In Alternating Current, Paz says that it's criticism which makes a
literature, otherwise it's just a bunch of disparate writers. And
"tradition" is something that's forged out of discourse around poetry as
much as by the poetry itself.
I can't agree, either, that there is no "tradition" of British alternative
poetry (if there isn't, why can I see one? Or better, several?) But the
real question is in the discourse around poetry, rather than the poetry
itself. There are a number of anthologies which document it - from Children
of Albion to Keith Tuma's British and Irish Poetry. There's actually quite
a lot of criticism - including the negative criticisms. I don't understand,
with those traditions so firmly there and documented, why people want to act
as if it doesn't exist.
Best
A
On 28/11/04 12:10 AM, "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Shouldn't this now have a new tag?
>
> Anyway, I too am having trouble with Dave's statement that there is no
> coherent avant garde tradition in Britain. It is an alternative tradition,
> yes, but it was there, and is there, and by the looks of things regarding
> recent developments it will continue to be there, probably still alternative
> but what the hell, this is England.
>
> Nevertheless, there is a grain of truth in the idea that it lacks coherence,
> if by coherence we mean it lacks something that can stick it together, not
> lacks coherence in the sense of it not making sense - Dave never really
> clarified this point. I tried discussing this once on some thread about the
> differences between the strength in depth of the discussion that went on on
> some of the American lists compared with the more sparse and hit and miss
> exchanges between avant enthusiasts here.
> Tim A.
Alison Croggon
Blog: http://theatrenotes.blogspot.com
Editor, Masthead: http://masthead.net.au
Home page: http://alisoncroggon.com
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