Martin - I'm old fashioned - I believe theory follows the poem. Some theory
helps disentangle a text, or tangle it in a new way, and thereby the
reader/writer can learn or be aware of a few more tricks than if they
remained naive. A little bit of this theory and little bit of that theory to
begin with, but writing writing all the time >g<
Have a look at Andrew Taylor's READING AUSTRALIAN POETRY from UQP (if I
remember rightly). Early on, he wheeled in some lit theory and applied it to
the major players in our own backyard.
Andrew
On 24/03/2008, Martin Dolan <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> Hi Anny
>
> I'm not looking for an argument, either - and certainly not one about
> the academy and poetry!
>
> I too have a sense of duty to my professors, who (mostly) were good at
> their job. As a result, I left my studies with an adequate (if somewhat
> dated) appreciation of the tools of literary criticism and how to use
> them. I also had my eyes opened to a range of writers I would not have
> encountered otherwise, including an obscure French-Canadian poet upon
> whom I lavished too much time in my final year.
>
> What I didn't get (perhaps the fault was with myself) was any bridge
> between the world of criticism and theory and the world of applied
> literature - such as writing poetry. I doubt any of my professors saw
> that as their role. I'm not sure that I did either.
>
> The consequence was a certain amount of literary self-consciousness and
> a limited set of poetic tools. The poetic result - when not silence -
> was unedifying. It took me a long time to get a better balance between
> the two elements. Still working on it.
>
> Regards
>
> Martin
>
> > Hi Martin,
> >
> > without any wish of arguing but out of a sense of duty towards some of
> my
> > professors (the old English teacher excluded, and I agree with you
> here), I
> > have received much from my formal studies, as a matter of fact what I
> > consider my backbone. And I am sorry I do not have time enough to go
> back to
> > the Authors that at the time were so dear to me.
> >
> > Best,
> > Anny
> >
> > On Sun, Mar 23, 2008 at 12:23 PM, Martin Dolan <[log in to unmask]>
> > wrote:
> >
> >
> >> Hi Nathan
> >>
> >> I look forward to talking with you.
> >>
> >> I think I'm mostly self-taught, too. Is there another way? English and
> >> French literature at university hindered more than helped the writing,
> >> on mature reflection, however much it helped the understanding.
> >>
> >> Regards
> >>
> >> Martin Dolan
>
--
Andrew
http://hispirits.blogspot.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aburke/
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