallow. Watery saliva dissolves mucus. Right hand to face. Pinkie rubs eye. Index finger massages right eyebrow. Middle finger digs into left eye. Thrusts. Hands between legs. Stretch. Body on side. Yawn. Stretch. Knees bend. Toes arch. Teeth clench. Jaw closes. Pelvis thrusts. Bottom teeth hit upper. Left temple tightens. Hand raises. Moves to back. Drops to buttocks. Fingernails scratch. Index finger extends into crack of buttocks and probes anus. Scratches once, twice, three times. Strong pressure applied by fingertip. Finger glides over coccyx and out of buttocks. Arm extends. Yawn. Elbow bends. Hand drops. Forefinger moves to nostril. Enters. Tip of finger probes ridges inside nostril. Shape of left nostril conforms to shape of finger. Shape of finger conforms to shape of left nostril. Finger removes caked mucus from nostril. Wipes. Arms lock behind head. Back arches. Pelvis thrusts. Stretches. Stomach expands. Exhale. Yawn. Right leg lifts. Dangles. Left leg arcs. Hands move behind head. Left arm stretches. Knees crash. Bend. Right knee falls to bed. Flattens. Left leg waves. Bends. Straightens. Swallow. Eyes view lips. Mouth forms round o of swallow. Eyes view nose. Squints. Nose doubles. Closes. Views nose profile to left. Vision blocked by shadow of nose. Closes. Eyes profile nose to right. Open. Eyebrows lift. Forehead muscles flex. Eyes right. Eyes down. Eyes profile nose. Eyes left. Eyes up. Yawn. Torso flexes. Left leg stretches. Relaxes. Pelvis thrusts. Left hand to face. Catches saliva. Tongue licks upper lip left to right. Head props on pillow. Right leg bends. Back flat. Left leg bends. Left toes dig into underside of right knee. Right heel brushes hairs of left leg. Right side of knee touches ground. Mucus pulled into throat. Left leg touches bed. Motion in left thigh. Blood in leg. Subsides. Belly fills. Lungs expand. Belly falls. Belly rises. Belly falls. Belly rises from navel. Belly falls. Belly rises. Belly falls. Right leg moves away. Left leg scrapes ankle. Yawn. Knees extend. Stretch starts at upper ribcage. Ends at temple. Flips right. Bends. Arches. Right knee moves to edge of bed. Right foot stretches. Touches floor. Tip of big toe hits. Second toe, third toe, fourth toe, pinkie toe touch. Knees forward. Ball of foot touches. Left leg propels body. Back flat on bed. Left hand thrusts body into erect position. Straightens from torso. Upright. Right heel touches ground. Right foot supports body weight. Left leg leaves bed. Knees straighten. Left foot hits ground. Eyes ahead. Body turns right. Right foot swings right. Left foot follows. Left foot steps. Begins at ball. Ends at heel. Step. Step. Right heel hits. Weight on ball. Left foot raises. Weight shifts right. Right foot leaves ground. Steps forward. Heel hits. Followed by ball. Knees bend. Right foot extends. Mucus pulled into back of throat. Right foot steps. Step. Step. Step. Step. Step. Left hand moves away. Fingers open. Hand moves toward body. Turns right. Feet forward. Step. Pinches back. Left hand grasps. Arm moves behind. Sidesteps left. Knees bend. Buttocks drop. Elbow pushes. Right hand corkscrews, led by tip of right middle finger. Fist in front of body. Right hand scratches right calf. Right thumb and forefinger pinch.

