david.bircumshaw wrote:
>
> > My comments have been at about the same level as others on the list;
> > they simply don't share the same sentimental-leftist America-bashing
> > assumptions. "Towers of evil" - which did appear some emails back -
> > certainly deserved censure, but probably seemed, in the prevailing point
> > of view, an acceptable truism. I pay back in the same coin others
> > use.
>
> Frederick
>
> It's not a matter of America-bashing. I can bash the UK just as much as I
> can 'bash' the US, and I'm sure Aus listees can think of plenty to say
> against said Aus. The point is that on gross material levels of culture and
> behaviour the US is the most influential nation, not necessarily the most
> important. So it's very 'present', economically and culturally, and strands
> in US culture are reprehensible, as are features of the UK's. But the US has
> more clout. You seem unable to forget the fact that you are American, I only
> remember I'm English if someone reminds me.
>
> Here's a poetical thought. But maybe not to your ears. The low-income
> nations of post-war Poland and Greece produced a poetry that is far superior
> to post-war US poetry, despite the college funded hype. The greatest
> post-war _American_ poet was Octavio Paz. No US poetry of the Fifties comes
> near to that produced by Erminia's beloved Montale in that period. If I had
> to choose between consigning all of US twentieth century poetry to the bin
> or all or Russian poetry of the same period I wouldn't hesitate to throw
> away the former.
>
> The sad thing is that there is so much good American writing, but it has to
> be hyped all the time, like everything else from the States. Muriel
> Rukeyser, WCW writing to Fordie in heaven, Pound's cracked genius, etc etc.
>
> Best
>
> Dave
>
> David Bircumshaw
>
>
In general I'd agree. On the other hand, consider the example and
inspiration Eliot was to Seferis and Ekelof, Ginsberg to Vosnesenski,
and American literature generally to Pavese and others who translated
it.
I'm not clear what you mean by hype, here. A specious influence added
to that of American poetry by American power and media? Seems
debatable. Or some inherent dreadful tendency of ours?
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