 |
 |
Chris, you mentioned that 'gender...... even species isn't really that important'. Okay. Now, while I agree with your view in the wider sense, I feel obligated here to make a plea on behalf of the 'species-specific orientation' which has been gaining clout ( albeit slowly) since about 1972 (remember the Art School Riots of that year in Oslo?) With this in mind, let me direct you all to a series of esoteric, but highly readable titles published by the Root Press (Newcastle-upon-Tyne) available by mail order only. These publications are real gems. Pithy and honest, they offer readers a valid alternative to the species-diversity which is currently strangling Western writing and philosophy. May I recommend the following : 'My Love, My Sheep', by Colin Auckland - a touching series of poems by a former champion merino ram. 'Was It Only Yesterday?', by Kelpie's Boy - a remarkable, at times tragic expose of the harsh realites of unrequited love from the gelding's point of view. 'Lassie Come Homophobic', - a no-holds-barred anthology of dog poems and prose from 1948-1999 in Connecticut; and one of my favourites - ' 'The Cutting Edge', by 'Randy' (a pseudonym). Hitherto unreleased story of James Herriot and his controversial 'Reconciliation Therapy' for neutered dogs, cats and other small animals. Regards, Nichola (Melbourne) ----- Original Message ----- From: Chris Hamilton-Emery <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Saturday, March 24, 2001 6:28 PM Subject: Re: Art & Sexuality > I echo Frank's perspective here; what always surprises me about sexual > statements is that I have to choose at all. I feel I'm being pushed into a > camp (if you pardon the pun). I believe that we're just sexual creatures. > Gender, heavens, even species, isn't really that important I find inanimate > objects sexual too. > > Sexuality plays a significant part in my poetry, whether it matters or makes > for diversity isn't for me to say, though the question is a bit like saying > does one's religious beliefs, or political beliefs matter. They can matter I > guess. Some poets write about gay experience and in that case it might > matter. They may think that *choosing* a sexuality is important. They may > feel disenfranchised. Programmatic writing, political writing, is often > about visibility of the kind Liz eloquently describes. > > Which might be like me writing poems about shopping in Tesco's Supermarket, > which matters to me, and is deeply political. And perhaps a little sexual > for me too. Consumerism is sexy. > > It's a little off target to think that picking up different lifestyles may > make one matter. Mattering comes from poetic impact upon language, not from > lifestyle choices or genetic predisposition. Diversity is a red herring I > think, like those poets who roam the earth to write about marrow farming in > East Lacashire and diamond mining in South America, and pepper their poems > with references to their deep political commitment to these communities of > oppressed peoples. It's a kind of privileged journalism driven by false > consciousness about middle class engagement with globalisation. Sexuality > often appears in poems in this way, kind of like a poet laureate writing > about rimming on the boulevard. >