* * *

11:00
Thumb and forefinger grasp. Pull toward floor. Right hand moves palm up. Back of hand holds as thumb and forefinger grab. Forefinger moves away. Thumb and middle finger grasp. Palm of hand receives. Thumb and middle finger grasp. Palm of hand opens. Holds bottom side of thumb. Left hand releases and moves to top. Hand retreats. Right hand lifts. Left hand grabs. Turns over. Left tips of fingers dig into scalp. Left hand, grasping with left thumb and two fingers, thrusts into palm. Fingers grasp as body swings left. Head turns. Left thumb, middle and forefingers grab. Left finger lifts and releases. Body moves, arching forward. Knees straighten. Body erect. Step right foot. Step left foot. Step right foot. Step left foot. Hips swing to right. Right hand grasps, moving away from body. Using thumb and forefinger, muscles in thumb twist counterclockwise. Body weight on left foot. Right foot poised away from body. Ball of foot touches ground. Heel raises. Thumb and forefinger of right hand twist clockwise. Hand outstretches. From underneath, forefingers wrap. Right arm lifts and moves to top. Hand releases. Palms down. Elbows out. Twisting hand pushes thumb and forefinger, left forcing body left. Finger and thumb move to right. Hand returns to side. Body turns. Walks. Left foot. Head raises. Walk. Forward. Forward. Forward. Bend at knees. Forward. Right foot. Left foot. Right foot. Stop. Left hand tucks at pubic area. Extracts testicles and penis using thumb and forefinger. Left hand grasps penis. Pelvis pushes on bladder, releasing urine. Stream emerges from within buttocks. Stomach and buttocks push outward. Stream of urine increases. Buttocks push. Sphincter tightens. Buttocks tighten. Thumb and forefinger shake penis. Thumb pulls. Left hand reaches. Tip of forefinger and index finger extend to grasp as body sways to left. Feet pigeon-toed. Move to left. Hand raises to hairline and pushes hair. Arm raises above head. Four fingers comb hair away from hairline toward back of head. Eyes see face. Mouth moves. Small bits of saliva cling to inside of lips. Swallow. Lips form words. Teeth mechanically open as tongue slides in and out. Tip of tongue hits tips of teeth. Facial muscles displace ears and temples. Facial muscles relax. Swallow. Tongue moistens upper lip. Nose wrinkles. Space between eyebrows pushed by speech. Blink. Residual blink in left eye. Back of jaw forces ears to quiver. Small movements from inner ear. Jaw thrusts bit of inner ear. Right hand raises. Digs between tear duct and nose. Caresses tear duct. Left hand grasps. Forefinger and middle finger squeeze. Left hand grabs. Moves close to right hand. Thumb and forefinger apply pressure. Left hand covers. Turns counterclockwise. Right arm swings back and forth. Mouth opens. Right hand enters mouth. Left cheek puffs. Teeth cool. Tongue sweats. Right hand fists. Teeth grind back and forth. Noise in ears. Mouth gathers saliva. Lips purse and expel. Upper teeth comb lower lip. Hand opens. Shifts to right. Arm moves back and forth. Gums jams lip. Cheek inflates. Tongue expels. Sucks to back of mouth. Hand twists around back of teeth. Tongue gathers. Expels. Left hand twists clockwise, driven by thumb and forefinger. Hand drops. Moves to face. Expels water. Right hand cups. Left hand cups. Hands turn around each other. Right hand caresses left. Cupped hands to face. Face to cupped hands. Massages. Fingers dig into tear ducts. Small areas on face and broad areas on neck caressed by hands. Hands move away from body, massaging each other. Hands cup. Bring to face. Hands squeeze neck muscles. Apply pressure behind ears. Forefingers dig. Caress eyebrows. Hands move away from body. Arms outstretch. Hands grip. Twist. Neck bows