Whoops Paul, I'm not a Luddite, honest! In terms of a universal library and
a means of global 'networking,' the Internet is an incredibly useful tool.
The best. Also, I've nothing against the publication of poetry on the
Internet. I embrace this entirely. Indeed, our Norwich based artists-writers
group Inprint is building a website to publish images and texts. Here I take
a leaf out of my artists' book as it were: their gallery of images are like
calling cards. No one in their right mind would buy a print or assemblage
directly from the site, but the gallery is a means to gain interest - for
the interested to find out further details, correspond and thereby later
meet the artist. I don't see why poetry published on the Net couldn't be a
little like this...
My method of writing/working requires actual collaboration, and both
participants and audiences in rooms or spaces. My work centres on making
poetry as 'event.' Through this direct relationship, because of the type of
work I do, I feel better able to sell exhibits, publications and multiples
through this actual, direct experience. I realise there are very many
different ways of writing, voicing and making poetry - and I celebrate this
difference. Hope this qualifies my previous missive on the subject. I
suppose it is that my work relies on 'presence' in cross-overs between
poetry, performance, drama, visual art, music, etc, that I want the virtual
tool to serve my actual practice; and this presence and physicality makes me
want poetry on the Net 'physical,' hence printing it out what I like.
I was moved today by a young poet reading at the Fringe, Norwich. Jim Jepps
is a Net junkie, yet for his first ever poetry reading, he'd printed out
over night a little pamphlet of his work to give out free to the small
audience and fellow participants. The poems he'd selected were pertinent and
his reading went down well, and through the pamphlet he'd not just recorded
his debut but made a small statement about how seriously he take his poetry
and the audience's commitment.
Just a small example, but it is this presence of poetry and my methods which
influence me on this one.
Best wishes, Rupert
PS - hold you to the pint - October 2014!
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