Christopher,
>Not sure that I fully comprehend what 'postmodern' poetry is. Does it
>encompass language poetry, or am I conflating two differen't practices?
I agree strongly with Peter - it's a vague and sloppy umbrella term
which 'could' and has been used to include language poetry along with a
quite diverse variety of other poetic practices but one that I find in
no way helps elucidate/provide useful reference points to a reader.
>there is an important difference between a piece that
>resists simplification and one that makes no sense outside of a particular
>group of practitioners.
I've often found, with music and visual arts as well as with poetry,
that what I've been most interested in in the long term have been things
where my initial response has been complete bafflement - 'Why the hell
would anyone want to write/read/listen etc. to something like that?' -
then my attempt to answer this question to myself has often led to a
long and fruitful engagement with the texts, for example, in question
leading to a widened sense of appreciation of that particular art form.
(Though, admittedly, this hasn't always worked: on the musical side my
ears are currently having a hell of a job getting to grips with Derek
Bailey - still, I've never felt that everything is or should be for
everyone.)
Best,
Nigel
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