Is anybody up for defining a 'perfect poem'?
joanna
----- Original Message -----
From: "Joseph Duemer" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, January 21, 2007 3:04 PM
Subject: Re: Poem: Piazza Piece by John Crowe Ransom
> I've always associated the Southern Agrarians with the New Formalists:
> both
> groups reify form & write from an ideologically privileged position -- not
> only write from it, but write to defend it. The difference is that the
> Agrarians, especially Ransom, wrote several nearly perfect poems. Can't
> say
> the same for the New Formalists.
>
> jd
>
> On 1/21/07, Roger Day <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>
>> The Southern Agrarians were, as a bunch, hideous Southron
>> Sentimentalists. Warren, Tate and Ransom eventually distanced
>> themselves from the movement; the worst supported Fascism. Let's call
>> a spade a spade here: most of these guys were racists, and probably
>> regretted the end of slavery. But, hey, they opposed modernism, so
>> that's OK then.
>>
>> One can treat servants, slaves etc well. Doesn't mean they're not
>> servants or slaves, though, treated with all the sickening
>> patronisation - or should that be "chivalry" - of the antebellum. I'm
>> sure they all thought they were doing well by their protegees, and the
>> latter in return thought well of their masters. It still doesn't mean
>> that I can't abhor the system. Doesn't mean that I can't object, or
>> feel slightly nauseous when I find remnants of this fine, upstanding
>> system shoved under my nose, particularly when it wasn't even that
>> good a piece of poetry in the first place.
>>
>> A couple of years ago, I saw Steve Earle (http://steveearle.net/bio/)
>> play at Glastonbury. Some dick-heads, fuck-wits and morons had erected
>> a CSA flag at the back of the tent and were shouting "ye-ah" or
>> whatever it is they heard from the films. Steve went ape-shit at them
>> for a good 2 minutes.
>>
>> Roger
>>
>> On 1/20/07, Stephen Vincent <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> > > Nice try, Stephen but The Gentleman is too much of a snobby SOB to
>> > > ev-ah touch a keyboard. Instead, you'd probably find his black
>> > > man-servant doing it for him.
>> > Probably true, Roger. I was always equated the Agragarians (Tate,
>> Ransome,
>> > etc.) as naturally being involved in Southern Agriculture, its heritage
>> and
>> > 'natural' disposition to hire help with 'color'. All treated -those
>> > in-house, at least - with much kindness, etc.
>> >
>> > Stephen V
>> > http://stephenvincent.net/blog/
>> >
>> >
>> > > Roger
>> > >
>> > > On 1/19/07, Jon Corelis <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> > >> On Fri, 19 Jan 2007 11:41:04 -0800, Stephen Vincent <
>> [log in to unmask]>
>> > >> wrote:
>> > >>
>> > >>> Be curious to re-contextualize the Ransome piece into the world of
>> > >>> WWW.Match.com
>> > >>
>> > >> I don't think you'll find The Gentleman on the net.
>> > >>
>> > >
>> >
>>
>>
>> --
>> http://www.badstep.net/
>> "Hello Cleveland! Hello Cleveland!"
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Joseph Duemer
> Professor of Humanities
> Clarkson University
> [sharpsand.net]
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