You've put your finger on something, David: "It's social realism without
real anger."
Phony is what it is. It's not just C Duff, and it's not just poetry. Since
I rarely read novels, don't watch tv, and seldom see non-historical
films/DVDs, I can't judge those genres, but I do note that plays and poetry
puff up sales when they 'feel like' political anger or class/age/gender
angst. I think it's worse than pornography which at least honestly rips us
off. Modern poetry and play "topic-porno" tweaks predictably and quickly,
but not surprisingly lacks creative depth.
Of course, most poets' and playwrights' works [mine included] are quite
forgettable, lacking the singularity and creative depth of Excellence. But
I want now to draw attention to a distinction between contemporary
socio-political realism in poetry and plays and some of the Excellent
social/political realism in poetry and plays of decades and centuries past.
I believe that the disguisery necessary [for the continued life of the
poet/playwright] to poems and plays that criticised their days' political
realities often *forced out artistic brilliances* with analogies,
subtleties, plot, motive and character hidings within fables, legends,
myths, previous dynastic figures, animals as people, satire, SF, dystopias,
even ekphrastics].
These techniques are unnecessary in now relatively-freer-from-persecution
sociopolitical climates [in the west]. Hence, we're left with reportage
presented as poetry and plays. Poets and playwrights can and do consciously
and unconsciously "porno-pimp" the issues of our day. If the works are
veneerly good [ie, hack], they'll get brief rewards in sales and
ticket-purchasings. Even the most sincere, moved, angered, angsted poets
and playwrights need use little masquerade-depth techniques because they not
only do not need disguises, but they understandably want "in your face"
factual realism---so they don't explore and exploit classic techniques.
Finally, then, we have Carol Duffy and Ruth Padel----the unfortunates who
desperately wanted anointing as artistic 'realists' and who actively
leveraged their gender [victim] status in order to achieve the highest
poetic academic posts in the UK.
"Professional" feminists; idolising young fans; tired and frustrated
teachers/admins; and PC-conforming academics have given us our Empresses'
New Clothes......wedged and skewered now into all our poem archives.
I hope several folk will write articles and books on this topic.
Best,
Judy
2009/7/31 David Bircumshaw <[log in to unmask]>
> With CAD, I've never really taken all that much to her stuff, the same goes
> for a number of poets who emerged during the eighties/ early nineties.
> Because it keeps getting pushed, and because people are so bowed by
> celebrity nowadays, it begins to feel like a sin to not admire, but ...
> It reminds me of much British cinema, alright as far as it goes, but
> pre-packaged. It's social realism without real anger.
>
> 2009/7/31 Judy Prince <[log in to unmask]>
>
> > Hey, how come I didn't know you read at L'Bro U! We'd've been there!
> Why
> > was it strange?
> > I keep wishing I'd glow with delight at C Duff's poems, but it don't
> > happen.
> >
> > Her serious mission seems off, somehow. I know folks who cave to her
> > almost
> > religious sincerity regarding poetry-making. Separate that from her
> actual
> > poems and you have . . . a religiously serious-sounding poet whose poetry
> > isn't all that good.
> >
> > How did this happen, David? And the Padel thing, too. I'll be voting
> for
> > Stephen Moss for P o P of OU.
> >
> > Egad, let's find you a room at the Curve! Or in the parsonage across the
> > road.
> >
> > Best,
> >
> > Judy
> >
> > 2009/7/30 David Bircumshaw <[log in to unmask]>
> >
> > > It read rather like the commissioned poem it is, and as if something
> > > readymade for the school syllabus. I dunno: it seemed made out of
> things
> > > she'd read, but she's the same age as me and would have grown up in a
> > > childhood where there were lots of people around who fought in the
> > trenches
> > > and would have a relationship with that, well I do anyhow. The memories
> > of
> > > both wars were all about me, walking. Some of them were my grandfathers
> > > even.
> > >
> > > (It seemed curiously unreal as just after I wrote the police called
> > asking
> > > if I'd heard anything overnight: a guy on the floor above had been
> found
> > > hanged out of his window)
> > >
> > > (ps I read at Loughborough University on Sunday; that was strange too!)
> > >
> > >
> > > 2009/7/30 Judy Prince <[log in to unmask]>
> > >
> > > > Haven't checked these out yet, but wanna know your take on it, Dave.
> > > > Best,
> > > >
> > > > Judy
> > > >
> > > > 2009/7/30 David Bircumshaw <[log in to unmask]>
> > > >
> > > > > Carol Ann Duffy is certainly being very visible, audible:
> > > > > http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8175000/8175790.stm
> > > > >
> > > > > <http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8175000/8175790.stm
> > > > > >commissioned
> > > > > by BBC Radio 4 to commemorate the deaths of the last British
> > survivors
> > > of
> > > > > the battles of WWI.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > --
> > > > > David Bircumshaw
> > > > > "A window./Big enough to hold screams/
> > > > > You say are poems" - DMeltzer
> > > > > Website and A Chide's Alphabet
> > > > > http://www.staplednapkin.org.uk
> > > > > The Animal Subsides
> > http://www.arrowheadpress.co.uk/books/animal.html
> > > > > Leicester Poetry Society: http://www.poetryleicester.co.uk
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > David Bircumshaw
> > > "A window./Big enough to hold screams/
> > > You say are poems" - DMeltzer
> > > Website and A Chide's Alphabet
> > > http://www.staplednapkin.org.uk
> > > The Animal Subsides http://www.arrowheadpress.co.uk/books/animal.html
> > > Leicester Poetry Society: http://www.poetryleicester.co.uk
> > >
> >
>
>
>
> --
> David Bircumshaw
> "A window./Big enough to hold screams/
> You say are poems" - DMeltzer
> Website and A Chide's Alphabet
> http://www.staplednapkin.org.uk
> The Animal Subsides http://www.arrowheadpress.co.uk/books/animal.html
> Leicester Poetry Society: http://www.poetryleicester.co.uk
>
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