 |
| Perloff, Kirsch, Nikolayev, and a full house at the Grolier |
How many different timelines can we spin out for the future of poetry? The Grolier Poetry Bookshop in Cambridge, Massachusetts has decided to find out! They've been hosting a series of talks on the topic—the first set by me, Ben Mazer, and Stephen Burt, and the second set by Adam Kirsch, Philip Nikolayev, and Marjorie Perloff. You can check them out here:
Robert Archambeau, March 14, 2014
Stephen Burt, March 14, 2014
Ben Mazer, March 14, 2014
Adam Kirsch, Philip Nikolayev, Marjorie Perloff, September 12, 2014
I’m not sure who will be involved in the next installment of the series, but I’ve got a pretty good idea where you can hang out with them after their talks. Here’s a hint.
 |
| A secret location on Harvard Square |
I hate to be the one to mention it (I'm not proposing myself!), but more women on future panels would be constructive...
ReplyDeleteYou could mention it to the people who organize this. I am just a speaker. You could mention other demographic issues too, if you like.
DeletePerhaps you mean I could mention it again -- I'm actually getting tired of myself always bringing up this issue!
DeleteHave you mentioned it to one of the organizers? What I mean is, mentioning it to me is not going to help, in that I have nothing to do with organizing the series. I'm not even sure who chooses the people who present.
DeleteBy the way, I'd be completely willing to mention this issue (again) on the Battersea Review Facebook page, but it doesn't seem to allow for comments.
ReplyDeleteA lot of FB groups are set up like that. I don't know who is in charge of the Battersea page, or why the settings are that way. I think either Zachery Bos or Ben Mazer would know. I know the Battersea will publish the talks, but I don't know if the series is run by the Battersea crowd, by some combination of people from the store and the review, or what.
DeleteWell, I could be mistaken about this, but on their FB page they say "In the past six months, the Battersea Review has organized two evenings of critical talks, followed by discussions, on the theme of "Poetry: What's Next" (suggested by Robert Archambeau), both of which took place at the Grolier." So I thought you were more actively involved than you apparently are. Having said that, the principle of the panels is excellent -- just more female voices would be welcome.
DeleteI think some of the Battersea people work with someone at the Grolier, but I really don't know. It's news to me that I suggested the topic, but I might have -- I've had some meandering conversations with various people connected to the journal. I'm a contributing editor myself, but I'm in Chicago and don't have anything to do with events in Cambridge, except that I was invited to speak and was glad to do it. As for the demographics of the talks: 5/6 male, 6/6 white, no Islamic or Hindu voices, 4/6 U.S. American, -- one could certainly make a case for various kinds of representation.
DeleteTo be clear: I think you'd want to talk to the Battersea people in Boston, but I think the bookstore has some say in this too.
Delete