I think that's an astute comment about trying to silence, esp young artists, by shaming or slashing at them. I personally find it pointless and wasteful of precious life. The case of the Virgin Mary made with elephant dung 'ornamentation' was a case in point… reading the slash and burn about it all in the press, and then listening to the artist humbly explain the work and the symbolism were entirely oppositional. I have purloined insights however, knowing some of the most scathing critics personally, I know that they fear loss of status and job if they do not continue with the screed expected from them. I know this sounds odd, but it is in some cases a good example of being led into bad moon on the right by people who care less about artists , but care about their advertising bucks, bonuses, and stock holdings.

I personally dont believe artists and authors and poets and muscians, dancers and actors, et al, ought be escoriated and rated as though they are livestock. As I mentioned, I'd rather see critical persons go after dictators and criminals and spend all their jing there.

just my .02

dr.e

dr.e

dr.e

Sorry ..Got a bit off track there for a minute but ..
I think what we're seeing happen to Ms. Alexander is a very good example of why many people don't speak of the art that they do (or show it or perform it, etc).
She shared something meaningful with us and there are these people out there….critics (??), that are absolutely heartless in their treatment of poets, sculptors, dancers, painters, writers of prose and performance artists…the list of the arts people love and do is endless …
And so are the critics' assaults of them!
It makes me cringe to even think of her reading some of the comments that have been pasted up on the internet.
Perhaps this is why so many people describe the art that they create as a “hobby”…
If one says that what they create is nothing more than a hobby then it's still possible to back pedal when the skillet gets so hot that it scalds you half to death!
Example: “I SAID it was a hobby for gods sake! It's not like I'm a pro here! Give me a break!”
Thus stopping the flood of painful words before they go too far.
I think we're all artists of one sort or the other and attacks on works of art like this are a way to SHUT US ALL UP!
BTW, an aside:
I think we shouldn't forget the technicalities of speaking in front of such a large audience. Ms. Alexander was in perfect working order when reading her poem. She was articulate!.
The words were said clearly and surely so as to be understandable to all the people present …all the way back to the very last row. Many times the “last row” doesn't get to hear much of anything due to the sound equipment buzzing out, people around them making too much noise, etc.
Did I rant much?
If so, my apologies.
Just my two cents worth.
Ghosty

dr.e

dr.e

There are some few who bring lit crit for instance, to an elegant art form, I think. Just as we each have our 'lights' we think useful or interesting in the art of political critique. I like particually how commenters here offered their own understandings, for instance, of how the inuagural poem struck them… with specifics that are far more than like it/dont like it. As you will see, or may have already, if you peruse sites across internet with regard to this inaugural poem, many persons' comments are screed rather than trying to sort out something that is more than just how it strikes one immediately.

I personally would like to hear Miss Alexander speak about what it was like to write this poem, what the pressures were, and especially…. as all poets know… what constitutes the 'out-takes.' I'm still studying not just this poem, but her other poems, which have a similar beat in more ways than one to this inaugural poem… the tropes, for instance about people doing/ people doing this and other people doing that. It's interesting.

dr.e

At any rate, by way of explaining my snideness, I feel that there are at least two areas in which moderation is inappropriate: Politics and Art. I also believe that intense criticism plays a valuable role in both, and I think that labeling art criticism as evil, is just as much name calling and grenade throwing, as calling a poem dull and meritless.

Just my two cent's worth. To tell you the truth, I am still knocked out that 'the big guys' recognize a place for poets in ceremonials at all!

dr.e

dr.e

dr.e

And, kolimpah, you are welcome here to join the discussions any time. There are commentary rules that you will see below the comment box, essentially making TMV a place for years now, where people can discuss and debate, but not attack other commenters or the journalists. There are, as you know, lots of sites that sort of specialize in 'snidery,' but this is not one. Like I said, you are welcome here and if you like discussing politics, or at least seeing a pretty broad spectrum of opinions about culture and politics, you might find a lot of that here.

We have 20+ journalists who coblog for The Moderate Voice. Many of us are artists in our own right in one way or another, performance, broadcast, book authoring, audiorecording,etc. Joe Gandelman, our Editor in Chief, is a former journalist at San Diego Trib and other large papers, and he also has a day job (we all have day jobs, as you know the pay is good if you can consider air, pay) as an accomplished ventriloquist. Serious.

Be well kolimpah, paint alot.

dr.e

So, Dr. E how did we meet?

dr.e