I dunno, Tim, things are pretty lively where I'm sitting. I wouldn't say its exactly been 'saved' by academic interest, but one of the reasons I've found myself in the unlikely position of defending academia is because there's been an influx of people in their early twenties (in London, Brighton, Manchester, to list the places I know of) who are putting on readings, publishing little magazines etc., with the effect that the scene is probably more active, vital and interesting than it has been for years. All of this is taking place outside the university - and quite deliberately so - but at the same time, most of them came across avant/innovative/radical/whatever-you-wanna-call-it poetry on university courses.
http://abandonedbuildings.blogspot.com/
--- On Fri, 23/10/09, Tim Allen <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
From: Tim Allen <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Journal of British and Irish Innovative Poetry launch at Birkbeck (Weds 21st October 2009)
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Friday, 23 October, 2009, 4:44 PM
I don't really want to prolong this thread Sean - although I think it is good that the subject in general has been aired, the focus on the 'journal' itself and what it might or might not do has become bogged down and gotten unnecessarily personal. My concern, like Mark's I think, is with the wider issues that it is a part of.
I don't think your comment below is true. From where I was sat it looked as though the scene was dying until 'academic interest' helped save it. This could be disputed, I know, especially because of the strength of character and excellence of the work of a handful of highly individual poets, all outside of academia, Harwood, Raworth, O'Sullivan, Monk and Halsey etc, but I would still argue that closer to the ground (or underground) the Brit avant scene had become more and more isolated and alone. It wasn't just the entry into the academy of course, there were other revitalising factors, the internet for one.
Tim A.
On 23 Oct 2009, at 12:38, Sean Bonney wrote:
> Academic interest reflects the liveliness of the scene in general.