right. Pressure on forehead, face and neck. Right hand grips. Meets left. Left hand grips. Meets right. Fingers caress opposite hand. Right finger moves to nose, then to hairline. Smooths hair. Body turns left. Drops down. Step one. Step two. Step three. Step four. Ball of right foot hits. Meets eye. Rubs repeatedly. Step. Step. Step. Step. Step. Step. Back. Left hand reaches with index finger. Thumb flicks. Hand returns to side. Right hand dangles from arm forty-five degrees. Arm twists. Left hand parallels. Arm outstretches. Grasps. Fingers pass to right hand. Left hand grasps. Arm moves away from body. Left hand scratches right forearm. Right hand fingers spread. Close. Body pivots. Walks straight. Hand releases. Body reverses. Right hand extends. Body thrusts forward. Hands form circular shape. Grasp. Body moves forward. Hand releases. Right hand pushes away. Grasps. Body rises. Walks straight. Fingernails jam. Right arm lifts. Outstretches. Thumb, forefinger and middle finger join. Fist clenches. Arm drops two hundred twenty degrees then reverses forty degrees. Repeats three times. Fist unclenches. Right middle finger overlaps right index finger. Grasps. Heel of hand applies pressure. Right thumb controls. Right elbow tips. Right hand falls. Elbow lowers. Right arm swings across body. Extends outward. Three fingers form star. Grasp. Raise from biceps. Small circular motion repeats several times. Wrist twists. Fingers separate. Elbow tucks close to body. Left hand reaches and grasps circular formation. Body turns. Backs up. Walks. Left foot. Right foot. Left foot. Body hunches. Swings. Elbow extends. Forms ninety degree angle with body. Shoulder lifts above elbow. Arm flips. Fingers release. Left. Right. Feet crash together. Knees bend in squatting position. Weight on balls of feet. Left hand reaches between legs and grasps. Body lifts. Foot slides left. Body bends. Reels backwards. Left hand releases. Elbow pulls arm back to body. Step. Step. Step. Step. Left hand perpendicular to body. Middle finger extends. Presses outward. Fingers curl. Hand drops. Left foot. Right foot. Head raises. Right foot. Left foot. Hand grasps arm. Buttocks lower. Body swings. Moves forward. Hunches over. Hand, palm up, extends. Arms close to body. Fall six inches. Hands grasp. Left hand touches thumb. Four fingers relax. Elbow raises. Hand moves away. Fingers slide underneath. Press away. Elbow returns to arm. Left fingers scratch forehead. Top of finger wipes bottom of nose. Middle finger drops fifteen degrees. Fingers slightly arch. Middle finger thrusts. Arm follows finger. Springs from wrist. Hand lays flat. Palms down. Left hand rests on lap. Finger pushes up and down. Right thumb clicks. Hands return to lap. Yawn. Stomach growls. Left hand drags. Index finger points. Thumb hits. Once. Twice. Twice quickly. Pinkie and forefinger press. Hand returns to lap. Right palm presses. Hand grasps. Elbow extends. Elbow returns. Elbow extends. Thumb and forefinger flick. Thumb and middle finger rotate. Hand opens. Clenches. Right wrist turns counterclockwise. Applies pressure to upper surface of thumb. Grasps. Bends at wrist. Moves toward mouth. Lips part. Purse. Hand tips. Inhale. Tongue and saliva roll in mouth. Swallow. Tongue emerges through teeth and lips. Tongue lies on lower lip. Teeth click tongue. Lower jaw drops away from upper. Flesh folds beneath chin. Repeats. Upper lip sucks. Rubs against lower. Swallow. Saliva gathers under tongue. Teeth tuck inside jaw. Gather saliva. Swallow. Left hand, grasping with three fingers, moves toward mouth. Swallow. Arm drops. Arm lifts. Swallow. Arm drops. Swallow. Arm lifts. Arm drops. Eyes move to left. Left hand hits. Arm lifts. Swallow. Arm drops. Right leg crosses left.

