Monday, 7 March 2011
What Is To Be Done with modernpoetry.org.uk
I have been assured by a number of people how very useful they find Great Works and modernpoetry.org.uk in their own exploration of Contemporary British Innovative Poetry, or in helping others explore the terrain. Well, good. That’s what I want. Now, I have lain Great Works into a quite quiet state for the present (however long that may be); but I would like if possible to further develop modernpoetry.org.uk (MP for short), and make it more useful. And I feel this will need to be a collective effort.
MP is a compendious resource for anyone wanting to understand Contemporary British Innovative Poetry (just poetry after this – you know what I mean and what I don’t). The site concentrates on online resources as these are universally accessible, and it is itself a website (duh!) It isn’t an academic resource (though if it is useful, excellent), so I underplay the academic contexts for much poetry. I have moreover some reservations about the recent increasing importance for supporting poetry of the academic world (on a level of principles and strategy, not the individuals concerned). I aim always at a model user of the site who isn’t in close contact with academic institutions and resources. That strikes me as important. It may well become more important as the current regime’s HE policy increasingly cuts in and the English Higher education system is lopped down to fit their nightmare visions.
Another important element in the site that I want to ensure is its broad church interpretation of poetry. I’m happy with any and all offspring (legitimate or not, adopted, or even just abducted) of the British Poetry Revival and its antecedent 1950s modernists. And their offspring etc etc. We are all sealed of the one tribe, so far as I am concerned. Anything between highly informed and cute as lace pants takes on the post-avant and a Writing Degree Zero basal modernism I’ll accept. Anything to avoid narrow and negative definitions that exclude what may have some promise, power or interest, and could possibly contribute to as varied as possible gene-pool for poetry. (Hybrid vigour beats specialised adaptation every time in my book of biological metaphors.)
Now to the nub. The site gets bigger and bigger. The volume of worthwhile poetry is ever-increasing at an even faster rate. (Hurray!) My time and energy are, though, unfortunately being taken up by other things in ways I hadn’t fully prepared for, apart from I’m just feeling fed up after ten years heavily devoted to doing websites. I think, more importantly, that if MP is to carry on effectively, it needs to be a more collective, less personal enterprise. Not just my take and presentation, but something better.
What, in my opinion, the site needs is a wider range of input for continuingly useful links and lists, a wider and more informed input on books etc, and indeed consideration of what other sorts of material could be included on MP, eg should there be more details on individual poets? more lists of publications?? I have I am well aware a total blind spot on online video material, and am not very interested in audio for that matter – pure text or pure performance are what engage me, not mediated versions – and am well aware that this limits what I draw attention to or can usefully comment on, in a way that excludes many internet users. The site would also benefit from a considered use of social networking and mobile phone technologies – would these be of any use in reaching its audience and how? And should there, could there, be reviews? Lists of books published? And is it all too London-centred? Is MP keeping up with what is really happening? Is it actually compelling and attractive enough (sufficiently “sticky” as a site, as it used to be said) for its target audience? I am undoubtedly way too old to do this as well, and there may well be too much now purely historical material. So, how then to include you, dear reader?
I propose to set up a Modernpoetry.org.uk Collective, for both users and those willing contribute material and ideas or help in production. I see this existing on several layers of contact and commitment:
Two technical points to end with. I have altered the copyright on most of the pages on the site (excepting the autobiographical material) to a Creative Commons License, meaning, to quote the Creative Common website (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ – altered punctuation etc), “You are free to Share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work – and to Remix –to adapt the work – under the following conditions: Attribution – You must attribute modernpoetry.org.uk to Peter Philpott (with link) –; Noncommercial – You may not use this work for commercial purposes –; Share Alike – If you alter, transform, or build upon this work, you may distribute the resulting work only under the same or similar license to this one.” So, really, feel free to go ahead and reuse and remake anything from it.
