Sunday, May 31, 2009
Poetry Personally
Why do we have such a cultural preoccupation with what our artists/entertainers/athletes are like as people? As soon as we like a song or a movie or a home run or a poem, we want to know the person behind it. We're only going to be disappointed. You don't get to those upper echelons without a sizable ego, and even good people have times when they're lousy. Beyond how a person acts in the public sphere of their art, I don't want to know more about them.
Conversely, why do we leap to the personal defense of people doing things that are obviously wrong on the grounds that those people are great artists/entertainers/athletes/whatever? Do they really not realize the fallacy of saying "But he/she writes great songs" as a defense against bigotry or sexual harassment or cheating or general douchebaggery? It's possible to have a little Venn diagram where "Art/entertainment I like" intersects with "People who suck as people," or vice versa.
If you and I are friends, I hope it's because you like to hang out with me and I'm mostly a decent person, not an asshole too often, and I make things right when I am. If you're a reader, do you really judge my poems based on the times I'm good and/or the times I'm awful? If you know me personally and I do something wrong, should you hesitate to call me on it based on good writing? In conclusion, po-biz po-biz po-biz.
Conversely, why do we leap to the personal defense of people doing things that are obviously wrong on the grounds that those people are great artists/entertainers/athletes/whatever? Do they really not realize the fallacy of saying "But he/she writes great songs" as a defense against bigotry or sexual harassment or cheating or general douchebaggery? It's possible to have a little Venn diagram where "Art/entertainment I like" intersects with "People who suck as people," or vice versa.
If you and I are friends, I hope it's because you like to hang out with me and I'm mostly a decent person, not an asshole too often, and I make things right when I am. If you're a reader, do you really judge my poems based on the times I'm good and/or the times I'm awful? If you know me personally and I do something wrong, should you hesitate to call me on it based on good writing? In conclusion, po-biz po-biz po-biz.
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I don't know very many poets well enough to really know if they're nice or not. I hear stories, but stories are often slanted. Every now and then I meet someone who ends up at some point saying that I'm not what they heard I'd be like, which is weird in soooo many ways. One, why in the world would people be talking about me in the first place? And two, I get interested in this - apparently - more interesting alternate existence I have out there in stories . . .
If I don't have to spend time with a poet, it's fine to like his or her work, even if they are terrible versions of people. Same with songwriters, etc. So the issue doesn't bother me. I try to stay away from such things. They pollute the relationship I really want, the one with the work. For instance, the band Wilco has been nearly ruined for me because of stories I keep hearing about Jeff Tweedy. You know?
That said, you are a fine roommate. I'd write you a letter of recommendation anytime.
Natch.
If I don't have to spend time with a poet, it's fine to like his or her work, even if they are terrible versions of people. Same with songwriters, etc. So the issue doesn't bother me. I try to stay away from such things. They pollute the relationship I really want, the one with the work. For instance, the band Wilco has been nearly ruined for me because of stories I keep hearing about Jeff Tweedy. You know?
That said, you are a fine roommate. I'd write you a letter of recommendation anytime.
Natch.
Yeah, that's pretty much the view I try to take when I like someone's poem/song/whatever.
You were also a good roommate. I hadn't heard anything to the contrary about you, just that you were an invertebrate flirt.
You were also a good roommate. I hadn't heard anything to the contrary about you, just that you were an invertebrate flirt.
Well, I didn't flirt with you all that much, did I? Just a little?
I try not to let the invertebrate thing get out. Keep it on the dl, K?
I try not to let the invertebrate thing get out. Keep it on the dl, K?
I'd like to take both of you invertebrates on a taxi ride...
Oh wait. That would be very badpoet of me.
word verification: sibbyle
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Oh wait. That would be very badpoet of me.
word verification: sibbyle
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