Tuesday
Sep302008
Slavoj Zizek: What is the Question?
Tuesday 30 September, 2008 Christopher Lydon interviews Zizek for Brown University.
Tuesday 30 September, 2008 Tuesday
Sep302008
Subprime Poetry
Tuesday 30 September, 2008 As we know, lax composition practices since the advent of modernism led to irresponsible poets and irresponsible readers. Simply put, too many poets composed works they could not justify. We are seeing the impact on poetry, with a massive loss of confidence on the part of readers. What began as a subprime poetry problem on essentially unregulated poetry websites has spread to other, more stable, literary magazines and presses and contributed to excess poetry inventories that have pushed down the value of responsible poems.approved by Charles Bernstein via John Sparrow
Monday
Sep292008
ICA Freedom
Monday 29 September, 2008 The ICA is now free. This news is nearly a month old but no one told me so I'm wondering if everyone else knows. Go here for more info.
Sunday
Sep282008
The First Presidential Debate
Sunday 28 September, 2008 
*I'm an Obama supporter, let's get that out of the way.
Observations on the first debate (completely subjective, this is what I felt when watching it, not what I would base a vote on):
- McCain would not look Obama in the eye, even when directly challenging the veracity of his statements;
- Obama paused a considerable number of times during extended speeches, in my mind clearly vetting exactly what he was about to say in a way McCain didn't - this was beneficial for Obama in that it gave McCain little to feed off, but at the same time McCain seemed more passionate and wilful in his arguments;
- Both men made crass references to bracelets given to them by mothers of dead soldiers. In a presidential debate, I'm all for anecdotes, but this was insensitive bear-baiting between the candidates;
- Obama clearly stated that he agreed with McCain on several points, but also clearly stated when he thought McCain was lying;
- Obama frequently looked at the camera; McCain looked only at Jim Lehrer, the moderator of the debate;
- McCain has poor body language and seems rigid compared to Obama's fluid, expressive gestures. Obama is also a better orator, despite what I have said previously;
- On several occasions, McCain made up words, W. style;
- McCain kept accusing Obama of not understanding key policies and issues. This made Obama seem less experienced (particularly when coupled with his tendency to agree with McCain) but it also made McCain look older.
Saturday
Sep272008
Transactional Shiz
Saturday 27 September, 2008 Where does this situate poetry — or any form of cultural production? How, in the present moment, do poets, artists, and intellectuals think through the present crisis strategically, without falling into practices that would reduce the force of art to a bumper sticker, an apocalyptic sign, a hastily constructed editorial? How might thinking through our relation to language — to culture — assist us in moving through the catastrophe?Comments on the current financial climate.
Saturday
Sep272008
Saturday
Sep272008
Saturday
Sep272008
Scott Thurston Readings
Saturday 27 September, 2008 2) Thursday, 9th October 1pm
Scott Thurston and Antony Rowland reading from their new books published by Shearsman and Salt
at Manchester Central Library. Free admission.
See attached flier.
3) Sunday, 26 October 11am
'Truthing the Ground' - a perambulatory poem by Scott Thurston with visual accompaniment by Elizabeth Willow at Sefton Park, Liverpool. Meet by the Eros fountain at 11am. Performance approx 1 hour. Free admission.