[New-Poetry] Camlle Paglia

[Bob Grumman]

Chris Lott wrote:
> So in a way, Paglia's closest compatriot on this list should be Bob,
> who also thinks (I think) that all those modes of poetry are worn out
> and looks at contemporary poetry of those kinds and finds it all
> wanting.
>   
She and I agree that certain contemporary poets are over-rated--John 
Ashbery and Jorie Graham, for instance.  And we would agree that too 
much contemporary poetry is uninspired Iowa Plaintext Lyricism.  We 
probably like several of the same old-timers.  Otherwise, we're hugely 
different.  I like much more canonized poetry than she seems to, and I 
do not scorn even Iowa Plaintext Lyricism to the degree she does.  As I 
keep saying, I am unhappy that it seems about the only kind of poetry 
that gets wide publication, and money in the form of awards.  That 
doesn't mean I don't like some of it.  If I were asked to write a book 
like Paglia's but limit my appreciations to conventional poetry, I'd 
deal with many more contemporary poems than she had.  I'd dump many of 
the older poems to make room for them.  Not because the newer poems were 
better but because I see little point in re-appreciating standards.
> It wouldn't surprise me if Paglia were completely unaware of most of
> the post-avant and visual crowd-- I'm continually amazed at the
> relatively well-read poetry readers who have no clue that any of that
> exists.
>
> Someone needs to send Paglia some Mathemaku-- if she likes it who
> knows what might happen. A Paglia/Grumman collaboration? The end of
> the world as we know it?
Maybe I should do one on Marilyn Monroe and Madonna . . .

--Bob