Is very much as Alvin Toffler predicted from his first book "The
Culture Consumers" from 1964. Everywhere one sees the world he saw
coming from "Future Shock" and "The Third Wave" onwards to his more
recent books. To walk into a W.H. Smith shop presents a Toffler scene
of vast ranges of books magazines dvds etc.
In all fields of study and professional practice specialization
dominates and that will continue. The social problem of one individual
becomes another man or woman's job from various angles. We aviod
addressing a lot of complex issues including land and property
ownership to avoid the serious vested interests at stake being
pinpointed.
The Oppen or Zukofsky type of politics never had to confront the social
divisions we see in 2014. Poetry can either provide comfort or offer
discomfort to its readers in positive ways. To flinch from the hard
issues can be easier than engaging real problems the broadsheets
carefully avoid. An underclass who do not vote nor feel they are part
of society cannot be ignored or left in the wilderness on either of
these islands.
In poetry all too often we see faction or fiction plus presentation of
social concern but no engagement. This does not mean any expectations
of a a dash to the barricades or moving away from the 19th century
philosophies. The review by Allen Fisher of "A Various Art" in Reality
Studios dealt with the civic side of The Cambridge School in a valid
way. He noted those not included such as Chris Torrance and others
active in that era in detail. Any anthology will create debate with my
own view being they are too rare compared to other decades.
A consumer culture of gifts and products and festive events is not
being accepted by many for political or religous reasons. Indeed we
ignore that rejection at our peril if we do not listen to those who
reject what mainstream society holds dear. Alvin Toffler has lived to
see his world emerge before our eyes. Few can predict the future with
any skill but Toffler came very close all those decades ago.
|