Hello, and greetings to all on the list whose postings I've enjoyed recently
during my deep dark lurk.
Regarding Stephen's concept of cow dung poetry, I have to say I'm
with Billy on this one. Isn't this the old dada argument again - when
Duchamp put a urinal on the wall of an art gallery, he did us all a favour
by questioning what can be designated "Art"; but in the long run, this does
take us down the road of "Everything is art (or poetry), if I / you /
Duchamp says so..." - and I do believe this ultimately devalues art itself,
not least by perplexing the audience so much that they tend to lose interest
and go home to watch telly...
As for Bryan's request, I've been in Oxford for a few months, and am
sorry to say I've yet to find evidence of any thriving poetry scene in the
city, despite the assurances of arty-but-non-poet friends here who are
convinced that there *must* be plenty going on. Surely it can't be the case
that all that is happening on the poetry scene happens in London? Getting
to events in London,even from Oxford,isn't so simple when you have to work
nights and weekends, as I often do. It's hard to believe there aren't
poetry events going on round here, and like Bryan I'd be grateful if any
members of the list can help with any info on this.
One possible speck of light in the darkness,Bryan: there is an Oxford
University Poetry Society, with a web-page at:http://users.ox.ac.uk/~oups.
Last term they had a tempting line-up of readings and workshops, alas all
over by the time I discovered them, but they don't seem to have updated
details for this term yet. You don't have to be a student to join,
apparently, but whether it's a worthwhile forum for non-student poets
remains to be seen...
Well, back to my lurk now, unless any of you guys can tempt me back
out...
Sarah
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