With regard to the distinctions between essay and poem in the
classroom, I find myself with a bewildering teaching burden which
fluctuates from advanced poetry writing ? to freshman composition.
I do find that the comp students want an answer to what the
authorities (the university, the job givers, the bosses) are looking
for, how can they easily fulfil that &c. I don't really feel very
interested in simply perpetuating accepted tropes, which goes for
poetry too, what is the point. So It is a matter of examining what is
out there, not endorsing it. What are we doing in the classroom if not
saying I'm not taking responsibility for how you present yourself in
writing , you have to.
Along with Chris I am often times bewildered by the lack of
enthusiasm, especially in elective classes such as advanced creative
writing. I can understand , but not agree with, students from the
business school wanting straight answers to their straight questions,
which I don't, can't give, bt the people who think of themselves as
writers seem often times as docile.
--I think that I may have been a similarly apathetic youth myself,
where art school presented it self as an option, not a wonderful
opportunity. And I was actually at Allen's Hereford college of Art &
design (before his time I think), which I loathed--and failed the
b-tec diploma for not designing a handbag for superman. Maybe somebody
there thought that was a good idea? I went on to University anyway,
but it still wasn't a place that I felt was mine, and I think that
lack of trust is maybe natural, and healthy.
I don't think it matters where poetry gets across, but in my
experience the classroom is maybe not the obvious place for students
to bring their enthusiasms, if they are to feel that the enthusiam is
their own. That leaves me in the class room, wwhere the last thing I
want to say is hey I know what you must think... I have my enthusiasms
now when teaching but not all the students show up open-eared waiting
to hear about Leslie Scalapino or whatever , and I don't know its so
bad.
I don't mean to shirk any responsibility, I actually think that I
would feel better dumping Universities, which over here (USA) have
partway turned into degree giving businesses where teachers write
contracts for their classes agreeing not to stray into anything
controversial. Is it surprising that students come without much
enthuisiasm ? I'm sure an alternative system would replicate these
problems in time. How about a short term alternative? Burn down the
university and not rebuild it?
Love Martin, Doctoral candidate in creative writing (hmm?)
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