Comments on: Take the Poetry Poll and Pass it On http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/03/take-the-poetry-poll-and-pass-it-on/ Thu, 12 Jan 2012 08:40:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: troylloyd the platenpounder http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/03/take-the-poetry-poll-and-pass-it-on/#comment-9285 troylloyd the platenpounder Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:15:23 +0000 http://pf/harriet/?p=1320#comment-9285 not exactly a stereotype, but an interesting tidbit i came acrosss: amongst the "liberal arts" social makeup (artists, dancers, singers, poets, musicians etc.), poets claim the highest suicide rate. i dunno how this was arrived at, but the info i came across also stated that poets who use "me" in their writing, as opposed to poets who use "we" more often, are more likely to commit suicide. not exactly a stereotype, but an interesting tidbit i came acrosss:

amongst the “liberal arts” social makeup (artists, dancers, singers, poets, musicians etc.), poets claim the highest suicide rate.

i dunno how this was arrived at, but the info i came across also stated that poets who use “me” in their writing, as opposed to poets who use “we” more often,
are more likely to commit suicide.
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]]> By: Catherine Halley http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/03/take-the-poetry-poll-and-pass-it-on/#comment-8716 Catherine Halley Wed, 08 Apr 2009 19:29:19 +0000 http://pf/harriet/?p=1320#comment-8716 You all forgot HOT! You all forgot HOT!
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]]> By: Annie Finch http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/03/take-the-poetry-poll-and-pass-it-on/#comment-8417 Annie Finch Thu, 02 Apr 2009 19:30:29 +0000 http://pf/harriet/?p=1320#comment-8417 A few more: British poet stereotype (both sexes): snobby and arcane Russian poet stereotype (male): dramatic and charismatic street poet stereotype: verbose and earnest I'm surprised how many of these stereotypes are so clear in my head, when, even as I write each one, I think immediately, without even trying, of numerous poets who disprove the stereotypes completely. And yet the stereotypes remain in some kind of realm of received reality. Where did they all come from I wonder--and when will they leave? A few more:

British poet stereotype (both sexes): snobby and arcane

Russian poet stereotype (male): dramatic and charismatic

street poet stereotype: verbose and earnest

I’m surprised how many of these stereotypes are so clear in my head, when, even as I write each one, I think immediately, without even trying, of numerous poets who disprove the stereotypes completely. And yet the stereotypes remain in some kind of realm of received reality. Where did they all come from I wonder–and when will they leave?
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]]> By: Annie Finch http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/03/take-the-poetry-poll-and-pass-it-on/#comment-8415 Annie Finch Thu, 02 Apr 2009 19:25:28 +0000 http://pf/harriet/?p=1320#comment-8415 French stereotype: effete and gourmand Asian stereotype: wise and contemplative Latin American stereotype (male): virile and engaged Latin American stereotype (female): silent (goes for most other nationalities, female, also) formalist stereotype: uptight and republican L.A.N.G.U.A.G.E. stereotype: Marxist and combative free verse stereotype: self-absorbed and conventional These are needless to say not my own stereotypes but I think they are fairly prevalent. . . I agree with Gail on the "no money" stereotype which seems to be one of the few characteristics that cuts across all other stereotypical qualities . . . French stereotype: effete and gourmand

Asian stereotype: wise and contemplative

Latin American stereotype (male): virile and engaged

Latin American stereotype (female): silent (goes for most other nationalities, female, also)

formalist stereotype: uptight and republican

L.A.N.G.U.A.G.E. stereotype: Marxist and combative

free verse stereotype: self-absorbed and conventional

These are needless to say not my own stereotypes but I think they are fairly prevalent. . .