Second point is to note that MP has been produced by me coded in not totally kosher Transitional XHTML, with the aid of Dreamweaver. This is technology I am reasonably confident with. It is a rather dated and unprofessional approach nowadays. Suggestions and assistance to make things easier to add and update, and also to give less of an amateur hobbyist visual style would be also greatly appreciated. Personally, I find a lot of cute and cool design gets in the way of legibility and clarity. On the other hand MP’s style may repulse or bore its would-be audience. MP’s availability for a range of platforms also needs to be considered, as it looks as though smartphones, e-readers and tablet computers are all now entering the electronic data ecosystem, and may well need to be catered for if the site is not to become obsolete. Informed input on these issues would be appreciated.
Details of Open Planning Meeting at Café Oto, 3.00-5.30ish (no music there that night so might be able to stay a little later), Sunday April 3. (Yes, other meetings will need to be in the evening, in the week, I know.) Address is 18-22 Ashwin St, Dalston, London E8 3DL, tucked in behind at Dalston Junction (where the Balls Pond Road/Dalston Lane crosses the Kingsland Road, immediately on the North-East quadrant). Transport really is easy: regular buses from Liverpool St Station (242 & 149), the West End, Waterloo (76), London Bridge (149). Two Overland stations a step away: Dalston Junction interconnecting with Underground at Whitechapel and Highbury & Islington, Dalston Kingsland at Stratford and Highbury & Islington. Bicycle racks. Good food & drink. Nice place. But apart from enjoying the unrivalled amenities, just to get a sense of what anyone that enthused to attend feels about the site and what is to be done. I really am serious about problems carrying on with sole responsibility for something that ought to be not personal, but collective.
MP is a compendious resource for anyone wanting to understand Contemporary British Innovative Poetry (just poetry after this – you know what I mean and what I don’t). The site concentrates on online resources as these are universally accessible, and it is itself a website (duh!) It isn’t an academic resource (though if it is useful, excellent), so I underplay the academic contexts for much poetry. I have moreover some reservations about the recent increasing importance for supporting poetry of the academic world (on a level of principles and strategy, not the individuals concerned). I aim always at a model user of the site who isn’t in close contact with academic institutions and resources. That strikes me as important. It may well become more important as the current regime’s HE policy increasingly cuts in and the English Higher education system is lopped down to fit their nightmare visions.
Another important element in the site that I want to ensure is its broad church interpretation of poetry. I’m happy with any and all offspring (legitimate or not, adopted, or even just abducted) of the British Poetry Revival and its antecedent 1950s modernists. And their offspring etc etc. We are all sealed of the one tribe, so far as I am concerned. Anything between highly informed and cute as lace pants takes on the post-avant and a Writing Degree Zero basal modernism I’ll accept. Anything to avoid narrow and negative definitions that exclude what may have some promise, power or interest, and could possibly contribute to as varied as possible gene-pool for poetry. (Hybrid vigour beats specialised adaptation every time in my book of biological metaphors.)
Now to the nub. The site gets bigger and bigger. The volume of worthwhile poetry is ever-increasing at an even faster rate. (Hurray!) My time and energy are, though, unfortunately being taken up by other things in ways I hadn’t fully prepared for, apart from I’m just feeling fed up after ten years heavily devoted to doing websites. I think, more importantly, that if MP is to carry on effectively, it needs to be a more collective, less personal enterprise. Not just my take and presentation, but something better.
What, in my opinion, the site needs is a wider range of input for continuingly useful links and lists, a wider and more informed input on books etc, and indeed consideration of what other sorts of material could be included on MP, eg should there be more details on individual poets? more lists of publications?? I have I am well aware a total blind spot on online video material, and am not very interested in audio for that matter – pure text or pure performance are what engage me, not mediated versions – and am well aware that this limits what I draw attention to or can usefully comment on, in a way that excludes many internet users. The site would also benefit from a considered use of social networking and mobile phone technologies – would these be of any use in reaching its audience and how? And should there, could there, be reviews? Lists of books published? And is it all too London-centred? Is MP keeping up with what is really happening? Is it actually compelling and attractive enough (sufficiently “sticky” as a site, as it used to be said) for its target audience? I am undoubtedly way too old to do this as well, and there may well be too much now purely historical material. So, how then to include you, dear reader?