* * *

12:00
Breathe while grasping. Elbow out. Hand down. Pour coffee. Elbow down. Hand up. Back on back. Hands on arms of chair slide back. Arm stretch. Grasps milk. Elbow down. Elbow up. Elbow down. Arms stretches. Elbow down. Elbow on chair. Chair on elbow. Hand on hand. Legs cross. Back on back of chair. Legs touch legs. Arms parallel arms of chair. Hands grasp end of arms. Legs push back. Feet flat on ground. Elbow on arm. Arms out. Cup to mouth. Swallow. Cup put down. Cup to mouth. Swallow. Cup put down. Teeth outside mouth. Leg lifts. Legs stretch on legs ninety degrees. Grasp paper towels. Slide to front. Left hand grasps right. Pulls away from left. Left hand stretches. Folds. Left thumb and forefinger crease. Thumbs crease. Forefingers over tips of thumbs. Thumbs and forefingers crease. Hands parallel. Tips of fingers touch thumbs on top of towel. Bring to nose. Press. Expell mucus. Exhale through nose. Right hand grasps. Rubs left nostril. Rubs right hand. Transfers to left hand. Drops on table. Fists to table. Legs cross. Right hand grasps coffee cup. Brings to mouth. Tips cup. Coffee spills into mouth. Swallow. Right hand brings coffee cup to table. Right hand grasps coffee cup. Breathe from stomach. Breathe from top of lungs. Exhale. Stomach fills with air. Exhale. Exhale. Eyes close. Pressure on eyeballs. Eyes open. Right hand grasps coffee cup with thumb, forefinger and index finger. Muscles tighten in arm. Coffee cup to lips. Tilt. Coffee swallowed. Cup placed on table. Coffee cup to lips. Coffee swallowed. Cup placed on table. Draw mucus. Swallow. Peristalsis. Cup to mouth. Coffee flows between teeth and gum inside cheek. Tip of tongue caresses inside of cheek. Tongue probes gully where cheek meets gum. Tongue muscles stretch, flex, and strain. Tongue runs along canal in front of teeth. Elbows lean against arms. Bones exact pressure. Cup to mouth. Head tilts back. Lips open. Hands outstretch and meet in front of body. Fingers clasp. Gully forms where fingers meet fingers. Forefinger of left hand in gully of forefinger and middle finger of right. Middle finger of left hand in gully of middle finger and ring finger of right. Ring finger of left hand in gully of ring finger and pinkie of right. Pinkie of left hand leans on flesh of right. Thumbs cross. Thumb of left hand in gully of thumb and forefinger of right. Bottom knuckles rub against right index finger. Thumb moves to gully of right thumb and forefinger. Thumb probes. Left thumb pushes skin of right thumb and forefinger. Configuration disperses. Left finger rubs bottom of left nostril. Left hand brings cup to lips. Tilts. Swallows. Arm extends. Tongues moves to left side of mouth. Nudges space between upper and lower palate. Tongue slides across upper rim of teeth, probing crevices. Moves to back of mouth. Moves forward and examines front molars. Slides over tip of canine. Slips to back. Tongue slides up back tooth, probing place where tooth and gum meet. Tongue bends at center. Circumscribes molar. Falls over adjacent molar toward back of mouth. Drops into next molar. Tongue explores crevice in middle of tooth. Aided by saliva, tongue moves to next tooth. Tip of tongue touches last molar. Mouth opens slightly. Tongue caresses smooth upper gum in back of mouth, following line where gum meets teeth. Moves to front. Surface rests against interior of fang. Hand grasps cup. Brings to lips. Head tilts back. Coffee pours into mouth. Swallow. Hand returns cup to table. Hands clutch. Fingers interlace. Jaw thrusts flat surface of tongue. Probes smooth exterior of left upper fang. Tip of tongue pushes upper lip. Tongue moves to exterior surface of left molar. Pulls jaw on right side. Veins on right side of neck bulge. Tongue runs across upper row of teeth. Pulls back and massages bottom molar on biting surface. Hand grasps cup. Brings to mouth. Head tilts back. Swallow. Hand moves to table. Surface of tongue caresses point of upper left fang. Tongue moves to back of mouth. Probes lower surface of molars. Hand grasps coffee cup. Brings to mouth. Lips open. Swallow. Tongue licks upper left lip. Moves right. Body bends at waist. Left shoulder drops. Left leg draws fingers into skin below left ankle. Hand moves up outside of left leg. Hand moves to top of scalp. Fingernails repeatedly dig into scalp. Fingers caress scalp in circular motion. Scrape across temple. Move down left side of face to neck. Fingers dig into crevice of left collarbone. Fingertips wrap around bone. Neck muscles pull. Thumb bends and rests atop collarbone. Head tilts to left. Heat of fingers in collarbone crevice create sweat. Right palm perspires. One by one, beginning with pinkie, fingers of right hand successively curl. Flat surface of each finger caresses palm. Fingers spring back in successive order. Fingers rub against one another. Sweat lubricates friction. Arm rests on chair arm. Lips form circle. Exhale on palm. Right hand in front of mouth. Lips expel. Hand grasps cup. Head tilts back. Lips open. Swallow. Swallow. Swallow. Swallow. Hand extends. Grasp with thumb and forefinger. Forefinger lifts. Arcs to opposite side. Fingers slide along gully where thumb meets index finger. Tip of index finger meets thumb in triangular formation. Left hand grasps. Flips. Left blade of hand moves away from body. Smoothes. Right hand rests on blade. Moves from wrist in half-spiral counterclockwise rotation. Hand moves slightly to right. Lifts. Hand rests on blade. Moves from wrist in half-spiral clockwise rotation. Hand moves slightly to right. Right hand rests on blade. Moves from wrist in half-spiral counte

[J. Losa · Rating 3 out of 5]

He aquí un tipo que un buen día decide registrar todos y cada uno de sus movimientos desde las 10 de la mañana a las 11 de la noche. Para ello se agencia un micrófono inalámbrico y a continuación comienza a detallar cada leve movimiento de su lengua, el ligero tintineo de un pelo sobre su frente, el rechinar de su mandíbula al beber… Con la precisión de un atestado policial, el sujeto en cuestión convierte su cuerpo en palabra y movimiento al transcribir lo grabado. Aquí una muestra:

“Parpados abiertos. La lengua cruza el labio superior al desplazarse de izquierda a derecha de la boca siguiendo el arco del labio. Traga. La mandíbula aprieta. Se estira. Traga. La cabeza se alza. El brazo derecho doblado desliza la almohada bajo la cabeza. El brazo se endereza”.

