Dear David,
You might check out D. S. Marriot. Fred d'Aguiar did a doctorate at
Essex, and his early work had a post-Olson experimental aspect - but
once he began publishing he developed in a different direction.
Another part of the picture is that journals like Wasifiri and a number
of commercial publishers were looking out for Black and Asian writers.
I am puzzled that Rupert regards working-class and avant-garde as
necessarily separate sets.
Robert
David Lace wrote:
>i'm glad someone finally responded! thanks rupert for your analysis of
>the situation which was very interesting. you've covered all the bases.
>it would be good if others could comment as well.
>
>
>On Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:37:13 -0000, rupert mallin
><[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>>David
>>
>>Good. You've opened up so much with this question. There are
>literally no
>>Black or Asian Poets involved in what you perceive here as the UK's
>avant
>>garde. Some may argue that this is because the Black tradition is
>rooted in
>>an oral spoken tradition of word, whereas the UK avantgarde tradition
>is
>>visual and aural (page-text, sound). Part of that is partly right I'm
sure
>>but there's so much more.
>>
>>My view is that UK poetry is a generation in retreat. The poetry we
>don't
>>talk about here is Performance - John Hegley and TV/Radio presenter
>like Ian
>>MacMillan and high profile music festivals and the like, where we find
>the
>>Latitude Festival poetry tent packs in hundreds to hear spoken word
>poetry.
>>Yet, even here, poetry has actually become white again. Brilliant
>talents
>>like Ali Gadema are being lost in a weird synthesis between the
>Academic and
>>Business. Let me explain:-
>>
>>Avant garde UK poetry had to find a place to survive in the University.
>>Meanwhile, from ages back, the Arts Council has paid lip service to
>>Performance Poetry (the Black influence) - which has grown far more
>>conservative via 'Literature Live.' That is, there is an excellence
criteria
>>applied - err, white University types - YOU ARE CHOSEN!
>>
>>There is a third element which has denied Black & Asian poets
>involvement or
>>an audience - the avant garde in particular - and this is the increased
>use
>>of the Internet as a publishing house - from text to video. Look at
>>University Vacancies and the ACGB Opportunities to find high paid
>>chaps/lasses to make screen pages and tperformances - while Uni can
>archive
>>all!
>>
>>And this brings me to my final concern as to why Black & Asian poets
>are not
>>on this List or involved in avant garde poetry: perceptions of literacy
>>versus theoretical writings/discussions. Yet, really what has
>happened is
>>that British Society has become incredibly more divided in the last ten
>>years. Poets are far less likely in the avant garde to take on Society
>>through politics - rather their Universities act as Jonah's Whale. Poets
>>protected.
>>
>>You can see the recent history of this List to find my biggest concern
-
>the
>>march against subject matter and action. As the UK entered into
>Imperial on
>>Iraq this List was buzzing with response. I introduced a young poet
>Salman
>>Shaheen then to the List and he couldn't cope with the continuous
>theory
>>drawn from a theory.
>>
>>Brilliantly, Trevor Joyce's 'Offsets' was all action. Since, phew, what
are
>>poets writing about? Themselves! Black, Asian & working class people
>not
>>welcome then?
>>
>>I am a Marxist - and one who supports our posties and think the avant
>garde
>>opposes the working class in the UK because it's so. so concerned with
>>itself, what other purpose? Why should Black, Asian and Working
>Class poets
>>get involved?
>>
>>Rupert
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "David Lace" <[log in to unmask]>
>>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>Sent: Sunday, October 25, 2009 5:24 PM
>>Subject: Re: are there any black or asian avantgarde poets in uk
>>
>>
>>surely someone must have an opinion on this. it's a genuine question.
>>
>>
>>On Sat, 24 Oct 2009 21:17:15 +0100, David Lace <[log in to unmask]>
>>wrote:
>>
>>>i'm new to this forum, and also to avantgarde poetry. it struck me
>>that
>>>from what i've read there are no black or asian or other ethnic poets
>>>mentioned in uk avantgarde poetry. don't get me wrong i'm not
>saying
>>>that racism is the cause--i'm just curious. in america there are quite
>a
>>>few poets of different ethnic backgrounds. maybe, there are poets
>like
>>>this in the uk and i'm just so new i don't know about it.
>
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