I’m an asshole. I’ll get that out in the open right away.
There’s a good chance you won’t like me. I don’t care. I love good literature. I hate bad literature. I assume you also like good lit or you wouldn’t be here. And if you don’t despise the bad stuff, I have no respect for you.
There’s just one problem. One lit lover’s trash is another lit lover’s gold. So what do we do?
Well, I write a blog. This is where I present my ideas on what good literature, especially poetry, does or should do. You likely won’t agree with me. I’m OK with that. Feel free to tell me in the comments of my posts. But don’t expect me to soft pedal my responses. I’m as direct as a tidal wave and tend to have the same effect on people’s emotive capacities. I’ll just apologize in advance.
My philosophy of poetics starts with one basic assumption: We all have prejudices and preferences. I try to stamp out my prejudices and defend preferences. I’d expect you to do the same.
My Prejudices
I try to stamp these out when possible. In truth, a few probably sneak past the guards and get into the stadium. In fact, I think I see one now.
I don’t like extreme views. Those who defend formalism with outlandish statements against free verse won’t find a friend here. Nor will avant-gardeists who present themselves as superior because they can obfuscate reality. Sorry, I like clarity. But not at the expense of modernity.
If you see a prejudice, kindly point it out to me and I’ll see if I can adjust.
My Preferences
I have no preference for free verse or formal, metered verse. I like that both co-exist. But I find myself preferring poetry that communicates rather than obscures. That rules out a lot of avant-garde material.
I also prefer poetry that plays on language in some way. But not at the expense of ideas.
I prefer poetry to prose. I don’t dislike prose. I write a lot of it. I just prefer that it not be in my poetry (disclaimer: sadly, I have written poems that read like prose). Nevertheless, if it’s well done I’ll praise it to high heavens.
I prefer poetry that makes me feel. Philosophy makes me think. I like that. But poetry should revive within me some feeling – be it hate, anger, love, remorse, compassion, or whatever. What Aristotle called catharsis. I want to feel your pain, not analyze it.
Millennial Poetics
Poetic schools, or philosophies (i.e. movements), bind. They bring together poets who think alike or have the same affinities, similar preferences. There are always differences between the poets of various schools, but it’s the similarities that define them as a school. I’m looking for people who, like me, appreciate the craft in poetry. People who respect language. Poets who aren’t afraid to take risks, maybe even try new things.
I’ve put together a row of columns that define my poetic philosophy, which I call Millennial Poetics. I may be the only adherent, but this is what I believe. The columns are listed below, but if you want to know more about them you can click on the “Millennial Poetics” link in my navigation bar. If you find yourself agreeing on these, or most of them, feel free to join me in promoting them.
- Craft is of supreme importance
- The poet should kill all prejudice
- Form is just another element of craft
- Imagination is the poet’s playground
- There are no taboos
- Language is an aid, not the canvas
- Every poem is an individual
- Methods do not work
- All convention must be shunned
- Incorporate new technologies
I’ll be publishing an e-book detailing these columns more clearly. For now, read a synopsis of each column for more detail.