I propose to set up a Modernpoetry.org.uk Collective, for both users and those willing contribute material and ideas or help in production. I see this existing on several layers of contact and commitment:
- Actual face-to-face contact – meeting every two months, say, (initially, inevitably, in London). Turn up and contribute. We’ll vary the times and locales; but let’s start with my beloved Café Oto in Dalston (April 3 – details at end). Anywhere else with space, good ambience and wifi would be equally suitable, but let’s start here.
- The inevitable Facebook Group. It is a nice open format, so let’s use it. Already set up as Modernpoetry.org.uk Collective.
- But not everyone loves the time- & privacy-consuming monster. There is also now a modernpoetry.org.uk blog, at http://modernpoetryorguk.blogspot.com. If you want to post rather than comment, email me on peter@greatworks.org.uk or Facebook, and I’ll formalise the permission. Comment is open, and I will put up if requested email or postal contributions, and will endeavour to coordinate material with that on the Facebook Group page. Please use either of these for suggestions, contributions, comments etc
Two technical points to end with. I have altered the copyright on most of the pages on the site (excepting the autobiographical material) to a Creative Commons License, meaning, to quote the Creative Common website (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ – altered punctuation etc), “You are free to Share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work – and to Remix –to adapt the work – under the following conditions: Attribution – You must attribute modernpoetry.org.uk to Peter Philpott (with link) –; Noncommercial – You may not use this work for commercial purposes –; Share Alike – If you alter, transform, or build upon this work, you may distribute the resulting work only under the same or similar license to this one.” So, really, feel free to go ahead and reuse and remake anything from it.
Second point is to note that MP has been produced by me coded in not totally kosher Transitional XHTML, with the aid of Dreamweaver. This is technology I am reasonably confident with. It is a rather dated and unprofessional approach nowadays. Suggestions and assistance to make things easier to add and update, and also to give less of an amateur hobbyist visual style would be also greatly appreciated. Personally, I find a lot of cute and cool design gets in the way of legibility and clarity. On the other hand MP’s style may repulse or bore its would-be audience. MP’s availability for a range of platforms also needs to be considered, as it looks as though smartphones, e-readers and tablet computers are all now entering the electronic data ecosystem, and may well need to be catered for if the site is not to become obsolete. Informed input on these issues would be appreciated.
Details of Open Planning Meeting at Café Oto, 3.00-5.30ish (no music there that night so might be able to stay a little later), Sunday April 3. (Yes, other meetings will need to be in the evening, in the week, I know.) Address is 18-22 Ashwin St, Dalston, London E8 3DL, tucked in behind at Dalston Junction (where the Balls Pond Road/Dalston Lane crosses the Kingsland Road, immediately on the North-East quadrant). Transport really is easy: regular buses from Liverpool St Station (242 & 149), the West End, Waterloo (76), London Bridge (149). Two Overland stations a step away: Dalston Junction interconnecting with Underground at Whitechapel and Highbury & Islington, Dalston Kingsland at Stratford and Highbury & Islington. Bicycle racks. Good food & drink. Nice place. But apart from enjoying the unrivalled amenities, just to get a sense of what anyone that enthused to attend feels about the site and what is to be done. I really am serious about problems carrying on with sole responsibility for something that ought to be not personal, but collective.
Labels: Cafe Oto, Modernpoetry.org.uk, Modernpoetry.org.uk Collective, plans, poetry websites, public domain, website proposal, www.modernbritish.poetry.org.uk
Friday, 19 September 2008
Great Works 12 Now Published
I'd like to announce that the just uploaded issue of Great Works contains the following new material:
All the material on contemporary British poetry is transferred to www.modernpoetry.org.uk, which now has a proper homepage, and will be expanded. It includes a listing of readings in London. This means I don't have to remind you about the imminent launch of Sundays at the Oto, because you'll see it mentioned there. Do send details of any readings to me - at the moment I'm gleaning them as I can (which is why I'm only dealing with London).