I agree with Gail on the “no money” stereotype which seems to be one of the few characteristics that cuts across all other stereotypical qualities . . .
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]]> By: Annie Finch http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/03/take-the-poetry-poll-and-pass-it-on/#comment-8414 Annie Finch Thu, 02 Apr 2009 19:18:32 +0000 http://pf/harriet/?p=1320#comment-8414 white female stereotype: ditzy and harmless white male stereotype: pedantic and dull poet of color stereotype (both sexes, any ethnicity): angry and loud white female stereotype: ditzy and harmless

white male stereotype: pedantic and dull

poet of color stereotype (both sexes, any ethnicity):
angry and loud
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]]> By: Jack Conway http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/03/take-the-poetry-poll-and-pass-it-on/#comment-8369 Jack Conway Wed, 01 Apr 2009 02:42:31 +0000 http://pf/harriet/?p=1320#comment-8369 Poets like to commit suicide but they are usually not that successful. In fact several well-known poets have attempted to hang themselves but were unssuccssful in their attempts, thus proving that most poets can tie a knot to save their lives. Poets like to commit suicide but they are usually not that successful. In fact several well-known poets have attempted to hang themselves but were unssuccssful in their attempts, thus proving that most poets can tie a knot to save their lives.
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]]> By: Miriam Levine http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/03/take-the-poetry-poll-and-pass-it-on/#comment-8357 Miriam Levine Tue, 31 Mar 2009 18:21:17 +0000 http://pf/harriet/?p=1320#comment-8357 I think poets are brave, but my first encounter with a negative stereotype of the poet was the comedian Ernie Kovac's character "Percy Dovetonsils." Percy lolled on a couch and lisped. He told us he was speaking to us from "just beyond the bookends." He wore glasses the lenses of which were dizzying spirals. He drank wine, too much of it. He would gesture with limp wrists. Not a guy-guy type to be sure. Doesn't this stereotype still exist? As for women poets? What do you think? I was told I don't live in the real world. I was told I was "ga-ga," a creature flitting around the world with her mouth hanging open in amazement. I think poets are brave, but my first encounter with a negative stereotype of the poet was the comedian Ernie Kovac’s character “Percy Dovetonsils.” Percy lolled on a couch and lisped. He told us he was speaking to us from “just beyond the bookends.” He wore glasses the lenses of which were dizzying spirals. He drank wine, too much of it. He would gesture with limp wrists. Not a guy-guy type to be sure. Doesn’t this stereotype still exist? As for women poets? What do you think? I was told I don’t live in the real world. I was told I was “ga-ga,” a creature flitting around the world with her mouth hanging open in amazement.
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]]> By: Arthur Durkee http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/03/take-the-poetry-poll-and-pass-it-on/#comment-8350 Arthur Durkee Tue, 31 Mar 2009 05:00:53 +0000 http://pf/harriet/?p=1320#comment-8350 Stereotypes? Contentious, argumentative, touchy, ego-driven, fame-obsessed, theory-bound, think too much or feel too much but rarely both in balance, prickly, annoyed by other poets (Groening was right), self-obsessed or at least self-absorbed, did we mention argumentative?, prefer to talk rather than listen, like the sound of their own voices, always "on stage" in many cases, narcissistic. Oh wait, no. That's the real thing. Stereotypes?

Contentious, argumentative, touchy, ego-driven, fame-obsessed, theory-bound, think too much or feel too much but rarely both in balance, prickly, annoyed by other poets (Groening was right), self-obsessed or at least self-absorbed, did we mention argumentative?, prefer to talk rather than listen, like the sound of their own voices, always “on stage” in many cases, narcissistic.

Oh wait, no. That’s the real thing.
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]]> By: Bradley Paul http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/03/take-the-poetry-poll-and-pass-it-on/#comment-8348 Bradley Paul Tue, 31 Mar 2009 04:04:36 +0000 http://pf/harriet/?p=1320#comment-8348 Let's not forget Matt Groening's classic characterization of poets in "Life in Hell": Weird lips. Also, he accurately points out the best way to annoy a poet: Be another poet. Let’s not forget Matt Groening’s classic characterization of poets in “Life in Hell”: Weird lips.

Also, he accurately points out the best way to annoy a poet:

Be another poet.
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]]> By: Gail White http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/03/take-the-poetry-poll-and-pass-it-on/#comment-8343 Gail White Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:51:01 +0000 http://pf/harriet/?p=1320#comment-8343 (Third attempt - I keep getting cut off!) Stereotypical poet: 1. Drinks a lot or does drugs. 2. Has serial lovers, lots of sex. 3. Doesn't give a damn what anybody thinks. 4. Has no money. In reality: 1. True only in New Orleans. 2. Most of the poets I know are as chaste as altered cats. 3. OBSESSED with what other people think. 4. True, always and forever. (Third attempt – I keep getting cut off!)

