tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13173932.post115262760712830201..comments2024-01-27T12:33:01.469-05:00Comments on Bloggamooga: Screaming in the rainUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13173932.post-1152828782882223702006-07-13T18:13:00.000-04:002006-07-13T18:13:00.000-04:00There is actually no "lit community". Rather, ther...There is actually no "lit community". Rather, there are groups made up of individuals who happen to be friends or acquaintances, and who 'hang out' at varying venues, or spend time with each other; and being friends and/or acquaintances, they 'support' one another's work.<BR/>In this regard, true critical evaluation of a work is more often than not inhibited; or perhaps is unnecessary since the friendship and comradery is perceived as more important than the work.<BR/>For good healthy criticism (and I don't mean that godawful politically correct notion of 'constructive criticism') to exist, there needs be an environment of objectivity where the subjective investment made between individuals as friends or colleagues or acquaintances can be suspended or put aside somehow. As artists, we have to be able to say of another's work "That's mediocre" or "That's weak and flawed", have the critical skills to back up our criticism as well as open a broader dialogue.<BR/>Stuart, when you use to publish Mondo Hunkamooga (and I would read it avidly), you were never frightened of being critical publicly of another's published work - you never pulled your punches - even with me - and that's why I've always respected you. If a writer publishes or performs their work, then they feel it is good enough for the public domain, and should be mature enough to be able to take criticism, even if it is harsh. So don't worry about the "lit community", be more like Groucho Marx and his dictum that he would never belong to any club that would have him as a member (Groucho didn't like conformity).melmothhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14508714304571777745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13173932.post-1152731778153813722006-07-12T15:16:00.000-04:002006-07-12T15:16:00.000-04:00I seriously doubt that anyone will be upset with y...I seriously doubt that anyone will be upset with you for making fun of Mindbender. Me, I'm almost sorry I didn't catch this already-legendary flame-out.<BR/><BR/>The Rain Scream had its own kind of magic, I think. And it sure proved that our hardcore audience is truly hardcore. I never realized so many people would sit in the driving rain to hear poetry. It's inspiring, in some kind of way.<BR/><BR/>-- mhAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13173932.post-1152691150208724162006-07-12T03:59:00.000-04:002006-07-12T03:59:00.000-04:00After initially feeling nervous and gloomy about t...After initially feeling nervous and gloomy about the prospects for the evening, I thought about the people who had worked for free to make this happen (Maggie, Mark, Bill, so many others) for stand-offish dorks like me, people like you and Dana and Gary and Michael and Hadley and Alana, but especially the many others I didn't know who'd just got pissed on for two hours and were still there to listen to what we all had to say -- good, sad, awkward, earnest or otherwise -- for our allotted 12 minutes. It was, frankly, inspiring, not to mention a nice cure for the jitters.<BR/><BR/>Two things I'll remember most are Stephen and Sharon's gloriously cute and talkative child insisting without knowing that his "doggie" story was what was really happening (Dude, I was totally reading a poem, back off!), and a delighted, soaked young girl (8 or 9) collecting signatures on her program like I used to collect NHL Power Players stamps at Esso. Our audience "catching up" with us, we can only hope.<BR/><BR/>KevinAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13173932.post-1152664770029680452006-07-11T20:39:00.000-04:002006-07-11T20:39:00.000-04:00"No show-biz or flash in the presentation, though ..."No show-biz or flash in the presentation, though certainly good humour. Just good, solid poetry. "<BR/>if i were your poetry shrink, i'd put you on the couch, have you go back in time, leave no stone unturned, and get to the bottom of this. i know you have your reasons, and knowing you to be a rational, thoughtful and compassionate man, i'll bet you have a column or two to fill with a good rave and/or rant or three.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com