"K.M. Sutherland" wrote:
> "...as poetry is inherent au natural within language...the potential for
> poetry is within all."
>
> I'm not sure this is so uncontroversial, or even how it could be; perhaps
> David you could expand a little on both of these claims, and on their
> supposed relation? Would it follow, even if poetry were part of the
> 'nature' of language (though the point might be empty: where -else- could
> poetry be "inherent"? You'd have to go back to Spinoza, Schlegel), that
> everyone who uses language could potentially achieve some use of -this
> part- of it? Or is this a claim more appealing than likely, and in any
> case very abstruse?
> What I really find contestable is not the point David makes here,
> but rather the desire which seems to lead people to want to make it:
> the desire to assume that everyone might possibly be capable
> not only of recognizing a special -condition- of language, but also of
> organizing that recognition in a special linguistic -practice- (i.e.,
> writing poetry). What are the real politics of this desire? What are its
> demographics, its history?
Keston
This is written in haste, I'm afraid, but surely, without having to resort to
playgrounds resonant with skipping rhymes, chanted gibes, one can see in the
desirability accorded to some of the techniques of poetry by tabloids and
advertisers and pop-lyricists, that recognition of a 'special condition of
language' is prevalent even among the adult (and largely fallen???)
population. If poetry is not part of the nature of language what is it a part
of? I can't see why you have difficulty with this last as you seem to accede
to it yourself.
I'd guess that the 'politics of this desire' is carried on arrows and its
demographics extend from Jerusalem through Kentish Town to Ulan Bator and
Nutbush City Limits. Languages can be private but language is common to all
and those who would privatise or enclose it shd logically end up immured in
their own ivory tower's walls (ground floor no more)
Sorry this is so short
David
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