Stereotypical poet:
1. Drinks a lot or does drugs.
2. Has serial lovers, lots of sex.
3. Doesn’t give a damn what anybody thinks.
4. Has no money.

In reality:
1. True only in New Orleans.
2. Most of the poets I know are as chaste as altered cats.
3. OBSESSED with what other people think.
4. True, always and forever.
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]]> By: Gail White http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/03/take-the-poetry-poll-and-pass-it-on/#comment-8341 Gail White Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:46:46 +0000 http://pf/harriet/?p=1320#comment-8341 Stereotype: 1. Stereotype:
1.
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]]> By: thomas brady http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/03/take-the-poetry-poll-and-pass-it-on/#comment-8336 thomas brady Mon, 30 Mar 2009 20:59:46 +0000 http://pf/harriet/?p=1320#comment-8336 Glenn, Defying stereotypes is interesting. So, stereotypes are interesting. Thomas Glenn,

Defying stereotypes is interesting.

So, stereotypes are interesting.

Thomas
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]]> By: RichardHowardNemerov http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/03/take-the-poetry-poll-and-pass-it-on/#comment-8332 RichardHowardNemerov Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:11:44 +0000 http://pf/harriet/?p=1320#comment-8332 Trust funds. It's not true that every poet has one. I know a couple of poets who don't, though I don't see them much, since they're always at work. Trust funds. It’s not true that every poet has one. I know a couple of poets who don’t, though I don’t see them much, since they’re always at work.
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]]> By: Glenn Ingersoll http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/03/take-the-poetry-poll-and-pass-it-on/#comment-8329 Glenn Ingersoll Mon, 30 Mar 2009 01:32:36 +0000 http://pf/harriet/?p=1320#comment-8329 You're really interested in hearing people's stereotypes about poets? You are? What is it about stereotypes you find interesting? You’re really interested in hearing people’s stereotypes about poets?
You are? What is it about stereotypes you find interesting?
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]]> By: Gary B. Fitzgerald http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/03/take-the-poetry-poll-and-pass-it-on/#comment-8328 Gary B. Fitzgerald Sun, 29 Mar 2009 20:40:00 +0000 http://pf/harriet/?p=1320#comment-8328 The variety of poets these days actually defies stereotype, but the only true one living still among us is he who leaves three roses and a half-bottle of cognac on Edgar Allan Poe’s grave every year on his birthday. (They’ll never catch me!) The variety of poets these days actually defies stereotype, but the only true one living still among us is he who leaves three roses and a half-bottle of cognac on Edgar Allan Poe’s grave every year on his birthday.
(They’ll never catch me!)
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]]> By: Ian http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/03/take-the-poetry-poll-and-pass-it-on/#comment-8327 Ian Sun, 29 Mar 2009 19:17:13 +0000 http://pf/harriet/?p=1320#comment-8327 I have just been watching a video of a poetry convention. For some reason a woman felt the need to read her poetry wearing Elizabethan clothes/hair and lie on her front on a four poster bed. She was speaking in a very mannered/'Victorian' way. There seems to be a tendency for some poets at these conventions to wear brightly coloured outfits like some kind of Victorian showman or some kind of medieval medicine man/woman or magician. Yet all the established/professional poets are wearing normal everyday clothes and look very much like they belong to the present. My question is how does this woman transport her four poster bed to her poetry readings? It would not fit in the back of a van and it would take several people to lift it or assemble it. Perhaps one of those trucks that car enthusiasts use to transport their classic cars? I have just been watching a video of a poetry convention. For some reason a woman felt the need to read her poetry wearing Elizabethan clothes/hair and lie on her front on a four poster bed. She was speaking in a very mannered/’Victorian’ way. There seems to be a tendency for some poets at these conventions to wear brightly coloured outfits like some kind of Victorian showman or some kind of medieval medicine man/woman or magician. Yet all the established/professional poets are wearing normal everyday clothes and look very much like they belong to the present.