The next stage (once I've just corrected an irritating little error on the homepage) is to redo the links. I also have to arrange for the publication of a posthumous volume of Amos Weisz's translations and other writing.
Beyond that, I aim at getting modernpoetry.org.uk onto a more professional basis - negotiating the nightmares of funding! (if any's been spared from subsidising the bloody Olympics).
- Niall Quinn, three Phlebas poems (+ two mp3s of Niall reading other texts on the site)
- Rupert Loydell, three poems
- Andy Jordan, Inside Mary Millington
- Amos Weisz, of mutabilitie + tinfoot
- Johannes Jansen, trans Amos Weisz, Ditch of fragments/Registrations II
- Sascha Anderson, trans Amos Weisz, Jewish Jetset
- Stephen Emmerson, five poems
- Lesley McKenna, Bodyscapes
- Nicholas Spicer, Six Attempts at Sincerity
- RG Gregory, three poems
- Tom Lowenstein, The Poverty of Pots and Pans
- Tina Bass, three poems
- Christopher Barnes, seven poems
- Ron Singer, Chapter 11
- Alyson Torns, two poems
- Charles Freeland, four poems
- Michael Lee Johnson, four poems
- Julia Sampson, three poems
- Thomas Mulhall, seven poems
- Alistair Noon, four poems
- Juliet Troy, five poems
- Peter Reiling, three poems and some prose
All the material on contemporary British poetry is transferred to www.modernpoetry.org.uk, which now has a proper homepage, and will be expanded. It includes a listing of readings in London. This means I don't have to remind you about the imminent launch of Sundays at the Oto, because you'll see it mentioned there. Do send details of any readings to me - at the moment I'm gleaning them as I can (which is why I'm only dealing with London).
The next stage (once I've just corrected an irritating little error on the homepage) is to redo the links. I also have to arrange for the publication of a posthumous volume of Amos Weisz's translations and other writing.
Beyond that, I aim at getting modernpoetry.org.uk onto a more professional basis - negotiating the nightmares of funding! (if any's been spared from subsidising the bloody Olympics).
Labels: Amos Weisz, contemporary British poetry, poetry websites, updates, website proposal
Saturday, 29 March 2008
Issue 11: March 2008 Now Online
This is finally uploaded. It is huge. New material is:
John Welch, Yearn Glass
John Wilkinson, six poems
John Lowther, from Stoppages
Dave Rushmer, three poems
sean burn, trans literations
Daniel Andersson, In Time of Empire and Verse
Alistair Noon, At the Atlantic
Innocenza Istarte, eight poems
Michael Lee Johnson, two poems
Dean Nicholson, four poems
Mark Cunningham, five poems
Christopher Mulrooney, three poems
Andrew Baker, Epitaph of Reason
Charles Jason Lee, six poems
Norman Jope, six texts
Fish and Shushan, three poems
Lydia Towsey, six poems
Tom White, three poems
Steve Spence, three poems
Michael Egan, six poems
A Lee Firth, nine poems
Chris Paul, three poems
Richard Kostelanetz, Letter Links
Amos Weisz trans Monika Rinck, six poems
Lucy Harvest Clarke, seven poems
Kevin Doran, three poems
Mark Goodwin, four poems
Christopher Barnes, five poems
Chris Hardy, six poems
Adam Burbage, five poems
Sean Carey, three poems
Richard Barrett, two poems
Scott Thurston, from Momentum
Nick Wayte, two poems
Paul A Green, Voicemail
Iftekhar Sayeed, Engendered Space
RG Gregory, Proverbs of Hell (pdf file)
I hope to have the German texts of the Monika Rinck translations up shortly (waiting to hear from the publisher). I will also update the Links at least to the extent of adding fresh sites.
