I recall years back when I first encountered Kent on a list I discovered
that a US university had indeed an artificial intelligence program called
'Kent Johnson', it being an alternative to the better-known (in the UK
anyway) John Doe.
I was suspicious for some time.
2009/9/29 Stephen Vincent <[log in to unmask]>
> Has Kent Johnson weighed in yet on whether or not he wants to be Kenneth
> Wolman?
> Or has Ken Wolman formally accepted his appropriation now as Kent Johnson??
> Personally I was once formerly "Bobby Watson" - back when Ionesco was in
> charge of both my psychic and public life - but now I am back to Stephen
> Vincent - as far as I know. But I may not be, and you may not be fully in
> charge of that either. In fact did you know they have counter-surveillance
> programs that offer a subject of surveillance to transform - in a matter of
> seconds - into one of nine different identities (according to one program
> currently on the market)? The problem is that these programs can be hijacked
> by individuals who can make you their subject and unwittingly change you
> into Rachel Loden, or David Bircumshaw, or Douglas Barbour or Sheila Murphy
> or Allison Croggon or Hal Johnson or, even, according to today's New York
> Times, Frida Kahlo! You can imagine the problems
>
> I have a suspicion that Kent Johnson has his hands on one of those
> programs. Do you, whoever you are??
>
> Stephen (I think!)
>
>
>
> --- On Tue, 9/29/09, David Bircumshaw <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> From: David Bircumshaw <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: 'Day' a new work by Kent Johnson
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Date: Tuesday, September 29, 2009, 10:08 AM
>
> It's true even in England that it's hard to get people to respond to the
> language of 'classic' English poetry but it extends to adults who claim to
> have an interest in poetry, or write the stuff even, and in those instances
> it's just mental idleness, the dulled sensibilities and senses of processed
> consumers.
> With Shakespeare there's also the odd problem that so much of it, in
> phrases, plot and character, has sunk into the language of the normal
> Shakespeare has in a sense become partly invisible.
>
> What's done is, erm, done.
>
> 2009/9/29 Kenneth Wolman <[log in to unmask]>
>
> > Not sad so much as a tribute to the quality of instruction and, yes, the
> > quality of the listener. In fact I've taught Wyatt a couple of times to
> > freshmen at this community college where I sit now, and I discovered I
> have
> > a high tolerance for misreading (you'd be amazed at what 19 year olds can
> do
> > with and to "They Flee From Me.") Harold Bloom might love me, but don't
> tell
> > me if he would. In fact Wyatt I rather liked, but Surrey I remember as a
> > blank. This is unquestionably unfair.
> >
> >
> >
> > The hard part of any of the English "classics" is getting the kids to
> hear
> > the language. I had this same issue with Browning.
> >
> >
> >
> > I've not had occasion to watch a Shakespeare play in years. My favorite
> was
> > and remains a BBC production of Titus Andronicus that was so graphic it
> was
> > stomach-turning. What else would you do with Titus, after all?
> >
> >
> >
> > ken
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Douglas Barbour" <[log in to unmask]>
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Sent: Tuesday, September 29, 2009 10:47:47 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada
> Eastern
> > Subject: Re: 'Day' a new work by Kent Johnson
> >
> > Geez, that's so sad, Ken.
> >
> > I admit that I did read The Fairie Queene (for a grad course, yes, & I
> > chose it), & actually enjoyed some of it, although I haven't read it
> > again. But to have lost Wyatt!? Im very glad that didnt happen to me,
> > & I 'taught' his poems with great delight (whether or not the students
> > felt it, I admit).
> >
> > Are you able, at least, to watch Shakespeare's other plays? That's
> > what theyre meant for, after all...
> >
> > Doug
> > On 28-Sep-09, at 11:52 AM, Kenneth Wolman wrote:
> >
> > > I had to read all of Shakespeare's plays, esp. the Histories. Since
> > > 1976 I have read one play again: King Lear . I want to learn about
> > > growing old from someone besides my endocrinologist. I learned via
> > > total immersion to despise Shakespeare because I HAD to read him.
> > > The same way the entirety of the English so-called Renaissance from
> > > WyattandSurrey (isn't that one name?) through 1642 long ago lost its
> > > appeal. Spend a semester studying one freaking book of The Faerie
> > > Queene: I double-dare you.
> >
> > Douglas Barbour
> > [log in to unmask]
> >
> > http://www.ualberta.ca/~dbarbour/
> >
> > Latest books:
> > Continuations (with Sheila E Murphy)
> > http://www.uap.ualberta.ca/UAP.asp?LID=41&bookID=664
> > Wednesdays'
> >
> >
> http://abovegroundpress.blogspot.com/2008/03/new-from-aboveground-press_10.html
> >
> > Take away my wisdom and my categories!
> >
> > Phyllis Webb
> >
>
>
>
> --
> David Bircumshaw
> "A window./Big enough to hold screams/
> You say are poems" - DMeltzer
> Website and A Chide's Alphabet
> http://www.staplednapkin.org.uk
> The Animal Subsides http://www.arrowheadpress.co.uk/books/animal.html
> Leicester Poetry Society: http://www.poetryleicester.co.uk
> Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/david.bircumshaw
>
--
David Bircumshaw
"A window./Big enough to hold screams/
You say are poems" - DMeltzer
Website and A Chide's Alphabet
http://www.staplednapkin.org.uk
The Animal Subsides http://www.arrowheadpress.co.uk/books/animal.html
Leicester Poetry Society: http://www.poetryleicester.co.uk
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/david.bircumshaw
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