tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761818636919513619.post2666831047534889566..comments2024-03-28T02:17:51.115-05:00Comments on Commercial Poetry: Performers: The CylonUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761818636919513619.post-35343024693655583132012-03-01T14:46:12.312-06:002012-03-01T14:46:12.312-06:00@neighbor:
I'm working on it now. My pro...@neighbor:<br /><br /> I'm working on it now. My prologue, explaining why I'm citing so few poems, is so long that this will have to be a series. I hope that's fine with you.<br /><br /> I understand the problem with discerning tone in text. I know you're only citing Billy Collins as an example but, lest there be confusion on that narrow issue, the man can't write poety but his prose-with-linebreaks comments on rubber hosing poems were spot on and his service as U.S. Poet Laureate was more than laudable. Indeed, I'm coming around to the theory regarding value as a poet and value as a Poet Laureate forming an inverse relationship.<br /><br /> If you're on a "poetry crit binge" allow me to repeat my stock recommendation that you start by lurking at <a href="http://www.ablemuse.com/erato/" rel="nofollow">Eratosphere</a>, the busiest of the four advanced online forums.<br /><br />EarlEarl the Squirrelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17124218028312576793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761818636919513619.post-73050842523189433352012-03-01T13:17:05.536-06:002012-03-01T13:17:05.536-06:00Excellent, I'm really looking forward to it.
...Excellent, I'm really looking forward to it. <br /><br />I've been on a sort of poetics/poetry crit binge (surprised me from me out of the blue) and in reading some of your archives I found references to Margaret Griffiths whose poetry I hope to read more of.<br /><br />Also, I should've been more clear - it's not that I don't get the snark (which is actually just sarcasm), it was just hard for me to differentiate between true praise/sarcastic praise/criticism (ie., saying one has to slog through penance of 24 Billy Collins vs. approval of his efforts to popularize poetry vs. saying he's an archetype of content regency). <br /><br />I think I opened a can of worms in trying to understand my own preferences... oh boy, wish me luck!neighborhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03043074840658806458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761818636919513619.post-8706325480802725652012-02-29T13:53:20.758-06:002012-02-29T13:53:20.758-06:00@neighbor:
"...perhaps I'm a lazy read...@neighbor:<br /><br /> "...perhaps I'm a lazy reader to dislike so much of what I find..."<br /><br /> I agree that this blame-the-victim, steak-without-sizzle attitude is pervasive in some circles. Many simply don't understand that, if the surface isn't attractive no one is going to dive in. This is why I tend to focus on what is missing: technique, humor, drama, narrative, performance, et cetera. <br /><br /> "I've had a hard time separating snark from honest opinion..."<br /><br /> Often, snark <i>is</i> my honest opinion.<br /><br /> "...and wonder if you'd be willing to do a straight-forward post on contemporary poetry that meets your criterion for greatness (and why)."<br /><br /> "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ccKPSVQcFk" rel="nofollow">By your command.</a>" (Just kidding!) As per your request, I will address that subject soon. First, though, I have two or three other posts in the works, starting with at least one more installment in this series. Stay tuned!<br /><br /> Thanks for your interest, neighbor.<br /><br />Signed,<br /><br />Earl GrayEarl the Squirrelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03740374291537401772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761818636919513619.post-48469326427864158222012-02-29T03:46:35.406-06:002012-02-29T03:46:35.406-06:00Fascinating blog, Earl. I stumbled upon it while ...Fascinating blog, Earl. I stumbled upon it while trying to understand what it is I like about the poetry I like. One theory (which I'm trying to disprove for obvious reasons) is that perhaps I'm a lazy reader to dislike so much of what I find... and though I'm trying not to too quickly jump on your bandwagon, I'm relieved to find that my dislike is perhaps warranted.<br /><br />I've no experience with the poetry "industry" though I don't mind navigating academic texts and digging through theories of poetics, and while I might have once been kind of turned off by the implications of the term "commercial poetry" (see, those prejudices get inlaid in all of us, even without an MFA), I'm finding your opinions good for challenging my assumptions and for sparking my own thoughts on the matter.<br /><br />I'm not usually incapable of understanding humor, but in some of your posts, maybe given the ambiguity of the written word, I've had a hard time separating snark from honest opinion and wonder if you'd be willing to do a straight-forward post on contemporary poetry that meets your criterion for greatness (and why). Granted, I've not read all your archives and maybe you've already done just that. If so, please disregard this...neighborhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03043074840658806458noreply@blogger.com