Sorry Jeffrey, read the piece yet again and decided that it isn't on.
It is just too messy - his argument doesn't even get off the ground.
He gets himself into a mix up straight away with the paring of novelty
and political correctness - his third and fourth paragraphs just don't
make sense at all. I've also read some of his poems now and frankly,
am not impressed on that front either.
What comes through the article though is his genuine sense that
something is wrong, that there is a flaw in the system which currently
presents poetry within higher education in some American universities
and colleges. Another reason why I don't think I am the person to
question him - it needs someone who knows that background. He is
hitting out - it is just that his targets are a bit skew-whiff. All a
bit depressing really.
It reminds me of the attitudes of quite a few younger poets I've met
over the years, those who have been 'educated' yet have a problem with
aspects of that education that in the final analysis don't fit
existentially with their own intuitions and desires. It usually pushes
them towards some sort of anti-intellectual stance.
The danger of backlash - and backlashes always happen - has been there
against innovative poetry in America for a while now - every time you
hear of another ex language poet being given some prestigious prize
(something that just happen over here of course) you know that its
another shovelful of dirt clattering down on the coffin. Predictable.
I know the arguments - 'why shouldn't they?' , 'isn't it good that
this type of poetry is getting recognized at last' etc, and a big part
of me agrees. It is also, even now, relatively a small thing, but
perceptions are stronger than realities. In the eyes of many young
poets these old experimentalists with their high fangled European
theories and postmod glam are the enemy.
It never had to be this way, but in my opinion the American avant
garde have not done enough to stop it, maybe they don't even care.
Tim A.
On 31 Aug 2010, at 12:59, Jeffrey Side wrote:
> Tim, before I ask him I need a commitment from you. I'm sure he'd
> agree to an interview.
>
>
>
> Original Message:
>
>
> I am considering doing what you suggested Jeffrey, and interviewing
> him about this....... would he be up for it? Not saying I will, but
> testing the waters......
>
> Cheers
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