In the medium term, I have notified my present employer I want out in the summer, and plan to get the project for a major site devoted to publicising, explaining and exploring contemporary British poetry under way finally in the second half of this year. You may have noticed from the material linked to rather than hosted on Great Works I have possession of the domain name www.modernpoetry.org.uk. More will come of this!
John Welch, Yearn Glass
John Wilkinson, six poems
John Lowther, from Stoppages
Dave Rushmer, three poems
sean burn, trans literations
Daniel Andersson, In Time of Empire and Verse
Alistair Noon, At the Atlantic
Innocenza Istarte, eight poems
Michael Lee Johnson, two poems
Dean Nicholson, four poems
Mark Cunningham, five poems
Christopher Mulrooney, three poems
Andrew Baker, Epitaph of Reason
Charles Jason Lee, six poems
Norman Jope, six texts
Fish and Shushan, three poems
Lydia Towsey, six poems
Tom White, three poems
Steve Spence, three poems
Michael Egan, six poems
A Lee Firth, nine poems
Chris Paul, three poems
Richard Kostelanetz, Letter Links
Amos Weisz trans Monika Rinck, six poems
Lucy Harvest Clarke, seven poems
Kevin Doran, three poems
Mark Goodwin, four poems
Christopher Barnes, five poems
Chris Hardy, six poems
Adam Burbage, five poems
Sean Carey, three poems
Richard Barrett, two poems
Scott Thurston, from Momentum
Nick Wayte, two poems
Paul A Green, Voicemail
Iftekhar Sayeed, Engendered Space
RG Gregory, Proverbs of Hell (pdf file)
I hope to have the German texts of the Monika Rinck translations up shortly (waiting to hear from the publisher). I will also update the Links at least to the extent of adding fresh sites.
In the medium term, I have notified my present employer I want out in the summer, and plan to get the project for a major site devoted to publicising, explaining and exploring contemporary British poetry under way finally in the second half of this year. You may have noticed from the material linked to rather than hosted on Great Works I have possession of the domain name www.modernpoetry.org.uk. More will come of this!
Labels: contemporary British poetry, updates, website proposal
Friday, 5 October 2007
New Readers Start Here
I am delighted to make public the New Readers Start Here pages on Great Works, which have taken much of this summer to produce. They are intended as a guide to those who encounter contemporary avant-garde/post avant-garde (or whatever) British poetry, and need some help in understanding it. Or in understanding why it is so culturally sidelined.
Access from the homepage, or directly at http://www.greatworks.org.uk/nrsh/nrsh.html.
Access from the homepage, or directly at http://www.greatworks.org.uk/nrsh/nrsh.html.
Labels: contemporary British poetry, updates, website proposal
Friday, 7 September 2007
More Updates to Great Works
The latest section of Richard Makin's St Leonards, and two more poems from Peter Hughes & Simon Marsh's epistolary sequence, Pistol Tree Poems.
The material acting as an introduction to British avant-garde poetry has grown (of course), but is almost ready to upload. I will get responses from those who might be able to correct errors etc first, but it will be linked to the site within a month. I'll publish, though, the URL once the beta version is available on this blog (it will not be on a greatworks URL).
The material acting as an introduction to British avant-garde poetry has grown (of course), but is almost ready to upload. I will get responses from those who might be able to correct errors etc first, but it will be linked to the site within a month. I'll publish, though, the URL once the beta version is available on this blog (it will not be on a greatworks URL).
Labels: contemporary British poetry, update, website proposal
Thursday, 19 April 2007
Update on Great Works and Blog
Great Works
The latest episodes of Peter Hughes & Simon Marsh's Pistol Tree Poems are up. I've also altered the homepage: apart from a neater layout to the main text (this could end up looking professional one day!), I have added a list of "20 Crucial British Innovative Poetry Sites", to make it easier for those not already in any loops or coteries etc etc to pick up on what is happening. This is a part of my shift to a site that presents a lot of explanation about such writing. The next move will be to include material about the genealogy and history of this writing.
