television

by

Marcel Duchamp on Creativity

“The creative act is not performed by the artist alone; the spectator brings the work in contact with the external world by deciphering and interpreting its inner qualifications and thus adds his contribution to the creative act.”

–Marcel Duchamp

An interesting way to look at the reader.IMG_0264 (1)
by

The Third War Was for the Words

“The third war was for the words: written, spoken, whispered.” Holly Karapetkova

I wonder how often we fight over words.  Politicians and lawyers argue over the words used in laws that will determine inhibitions to our behaviour.   And what of the privileged language?  The one that is used, say English, over others, where not everyone speaks the privileged language.  And what about dialects within that privileged language.  The British caste system of upper middle class dialect versus cockney.

What do you think about the war of words?

IMG_9515

by

Mass Poetry

books

Mass Poetry is having its annual festival in Salem from April 30- May 3.  It features Richard Blanco, Rita Dove, Stephen Burt, Denise Duhamel, Nick Flynn, Regie Gibson, Jorie Graham, Edward Hirsch, Richard Hoffman, Adrian Matejka, March Piercy, Rachel Wiley and Holly Wren Spaulding.  I have never attended this event, but  am thinking of going.  Some of the workshops that particularly interest me are Karen Sharp’s on Social Justice, Tragedy and Poetry as Witness.” Holly Wren Spaulding’s “Wild/Nature: Writing in the Natural world.”  And one stand alone, “What Can a Poet Do? Raising Voices Within Our Communities.” Rita Dove and Richard Blanco are speaking together on Saturday night. Have you ever attended this festival?  Was it worthwhile?  Have you ever been in Salem? The witches of Salem put me in mind of “She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry.”  I hear it’s a beautiful port town on the coast.