Vanity fair--you got that right, CG. Why else would I want to write to a
film-philosophy group?
CG writes:
"EE Cummings' visuality - no wonder it didn't get him very far. As poetry it
is pretty average stuff, as visuality it is truly laughable. It is one
literary experiment that failed so completely. It was so sadly burdened with
literality of its own being that it couldn't quite become."
Good criticism--you know what you like (everything's either serious or
laughable), but your taste does not make for a complete aesthetic assessment
unless of course you have a really big bite or a really strong stomach.
CG, I gather you concede the fact that poetry can be visual? You simply
prefer its aural aspect.
CG, you haven't tackled George Herbert, James Joyce, or John Dos Passos. Nor
have you considered the visual poetry--in particular the way words and
images blend--of advertisements, magazine layouts, or cartoons.
Yet again the way painting (Magritte), photography (Man Ray), and film treat
these issues.
CG, did you see the proto-rock video of Bob Dylan? I believe it's a variety
show appearance where he sings, "1, 2, 3, 4, Don't ask me . . ." The words
get a double emphasis: not only does Dylan sing/chant them, but the cue
cards are part of the scene. It's an interesting piece of film/poetry. In
the case, the words are central.
JMC
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