The Blog
This list (including Great Works, so 21) now on the blog both as posting and as part of the constant template. I have also added to the blog a listing of the 20 blogs I am aware of that deal with this writing.
About the 20 Crucial British Poetry Sites
This is my considered choice of 20 sites that would help anyone picture what is going on in contemporary innovative British poetry. These are the main publishers, what seem to me the main ezines, places with links and lots of material also, and a couple of the most useful blogs. I've put the cambridgepoetry.org site in in the hope people revive it somewhat - it was looking so good; and I've also, as it were, bet on Openned as a major centre of activity.
The latest episodes of Peter Hughes & Simon Marsh's Pistol Tree Poems are up. I've also altered the homepage: apart from a neater layout to the main text (this could end up looking professional one day!), I have added a list of "20 Crucial British Innovative Poetry Sites", to make it easier for those not already in any loops or coteries etc etc to pick up on what is happening. This is a part of my shift to a site that presents a lot of explanation about such writing. The next move will be to include material about the genealogy and history of this writing.
The Blog
This list (including Great Works, so 21) now on the blog both as posting and as part of the constant template. I have also added to the blog a listing of the 20 blogs I am aware of that deal with this writing.
About the 20 Crucial British Poetry Sites
This is my considered choice of 20 sites that would help anyone picture what is going on in contemporary innovative British poetry. These are the main publishers, what seem to me the main ezines, places with links and lots of material also, and a couple of the most useful blogs. I've put the cambridgepoetry.org site in in the hope people revive it somewhat - it was looking so good; and I've also, as it were, bet on Openned as a major centre of activity.
Labels: contemporary British poetry, poetry blogs, poetry websites, update, website proposal
Thursday, 12 April 2007
21 Crucial British Poetry Sites
The Argotist Online – magazine & blog
The Archive of the Now – academic site & resource
Bad Press – publisher & epublisher
Barque – publisher
BEPC: British Poetry Revival – academic site & resource
cambridgepoetry.org – focus for information
Douglas Clark: British and Irish Poetry Sites – links
etruscan books – publisher
Great Works – ezine & links
Intercapillary Space – collective blog
Jacket – international (Australian-based) ezine, but heavy focus on UK avant–garde and its history
Litter – ezine
onedit – ezine
Openned – readings, epublisher &focus for information
poetrymagazines.org.uk – online archive
Reality Street Editionss – publisher
Shadow Train – ezine
Shearsman – ezine, epublisher & publisher
Stride Magazine – ezine & publisher
Terrible Work – reviews
West House Books – publisher & bookseller
The Archive of the Now – academic site & resource
Bad Press – publisher & epublisher
Barque – publisher
BEPC: British Poetry Revival – academic site & resource
cambridgepoetry.org – focus for information
Douglas Clark: British and Irish Poetry Sites – links
etruscan books – publisher
Great Works – ezine & links
Intercapillary Space – collective blog
Jacket – international (Australian-based) ezine, but heavy focus on UK avant–garde and its history
Litter – ezine
onedit – ezine
Openned – readings, epublisher &focus for information
poetrymagazines.org.uk – online archive
Reality Street Editionss – publisher
Shadow Train – ezine
Shearsman – ezine, epublisher & publisher
Stride Magazine – ezine & publisher
Terrible Work – reviews
West House Books – publisher & bookseller
Labels: contemporary British poetry, update, website proposal
Sunday, 12 November 2006
Welcome Speech
"Welcome to this blog! The title comes from a postcard I picked up at a Small Press Fair, which has on it the text I have used as this blog's title. Thank you, Jennifer Winters, for the phrase, from a postcard produced as part of the LLAW event curated by Brigit Mc Leer at the Bookartbookshop.
