My comment about the intro's oddity was largely facetious - it seems to be
the fate of anyone who edits an anthology to write an introduction that's at
least 50% useless in somebody's eyes! Maybe it always gets written at the
end when the editor(s) are just exhausted and want to get the thing over
with and out in public? Perhaps he/she who edits should never introduce and
vice versa?
I have never understood the desire to make claims for poetry, dress it up as
something it ain't. Maybe Foil's public funders demanded this in the hope of
attracting larger sales? It would make more sense just to say 'here's some
interesting writing from the last 15 years.'
But anyway I am pleased to be reading through the book although I have not
reached the Dun work that others are talking about so can't yet participate
in that thread.
cheers
David
-----Original Message-----
From: Lawrence Upton <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: 21 July 2000 11:39
Subject: Re: Foil
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "David Kennedy" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: "british & irish poets" <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: 20 July 2000 23:23
>Subject: Foil
>
>| The introduction seems to be a rather curious thing - but then it'd have
>to
>| be wouldn't it? This is an anthology after all. It seems to be trying
>saying
>| opposites.
>
>But I don't think that accounts for its oddity. I don't see why it *has to
>be odd. Actually, odd isn't the word I'd use. It's not a bad first draft;
>but I haven't read it well; it annoyed me and I skipped to the contents.
>
>The blurb on the back cover isn't as bad as the usual etruscan blurbs
>
>I read "Foil is a sounding that excavates writings and performed space" and
>thought Gawd here we go again
>
>but the next sentence is a lot better.
>
>Still the claim that the work defines contemporary attitudes to poetics is
>not true. Some, perhaps.
>
>But *defines?. It's all too much marketing speak. Why not just say country
>fresh, additive free and be done with it? It conveys as much
>
>L
>
>
>
>
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|