[New-Poetry] What Are Odds Quoted forArmitage and Duffyat theLondon Bookmakers?

[David Bircumshaw]

>
> <snip>
> Prynne's poems constantly place the reader in a subordinate position. [DB]
> <snip>
>
> To the text or to Prynne? How does this subordination manifest itself within 
> the strategies Prynne uses?
>
> CW
Ultimately, to Prynne via the text. You will find Prynne advocates, like 
John Kinsella, telling how Prynne's poems use knowledge from a whole 
range of linguistic and scientific disciplines, but with the texts, for 
the reader, there's no indication which disciplines these are, the 
reader is left in the dark about the allusions, guessing, and requiring 
an authorised explainer.
The same applies to his strategies. To my mind his poems are subtly 
totalitarian environments. They alienate the reader from language, and 
it is only by an act of submission that you are allowed it back. It's a 
poetry of moral pedagogy.
One thing I know about Prynne is that he's not comfortable about the 
theatre. Puritans on the Cam seldom are. Even though they go to it. 
Robin a few posts back mentioned the Platonic choice between Socrates 
and Aristophanes. I'd go for Aristophanes anyday, or Shakespeare rather 
than Milton.

Best

Dave

-- 

David Bircumshaw
Website and A Chide's Alphabet http://homepage.ntlworld.com/david.bircumshaw/
The Animal Subsides http://www.arrowheadpress.co.uk/books/animal.html
Leicester Poetry Society: http://www.poetryleicester.co.uk