My question is how does this woman transport her four poster bed to her poetry readings? It would not fit in the back of a van and it would take several people to lift it or assemble it. Perhaps one of those trucks that car enthusiasts use to transport their classic cars?
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]]> By: Gustave Flaubert http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/03/take-the-poetry-poll-and-pass-it-on/#comment-8326 Gustave Flaubert Sun, 29 Mar 2009 18:43:41 +0000 http://pf/harriet/?p=1320#comment-8326 Poet: pompous synonym for fool, dreamer. Poetry: entirely useless; out of date. Poet: pompous synonym for fool, dreamer.
Poetry: entirely useless; out of date.
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]]> By: Red http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/03/take-the-poetry-poll-and-pass-it-on/#comment-8325 Red Sun, 29 Mar 2009 16:15:36 +0000 http://pf/harriet/?p=1320#comment-8325 Poets: Much like theater people -- yet somehow more annoying; irresponsible, narcissistic, prone to histrionics, mostly worthless. Poets: Much like theater people — yet somehow more annoying; irresponsible, narcissistic, prone to histrionics, mostly worthless.
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]]> By: AW http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/03/take-the-poetry-poll-and-pass-it-on/#comment-8324 AW Sun, 29 Mar 2009 15:42:31 +0000 http://pf/harriet/?p=1320#comment-8324 When you throw that rock, do me a favor, Villar: throw it hard. When you throw that rock, do me a favor, Villar: throw it hard.
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]]> By: thomas brady http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/03/take-the-poetry-poll-and-pass-it-on/#comment-8323 thomas brady Sun, 29 Mar 2009 13:04:10 +0000 http://pf/harriet/?p=1320#comment-8323 1. Is an exile longing for more exile 2. Works for something much bigger than himself: God, Queen, East India Co, Lloyds Bank, Hartford Insurance, the Iowa Writers Workshop 3. Writes Science Fiction Screenplays just in case 4. Is a highly gregarious recluse 5. Is a sexy nerd 6. Is a fastidious slob 7. Is a lie-down comic 8. Only counts when reading 9. Only reads what counts 10. Is smarter than you 1. Is an exile longing for more exile
2. Works for something much bigger than himself: God, Queen, East India Co, Lloyds Bank, Hartford Insurance, the Iowa Writers Workshop
3. Writes Science Fiction Screenplays just in case
4. Is a highly gregarious recluse
5. Is a sexy nerd
6. Is a fastidious slob
7. Is a lie-down comic
8. Only counts when reading
9. Only reads what counts
10. Is smarter than you
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]]> By: Uriel http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/03/take-the-poetry-poll-and-pass-it-on/#comment-8322 Uriel Sat, 28 Mar 2009 20:55:33 +0000 http://pf/harriet/?p=1320#comment-8322 Has a Welsh accent, wears Wellies in sunshine, quotes Yeats but attributes it to Auden and can read and watch (they have poetry films) the new Horizon Review in one sitting. <a href="http://www.saltpublishing.com/horizon/issues/02/index.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.saltpublishing.com/horizon/issues/02/index.htm</a> Has a Welsh accent, wears Wellies in sunshine, quotes Yeats but attributes it to Auden and can read and watch (they have poetry films) the new Horizon Review in one sitting.
http://www.saltpublishing.com/horizon/issues/02/index.htm
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]]> By: Paul http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/03/take-the-poetry-poll-and-pass-it-on/#comment-8321 Paul Sat, 28 Mar 2009 00:14:10 +0000 http://pf/harriet/?p=1320#comment-8321 An older lady recently retired from teaching who is looking to explore her spirituality and creativity. A pseudo left wing intellectual who uses language to demonstrate he is smarter than everyone else to compensate for the fact that he is universally disliked among the faculty. An adolescent with torturous insecurities who uses poetry as a form of selfexpression therapy. And so on, it's a long list these days. An older lady recently retired from teaching who is looking to explore her spirituality and creativity. A pseudo left wing intellectual who uses language to demonstrate he is smarter than everyone else to compensate for the fact that he is universally disliked among the faculty.
An adolescent with torturous insecurities who uses poetry as a form of selfexpression therapy.
And so on, it’s a long list these days.
