Hi Kent
you might like to know that when I first attempted to look up the interview
I got a blank frame headed by 'Kent Johnson (Help)' but I soon realised
where I'd gone wrong.
I must say I can't but notice how the text seems to relate to the
literary-poetic scene in the US rather than to any supra-national
existential dilemmas. As such, it carries the danger of parochialism.
Heteronyms have never worried me, I've used them, when I've wanted to, for
years, and can't say I ever give a moment's thought to what the LitCrit
industry makes of them.
Nor do I intend to.
What interests me, on this matter of identity, is the dynamic between the
(unfortunately or not) existent (for the time being) poet and the impulse
towards supra-personal voice (as if anonymous) that said poet's gift, curse
or vice impels the possessor of the name (so often unwanted) that appears on
final demands in the post each morning.
One of the most interesting cases of heteronymity was John Clare.
Who was mad.
There's a poem of mine called 'The Collected Poems of Joshua Nene (1955-99)'
in 'A Chide's Alphabet #1' which might make my position clear. Or 'Clare'.
Best
Dave
David Bircumshaw
Leicester, England
Home Page
A Chide's Alphabet
Painting Without Numbers
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/david.bircumshaw/index.htm
----- Original Message -----
From: "KENT JOHNSON" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2002 9:39 PM
Subject: Hoaxes and Heteronymity interview
"Hoaxes and Heteronymity," an interview conducted with me by Bill
Freind, is newly available at The North American Centre for
Interdisciplinary Poetics. One of the nice features of this site, run
by the Canadian poet Steve McCaffery, is that it provides
opportunity for commentary on posted articles. Lots of interesting
material there by poets from Canada, U.S., France, England, and
elsewhere:
http://www.poetics.yorku.ca/
KJ
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