My only thought on reading it was, "the knives are out". I don't know, I
find articles like this depressing; the breathless idea of an "impossibly
glamorous and romantic" youth and then the sneer at it. The idea that
poetry is "primarily an academic art". (Maybe it is in the US, but that's
an easy sort of put down generalisation which means - what?)
I guess what's notable is the allowance that Graham's poetry is "good",
balanced by all sorts of personal skewering. It reads sneaky and
insinuating. Personally, I'm a little agnostic on her work; I've only read a
couple of books, and that years ago, and I can't remember it especially
striking me, although I remember I found it interesting. I didn't return,
but that is probably as much about me as about her poetry. I'd probably
appreciate a precise critique of her work, but this isn't it; it's much more
about toppling some kind of crown off her head.
Best
A
On 25/4/05 6:18 AM, "Kenneth Wolman" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Interesting to see what you will make of this, esp. David Orr's tone
> toward his subject. There is also, glancing at Foetry, a suggestion
> that a great many of Ms. Graham's students tend to win contests she's
> judging. Of course there is more, specifically an estimate of Graham
> herself as writer.
>
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/24/books/review/24ORRL.html
>
> By the way, I assume Orr did not write the headline to the column. It's
> called "Jorie Graham, Superstar." Don't ask.
>
> Ken
Alison Croggon
Blog: http://theatrenotes.blogspot.com
Editor, Masthead: http://masthead.net.au
Home page: http://alisoncroggon.com
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