El resultado es un experimento literario que recuerda al Beckett de Cómo es o al Perec de Un hombre que duerme, una suerte de informe coreográfico en el que algo tan cotidiano y banal como es el hecho de mear se torna aquí, desde una perspectiva infinitesimal, en algo inquietante y brutal.

¿Qué pasa cuando no pasa nada? ¿es posible hacer literatura de lo intrascendente? Parece que sí, Kenneth Goldsmith al menos lo intenta en Inquieto (Ediciones La Uña Rota), un libro que hace suya aquella máxima perequiana que decía que escribir no es otra cosa que “tratar meticulosamente de retener algo, de hacer que algo de todo esto sobreviva”.

Lee el resto de la reseña en... http://blogs.publico.es/j-losa/2014/0...

[Erika Schoeps · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is very, very odd. I kind of liked it, and yet I don't know anyone who I would recommend it to. The book is simply one man's description of every single movement his body makes over a period of 24 hours. The concept is crazy and mind-blowing, and was fun for about half the book, but then I was just completely done with it. It's fascinating for a little bit, and then it's just boring. It gets monotonous. But it does help you realize the wonder of every little action your body performs, and I enjoyed trying to figure out what the author was doing.

[Sam Waters · Rating 2 out of 5]

The concept is somewhat interesting but this book didn't actually need to be written. Goldsmith makes this about as interesting as it could possibly be, and other writers would have probably done a worse job. But ultimately there is no reason to actually read Fidget. Just skip the text and go to Marjorie Perloff's afterword which summarizes what you missed.

[Ryan Bloom · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is super experimental poetry and it takes an open mind to appreciate the gift of this work. One is tempted, after reading the first "chapter," to skim the rest of the book (or just close it all together and assume that the rest will be exactly the same). You have to keep with it, all the way until the end, and you have to be paying careful attention the entire time. You'll start to notice extremely subtle patterns in the wording, and it's in these subtleties that the work truly shines.

[Haley · Rating 1 out of 5]

The concept is interesting, but there’s something lacking in the execution. Am I supposed to learn something I don’t already know about the ennui of privilege? While the experiment is consistent (which is the most interesting part for me), I was quickly turned off by the impulse of being clever merely for the sake of being clever.

[v. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vaia movida

[Rosanna Moreda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muy diferente a todo lo que hay. Experimento (no) literario puro y duro.

[Ryan Rebel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm actually glad I encountered this book. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone because, frankly, it's a slog to get through. Unless you enjoy pages upon pages of, "Left hand down. Tongue on roof of mouth. Tongue slides forward. Licks teeth. Left hand up," stay away. I was mostly alienated, except for a few scenes that were easily intelligible (such as a rather amusing masturbation scene).

Oh, let me back up. This book is Kenneth Goldsmith recording everything his body does for an entire day, or at least attempting to.

The book raises really interesting questions, and I've had several great discussions about it. Other than minor issues I have with a few of Goldsmith's choices, the reason this is getting two stars is that it's just brutal to read.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am reminded of something Drew Gardner says about flarf: Fidget activates thought. I admire Soliloquy and Fidget for the way they deform time in relation to the body. I wonder why it takes until 22:00 for Fidget to start to fidget, as in: “.sexaler” That this book was written ten years ago and I am just now reading it makes me feel…limited by time, and not in its deformed sense, but in its ordinary sense, as in: “relaxes.” Luckily I cross the line from which the amazing Coach House spirals.

[Mike Hetteix · Rating 3 out of 5]

Been looking for this one, after reading/skimming Soliloquy. Whereas the latter contains every word Kenneth spoke for a week, this one is every motion he made for a day -- it turned out to be a far more excrutiating project than K expected. Apparently a good portion of the book involves him lifting his right forearm to his lips, opening his mouth, gulping whiskey, swallowing, and lowering his right forearm to his side.

[Inkpenshmee · Rating 3 out of 5]

The most delicious details are all of the details...it's all details. Instructional. Somewhat enjoyable.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabulous as a meditation, as a concept... Read it w/ Bernadette Mayer's Midwinter Day.

[Eryk]

eBook Version from KOBO.

[Andrew Gorman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I get what this book was trying to do, and it was successful at it, but I wouldn't reccomend anyone actually read the book, while it is an interesting concept.