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]]> By: RIchard Villar http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/03/take-the-poetry-poll-and-pass-it-on/#comment-8320 RIchard Villar Fri, 27 Mar 2009 23:05:28 +0000 http://pf/harriet/?p=1320#comment-8320 Throw a rock at the most oddly dressed person in the room. *wap* CONGRATULATIONS! You've injured a poet! Throw a rock at the most oddly dressed person in the room.
*wap*
CONGRATULATIONS! You’ve injured a poet!
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]]> By: JK http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/03/take-the-poetry-poll-and-pass-it-on/#comment-8319 JK Fri, 27 Mar 2009 22:39:38 +0000 http://pf/harriet/?p=1320#comment-8319 Poets live in a world different from all others- A world of angst, drama, romance, always talking in prose and always in a state of deep thougt. Stereotypes? Poets live in a world different from all others- A world of angst, drama, romance, always talking in prose and always in a state of deep thougt. Stereotypes?
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]]> By: Jason Guriel http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/03/take-the-poetry-poll-and-pass-it-on/#comment-8318 Jason Guriel Fri, 27 Mar 2009 22:27:45 +0000 http://pf/harriet/?p=1320#comment-8318 They never just <i>say</i> what they mean. They never just say what they mean.
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]]> By: denis http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/03/take-the-poetry-poll-and-pass-it-on/#comment-8317 denis Fri, 27 Mar 2009 21:41:29 +0000 http://pf/harriet/?p=1320#comment-8317 Why doesn't the Poetry Foundation pay another $5 million dollars to repoll America--isn't that what you do? Didn't you ask this question the first time round? Oh, and you pay elementary teachers to make their students memorize poetry to save poetry. You do that, too. Hey, just curious, John Barr suggested that "going on safari" was the best way that contemporary poets could reconnect with the real America. Would he suggest the same thing to AIG bigwigs, Cathy? Should they go on safari in Africa to reconnect with America? Hey, Cathy, just curious, but--how much of Ruth Lily's money has John Barr lost? Why doesn’t the Poetry Foundation pay another $5 million dollars to repoll America–isn’t that what you do? Didn’t you ask this question the first time round? Oh, and you pay elementary teachers to make their students memorize poetry to save poetry. You do that, too. Hey, just curious, John Barr suggested that “going on safari” was the best way that contemporary poets could reconnect with the real America. Would he suggest the same thing to AIG bigwigs, Cathy? Should they go on safari in Africa to reconnect with America? Hey, Cathy, just curious, but–how much of Ruth Lily’s money has John Barr lost?
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]]> By: Brenda Schmidt http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/03/take-the-poetry-poll-and-pass-it-on/#comment-8316 Brenda Schmidt Fri, 27 Mar 2009 18:51:06 +0000 http://pf/harriet/?p=1320#comment-8316 Stereotypes! Say it ain't so! Stereotypes! Say it ain’t so!
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]]> By: mearl http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/03/take-the-poetry-poll-and-pass-it-on/#comment-8315 mearl Fri, 27 Mar 2009 18:38:10 +0000 http://pf/harriet/?p=1320#comment-8315 The man in the macintosh at Paddy Dignam's funeral, M'Intosh as the newspaper reporter misinterprets - a kind of mystery mourner. Martin The man in the macintosh at Paddy Dignam’s funeral, M’Intosh as the newspaper reporter misinterprets – a kind of mystery mourner.
Martin
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]]> By: Gary B. Fitzgerald http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/03/take-the-poetry-poll-and-pass-it-on/#comment-8314 Gary B. Fitzgerald Fri, 27 Mar 2009 17:59:29 +0000 http://pf/harriet/?p=1320#comment-8314 Whiskey, my friend. It's whiskey! You ain't no kind of poet if you don't drink whiskey. Whiskey, my friend. It’s whiskey! You ain’t no kind of poet if you don’t drink whiskey.
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]]> By: the regina mom http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/03/take-the-poetry-poll-and-pass-it-on/#comment-8313 the regina mom Fri, 27 Mar 2009 17:21:44 +0000 http://pf/harriet/?p=1320#comment-8313 Hmm...I though poets dress in black, smoke ciggies and pot, and drink copious amounts of red wine. Now, where's that bottle? ;) Hmm…I though poets dress in black, smoke ciggies and pot, and drink copious amounts of red wine.
Now, where’s that bottle? ;)
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