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
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