"The starting point for this blog is the plan for a website detailed in the very first post below, which I made publish earlier this year, to a mainly supportive response. The point of the blog is essentially twofold:
"So, present state of play as far as I am concerned is not good. This is a reflection of my present circumstances rather than the chronic marginality of contemporary innovative British poetry. Two factors:
"I left a truly dreadful negotiating meeting early on Thursday, in which a total breakdown and a formal state of dispute looked imminent, for the Launch Event for the wonderful Archive of the Now site. Thank you again Andrea Brady! A gathering of usual suspects, this time in an art locale (Jerwood Space in Southwark). Always humiliating to consider the sheer amount of money available for the art world.
"Fine, a good event, lost of people, across a range of generations and subgroups. Good readings as part of it — very successful. I was most struck by a return to form by John James — I had been disappointed by the later poems in the Collected Poems, but was very impressed by the solid force and power in the recent poems he read that night — and by Ian Hunt, a writer new to me, whose reading and texts impress me as, well, damned good. He's OK, as they'd say in a Howard Hawks film.
"What I did consider more negatively as I surveyed the gathered elect of contemporary innovative British poetry was the notion of who would be needed to get this projected website of mine off the ground and into a functioning locus within both real and webspace. I'm not sure it can be me is the problem. Wrong generation — too removed from the cool & the clever who are now doing the running, and never managed to become a part of the great and the good either. Just not a made man. I think my plan is good — but it wouldn't work if I tried to do it.
"Could be the stress of life at present is triggering my frequent mild depression & paranoia — it had been a truly shitty meeting earlier that day. Could be I had an insight. Hence this blog, where I'll try and work some of this out.
"Do post comments, or email me with any responses.
"I've also sworn a mighty oath to post something at least once a week. Maybe a poem, maybe a rumination or proposal, maybe whatever."
"The starting point for this blog is the plan for a website detailed in the very first post below, which I made publish earlier this year, to a mainly supportive response. The point of the blog is essentially twofold:
- (1) to document publicly how this project proceeds
- (2)to produce a space where I can make comment on the wider situation of 'contemporary innovative British poetry', separate from my website Great Works
"So, present state of play as far as I am concerned is not good. This is a reflection of my present circumstances rather than the chronic marginality of contemporary innovative British poetry. Two factors:
- (1) a year when I've moved house, with all the stuff ensuing — my paper-hanging and painting skills are now finely honed, and then found myself engaged more fully than I had wanted on Union work at my place of (part-time) employment. This is a major drain on my time and energy, though I will be ending this by Christmas.
- (2) a realisation:
"I left a truly dreadful negotiating meeting early on Thursday, in which a total breakdown and a formal state of dispute looked imminent, for the Launch Event for the wonderful Archive of the Now site. Thank you again Andrea Brady! A gathering of usual suspects, this time in an art locale (Jerwood Space in Southwark). Always humiliating to consider the sheer amount of money available for the art world.
"Fine, a good event, lost of people, across a range of generations and subgroups. Good readings as part of it — very successful. I was most struck by a return to form by John James — I had been disappointed by the later poems in the Collected Poems, but was very impressed by the solid force and power in the recent poems he read that night — and by Ian Hunt, a writer new to me, whose reading and texts impress me as, well, damned good. He's OK, as they'd say in a Howard Hawks film.
"What I did consider more negatively as I surveyed the gathered elect of contemporary innovative British poetry was the notion of who would be needed to get this projected website of mine off the ground and into a functioning locus within both real and webspace. I'm not sure it can be me is the problem. Wrong generation — too removed from the cool & the clever who are now doing the running, and never managed to become a part of the great and the good either. Just not a made man. I think my plan is good — but it wouldn't work if I tried to do it.
"Could be the stress of life at present is triggering my frequent mild depression & paranoia — it had been a truly shitty meeting earlier that day. Could be I had an insight. Hence this blog, where I'll try and work some of this out.
"Do post comments, or email me with any responses.
