Oh I see what you mean, Chris. Fight!
>If
>readers aren't paying for literature I'd argue that we've got something
>closer to propaganda.
This is rather a hard line of yours, I think, because of course they are paying for it indirectly through tax, and that's part of the collegiate state-society; justifying the use of public funds on anything is always very difficult, of course, a public statue here, a healthcare service there, and perhaps Americans on the list can comment on Arts funding there? I'd be interested in that.
What if the sponsorship is from business corporations - as with higher profile arts like operas or gallery exhibitions? Is that close to propaganda? What do you mean by "propaganda" exactly?
I've been involved in setting up and running a small business, as well as working in the NGO field, and I'd think that independent poetry publishing obviously benefits from sales and marketing and productions aspects of entrepeneurial models, which Salt so well adapts, but it surely is a cottage industry level concern - though of course the short story line is probably the most "scaleable" as they say?
If the owners of capital want to maximise profits, they don't wonder what John Wilkinson is up to; a publisher looks to the front rack at WHSmiths or Tesco. If the capitalist and the publisher make a different choice it's either one of finding a less competitive niche in the market, or else it's some kind of philosophy or non-business IDEA which has driven them - yes, into the marketplace - but not rooted there.
*
John's question about POD - as a reader and quite voracious buyer of poetry, I must say I'm biased against POD books - they're all floppy and unsatisfactory and feel like magazines.
(tho i appreciate what wonders they've done for indie presses etc of course)
Melissa
Día de la Madre: Convierte su día en algo muy especial http://pan.starmedia.com/especiales/diadelamadre07/
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