Nigel Wood wrote:
> I've almost never met anyone with the slightest
> interest in poetry. (Which is one reason I like this list so much -
> news, argument, a sense of community etc.) It was provoked by a couple
> of phrases in David Bircumshaw's posting - "a certain kind of poetics is
> tolerated by our society" and "and what they write is purposeless in the
> context of our world". I was really asking if David would care to
> elaborate - I was (and am) unclear on whether the first of these phrases
> is a criticism of the narrowness of tastes/interests of those interested
> in 'lingistically innovative' poetics, or whether it's a comment on the
> reception of poetry in society in general. Which really just leads up to
> my question about the next phrase: what world are talking about and what
> would constitute a purposeful poetry in it?
>
>
thanks Nigel
i would most certainly like to elaborate but am uncertain of the
accuracy of my phraseology as what i was touching upon was something
that has been 'at the back of my mind' for some time but still is not
clearly formulated. it is definitely not that i regard the tastes of
those interested in 'lingustically innovative' poetics as being narrow
or effete per se (altho' i hate the l.i. phrase - aesthetically that
is). it is rather that an indirection of language can unwittingly
support the power structures its practitioners are opposed to. nigel
remarks about almost never having met anyone with the slightest interest
in poetry - i can assure him that there're hordes out there, altho' in
many cases the interest is latent. the advertising industry knows this,
that's why it appropriates some of the methods of poetry for its own
ends, as do tabloid journalists.
i often indulge in showing samples of contemporary verse to non-poetical
cohabitees of my local - i take them from all across the spectrum - they
can be as far apart as Billy Collins & Jack Spicer - the recurring
result is interest & even admiration. the other friday night was
illuminated by a prolonged argument between one of the barmaids & my jh
prynne-tutored friend about the meaning of 'Othello' - the barmaid won
the debate.
so as i see it the problem of poetry 'now' is its reception in society
- i write of course as an inhabitant of BritSoc & that experience forms
the perspective of my views, crudely described as they may be.
anyhow mr wood, ta for the posting, an' i liked the poem by the way
regards
david
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