"I've also sworn a mighty oath to post something at least once a week. Maybe a poem, maybe a rumination or proposal, maybe whatever."
Labels: rationale, website proposal, welcome
Inital Proposal for Website Acting as Information Source for Contemporay Innovative British Poetry
I have been mulling over for while a specific proposal, which I would be very interested in public response to. It is to do with trying to extend the readership of contemporary innovative British poetry.
I take it as fundamental that this poetry (or poetries, probably more accurately) is an art which deserves as wide an audience as possible – like other forms of contemporary innovative art, many of which have a far more extensive exposure in the mainstream media and a wide following. At present, compared with other contemporary art forms, contemporary British innovative poetry has a quite restricted audience. There are some signs of an increase in this readership recently (increased attendance at readings, reviews in mainstream media etc). But it plainly has a small public presence, and one that often presents it as a minor and quirky activity (cut to footage of Jeremy Prynne on his bicycle).
I think it important therefore to try and extend the readership for this poetry. Given the state of the British booktrade, the Internet is the only place for this. This would also match with contemporary expectations about where to obtain information. I plan the following twofold strategy:
I take it as fundamental that this poetry (or poetries, probably more accurately) is an art which deserves as wide an audience as possible – like other forms of contemporary innovative art, many of which have a far more extensive exposure in the mainstream media and a wide following. At present, compared with other contemporary art forms, contemporary British innovative poetry has a quite restricted audience. There are some signs of an increase in this readership recently (increased attendance at readings, reviews in mainstream media etc). But it plainly has a small public presence, and one that often presents it as a minor and quirky activity (cut to footage of Jeremy Prynne on his bicycle).
I think it important therefore to try and extend the readership for this poetry. Given the state of the British booktrade, the Internet is the only place for this. This would also match with contemporary expectations about where to obtain information. I plan the following twofold strategy:
| (1) To set up a website to act as an entry point into contemporary (and recent) British innovative poetry, through its collection of information and links to further information etc. This would need to be established with the co-operation of this poetry's publishers, and of those brave souls who organise readings and other events. It would not be a website aimed at rivalling any existing sites, but simply as a clearly identifiable first port of call, to send off those interested to other sites. It would provide links to these websites (whether containing poetry texts, details of publishing activity, or other information), notification of new and forthcoming publications, and of readings and other events. (At present the main method of publicity for such events tends to be direct emails and postings on newslists – preaching to the converted) A blog format with newsfeed would be the best way to present news events like readings etc and new publications. There should be a small selection of work (or possibly links to work online elsewhere?), as text, soundfile or whatever – but just as taster. I would also want some background information to give a context for British innovative poetry since the 1960s. The site will need a relatively self-explanatory and memorable name, to use as its URL. I wouldn't see it as selling books – but as referring the interested directly to the publishers. The website should be set up and functioning before the next step is taken – so that there is sufficient on the site to keep its audience. I would aim to have done this by the end of this year. (2) The primary audience for this site would not be those who already know about this writing (though I hope it would be found of some use), nor indeed any academic or institutionally educational community, as there are already excellent academic sites established. It would be that elusive specimen, the interested reader – someone saying, "What's going on here? I'd like to read some more and find out some more. How can I follow up that review in The Guardian? Are there any events I could encounter this stuff at?" Of course, no one may ever say that (and it's not very convincing dialogue). But if people are not given easier access to this writing, they will never be in a position to even reject it. The corollary of this position is therefore, to make sure this site is actively marketed to a wide range of people, as wide as possible. Whereas the costs involved in a website are nominal, this will need money, which will entail Arts Council grant applications, possibly sponsorship etc. It will be very advantageous in this to work with existing institutions with a wide remit, with the Poetry Library, the Poetry Society and the British Library coming to mind at first. The kinds of marketing activities that could be engaged in could be:
I would hope to apply for funding as soon as the site exists, for the marketing event to occur early next summer. |
Labels: website proposal
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