Actually, yes, that happens here a bit too, Janet. Those murmurs are
usually quite quiet, though. And, right, they don't happen in a class
room, where readings at a university usually happen; rather they occur
in readings in looser surroundings, like the bars (say like the one
I'll be at tonight).
Where there might be a yes or a mm for something that strikes home,
usually funny, or ah political...
Thanks for reminding me of that.
Still, I've never been to a reading where someone called out & said
Read that line again!
Doug
On 12-Apr-05, at 5:48 AM, Janet Jackson wrote:
> Douglas Barbour comments on the mushairra attended by Richard:
>
>> a factor of learned politeness. That, even as against concerts, where
>> we applaud every song, we expect & are expected to sit politely
>> through
>> the whole reading & applaud at the end. It takes a special reading or
>> performance (I've seen it for a sound poem) to get applause for a
>> single poem in the middle of a reading.
>
> At the readings I've been to here (Western Australia) people more
> usually
> (but not always) applaud each poem. They even cheer and carry on
> if they especially liked it. Also people sometimes make small and,
> yes,
> fairly quiet and polite, non-verbal responses like "mm". Occasionally
> even
> calling out "yes" in agreement with political or social comment poems.
> I'm talking about readings in cafes etc, though, not university ones -
> maybe those are more reserved.
>
>> It's really a question of socialization, though, don't you think?
>> Wouldn't most of our poets find the demand for them to repeat a line
>> or
>> two, or the 'interruptions' a bit of a problem, throwing them off, &
>> perhaps embarrassing to the poet as well...?
>
> Probably, if you're not expecting it. Presumably the Pakistani
> poets pause in certain places to allow for audience response?
> Just like an experienced preacher or speaker does?
>
> So Richard did you get any "vaah-vaah"s?
>
> Janet
> ------------------------------------------------------
> Janet Jackson <[log in to unmask]>
> Poems at Proximity:
> http://www.arach.net.au/~huxtable/janet/proximity.html
> ------------------------------------------------------
>
>
Douglas Barbour
Department of English
University of Alberta
Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E5 Canada
(780) 436 3320
http://www.ualberta.ca/~dbarbour/dbhome.htm
Hand and mind
and heart one
ground to walk on,
field to plough.
Robert Creeley
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