One of the biggest problems with a too close association of a certain
type of poetry with academia is that it reinforces stereotypical views
of that poetry - something already noticeable on these threads. So we
get the so-called emotional on one side and the so-called intellectual
on the other, we get the so-called amateur on one side and the so-
called professional on the other, and so on. Most of this is silly and
off the mark and panders to prejudices about a certain type of poetry
even while it inverts the polarity. It's like the commonly held idea
that Language poetry, for example, is devoid of 'feeling' (some of it
is, agreed, but some of it is not) or that the only people who get
anything from it are intellectuals etc. This is all rubbish.
Those who are doubly situated within innovative (or whatever you want
to call it, i really don't care) poetry and professional academia need
to have their wits about them and not get sucked in by the protective
cosiness and clubbiness. They need to be aware of what is going on and
they need to 'care' about it. I know Robert and Scott and I trust them
to do that. Unfortunately I also know that there are many individuals
who, safe in their cocoon, have not shown that awareness.
Tim A.
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