Alison -- it was/is depressing -- having complained for years that the
NYTBR didn't review poetry seriosuly or consistently, it now looks like
there will be a regular commentator, said David Orr, a lawyer by
profession, who every 4 or 6 weeks will write such a column. I guess
the idea that the NYTBR could have done something more interesting than
another sewered (hmm, I meant to write skewered) smat-ass put-downer --
the poetry as "primarily an academic art" line immediately got my
hackles up -- was self-delusion to start with. -- Pierre
On Apr 24, 2005, at 8:03 PM, Alison Croggon wrote:
> 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
>
>
=================================================
"Lyric poetry has to be exorbitant or not at all." -- Gottfried Benn
=================================================
For updates on readings, etc. check my current events page:
http://albany.edu/~joris/CurrentEvents.html
=================================================
Pierre Joris
244 Elm Street
Albany NY 12202
h: 518 426 0433
c: 518 225 7123
o: 518 442 40 85
email: [log in to unmask]
http://www.albany.edu/~joris/
=================================================
|