Dear Ian, Paul and all
This is turning into a very interesting, considered and thoughtful
discussion.
Way back in 1974 when I got involved in the small presses and magazines
there was a real feeling that one was connected to a swathe of poet people -
not just in ones area or nation but across the globe. No matter how poorly
produced the magazine, there were reviews and listings. One of the greats
was Pete Finch's 'Second Aeon.' Not only did one get pages and pages of
poetry, concrete poetry, experimental prose, reviews and comment, there were
the 'listings,' mainly concerning other presses across the world, but also
events. How has the Internet come on since 'Second Aeon?'
'Second Aeon' had a Welsh focus within it but was always truly
international. Though it was intellectual it wasn't university 'bound.'
Ian raises a most important point about the distribution of poetry - and I
can really see that the Internet across the websites is distributing poetry.
But why and what for? The poet's ego? To create a network of like minded
poets? To find an audience? A new audience? Do poets just like their poems
posted or is there some sort of interaction thereby? To my mind the best of
poetry websites and blogs concentrate on the interests of the
contributor/contributors. Here there is something to centre on. Yet, much of
poetry on the Net is wallpaper. Worse than wallpaper it's not stuck to the
wall!
Surely, there has to be connectedness - not just internally/virtually but
with real minds and bodies? Perhaps the real task is to create Second Aeons
across the Net?
Best wishes, Rupert
|