on 2/7/01 11:53 PM, Frank Parker at [log in to unmask] wrote:

> Thank you, Jill. I thought when I read the About.com article that I had an
> opportunity others may not have, being able to check at the source. I
> appreciate what you've confirmed and noted.
>
> Offhand I figured that an age difference between most poetryetc members and
> the author, Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz, might paint both perspectives.

By the way, in case I sounded like an old fogey, I have been to more than
one Slam or what-have-you in my time. A few years ago there was a series of
events each year in Sydney called the Poetry Olympics (Komninos was a prime
mover so he knows more) and one year I was a judge, alongside the then head
of the British Council and a female Singaporean poet whose name escapes me
for the moment. It was part of the Sydney Writers Festival. None of us was
young but neither were the all the participants. In fact, that year I'd say
most of them were pushing 30s and 40s and some way beyond that. And talk
about egos and competitive! The following year I organised said event (it
was part of a rather loose job description I had). I have to say it cured me
for life. This lot were more precious than a bunch of drag queens (and I've
had some close contact with the latter as well). I had more ridiculous
correspondence to answer out of that event than any other I ever organised.

But that said, some energy around the word is always good. I don't see that
as being confined to these kinds of hyped-up events. I recall many readings
I've been to with high energy levels which came not from competition but
from co-operation and generosity from both performers and audience. Oh, and
the fact there was some damn good poetry, of all kinds. Have also been to a
number of Performance Poetry (note deliberate caps) events which weren't
competitions and some of them have been excellent, from pub readings to
bigger productions. For instance, many many years ago a group of poets
including Nigel Roberts, Billy Marshall-Stoneking, the aforementioned PiO,
Amanda Stewart, Lauren Williams etc etc put on a theatrical 'show' at the
Wharf theatre in Sydney using poetry performances and was very impressive.
That list is a mixture of Sydney and Melbourne-base poets (not all born in
Aus either, but that's another story).

And the mag Going Down Swinging has always had close connections with the
broad 'performance' community in Melbourne and is held in high regard though
I have to confess I haven't seen an issue in this town for some long time.

Cheers,
Jill

_________________________________
Jill Jones
50 Ruby Street
Marrickville NSW 2204
AUSTRALIA

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http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~jpjones