http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2007/12/versions-of-songs-versions-of-weariness/ A blog from the Poetry Foundation where contemporary poets debate classic and contemporary poetry from America and around the world. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:34:36 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2007/12/versions-of-songs-versions-of-weariness/#comment-2164 Danielle Chapman Wed, 19 Dec 2007 19:06:08 +0000 http://pf/harriet/?p=588#comment-2164 Jane, From the quote it seems that Stevens is talking about the atmosphere that has been created around the art, rather than the art itself. Though he doesn't sound terribly impressed by the art either, what really seems to get him down is the pretentiousness of the place--where a fashionable display of art is more important than the actual works. If, in 1949, the MoMA was anything like it is now, I know exactly what he means. However, I suppose he could be referring to "stairs and windows and walls" that were in the paintings and sculptures. If you're aware of what works, specifically, he means, could you share that info with us? (A google search turned up little more than your post.) Jane, From the quote it seems that Stevens is talking about the atmosphere that has been created around the art, rather than the art itself. Though he doesn’t sound terribly impressed by the art either, what really seems to get him down is the pretentiousness of the place–where a fashionable display of art is more important than the actual works. If, in 1949, the MoMA was anything like it is now, I know exactly what he means. However, I suppose he could be referring to “stairs and windows and walls” that were in the paintings and sculptures. If you’re aware of what works, specifically, he means, could you share that info with us? (A google search turned up little more than your post.)

]]> http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2007/12/versions-of-songs-versions-of-weariness/#comment-2163 Don Share Mon, 17 Dec 2007 18:14:50 +0000 http://pf/harriet/?p=588#comment-2163 Fending off the shock sounds right - not quite what you'd expect from one "desiring the exhilarations of changes,"is it? Fending off the shock sounds right – not quite what you’d expect from one “desiring the exhilarations of changes,”is it?

]]> http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2007/12/versions-of-songs-versions-of-weariness/#comment-2162 jane Mon, 17 Dec 2007 15:54:02 +0000 http://pf/harriet/?p=588#comment-2162 Isn't the notable quality of the (first) Stevens passage here that — and I say this as someone happy to declare Stevens one of three or four very favorite poets — he was totally, utterly <i>wrong?</i> Not that any museum has ever had a flawless collection, or that art has some objective measure. These are qualities a museum-goer had best be able to screen for, or stay home. You go out, and you make specific judgments. So we might ask a specific question, about the actual museum and date in question. To put it delicately: <i>MoMA in 1949 – are you fucking kidding me?</i> Is there a place and time where his sentiment could have been <i>more</i> foolish? I'd trade a week of most anything for that hour. On that day at least, WS was just sort of a prick with reactionary tastes, fending off the shock of an extraordinary artistic moment, willfully blind to what was still exploding under his feet. If one finds oneself sharing such sour sentiments, one should be rather careful about who in the scene is the lemon. Isn’t the notable quality of the (first) Stevens passage here that — and I say this as someone happy to declare Stevens one of three or four very favorite poets — he was totally, utterly wrong? Not that any museum has ever had a flawless collection, or that art has some objective measure. These are qualities a museum-goer had best be able to screen for, or stay home. You go out, and you make specific judgments. So we might ask a specific question, about the actual museum and date in question. To put it delicately: MoMA in 1949 – are you fucking kidding me? Is there a place and time where his sentiment could have been more foolish? I’d trade a week of most anything for that hour.
On that day at least, WS was just sort of a prick with reactionary tastes, fending off the shock of an extraordinary artistic moment, willfully blind to what was still exploding under his feet. If one finds oneself sharing such sour sentiments, one should be rather careful about who in the scene is the lemon.

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