tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11295909.post2035987630889081186..comments2024-02-23T03:28:33.435-05:00Comments on Culture Industry: new yearMark Scrogginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01431113440875342809noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11295909.post-40705691186724667172010-01-09T14:50:23.181-05:002010-01-09T14:50:23.181-05:00From my brief (but enjoyable) experience of leadin...From my brief (but enjoyable) experience of leading a writing workshop for undergraduates, there were several students who had the notion that one did not have to read in order to write well. One could pick up a pen and the magnificence of his or her own thoughts and ideas would fall onto the page. A few students told me they didn't like to read, but this didn't keep them from thinking they could write.SOShttp://www.inkandlight.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11295909.post-78294024220663177342010-01-08T18:02:08.528-05:002010-01-08T18:02:08.528-05:00scrapping with townies, catching a workshop to the...scrapping with townies, catching a workshop to the ribs?Joseph Donahuehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00392172511244610061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11295909.post-58666955540560661912010-01-08T15:16:20.137-05:002010-01-08T15:16:20.137-05:00Eric -- yeah, I got the snark; maybe I'm just ...Eric -- yeah, I got the snark; maybe I'm just not sure there *isn't* something pathological in my reading habits.<br /><br />Andrew -- oof! Defensiveness on my part; I think I probably misread the tone of Nik's sentence; tone is so hard to gauge on these internets-things. Obviously, I am myself kind of ambivalent about reading so much poetry lately, & that ambivalence comes thru in ruffled feathers.<br /><br />Actually, the 50-book thing, as you point out, isn't necessarily a bad thing: when I did my own MFA back in the late middle ages, we didn't *have* to read a single damned book. It was assumed we'd take care of that sort of business ourselves: some of us did; others didn't, spending lots of time in bars building up "experience" scrapping with townies.<br /><br />And I just hate that Derrida quote; geez, that mofo had read *everything*. (Benjamin, in his essay, quotes Anatole France on being asked the same question: "Not one-tenth of them. I don't suppose you use your Sévres china every day?" Which reduces books to interior decoration, I guess.)Mark Scrogginshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01431113440875342809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11295909.post-75489748747614788632010-01-08T14:55:49.836-05:002010-01-08T14:55:49.836-05:00Mark,
Glad you happened across my posts! I will ...Mark,<br /><br />Glad you happened across my posts! I will similarly be adding you to my blogroll--I'm rather surprised I haven't stumbled across your blog before.<br /><br />re: Nik's final sentence. It was meant to be a humorous joke in the moment, I believe, as much as anything.<br /><br />I think both Nik and I (I can only speak specifically for myself, though, obviously) were surprised to some degree at our response. As I mentioned, my reading load is similarly thorough to yours (88 books in '09). Both Nik and I have numerous times discussed our frustrations with the number of people "into poetry" who don't read and have never actually read any poetry. And who, furthermore, have little to no interest in or enjoyment in reading poetry.<br /><br />I think our sympathy with the MFAer in question is that it seems that (former) student enjoyed reading those books and seemed to get something out of reading those books. Thus, though certainly not as thorough as Ezra Pound would like, there did seem to be a level of success in the reading.<br /><br />I wonder if the root of the problem is more in the MFA as an institution. The idea that getting the degree, and reading what is required to get that degree, like you said "professionalizes" the degree recipient--that NOW the student IS a poet. Reading a list of assigned books becomes one in a series of hurdles to clear to get a degree, rather than a part of the process of becoming a poet.<br /><br />Not to get into a critique of the MFA institution now...But here's hoping that the MFAer takes that enjoyment in those 50 books and continues to build on his/her reading in the future.<br /><br />Best,<br />AndrewAndrewhttp://acompulsivereader.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11295909.post-48917189705551084022010-01-08T14:45:06.204-05:002010-01-08T14:45:06.204-05:00Good to have you back, Mark! For what it's wo...Good to have you back, Mark! For what it's worth, I wasn't seriously suggesting that there was something pathological in your reading habits. Rather, I was pointing out that the comparable reading habits of romance readers have been, for decades, pathologized by critics (Greer, Modleski, Radway, etc.) who would never dream of applying the same standard to readers of poetry.<br /><br />A small, smarmy point, but one worth making.E. M. Selingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00426524354823232002noreply@blogger.com