Comments on: Take the Poetry Poll and Pass it On

By: troylloyd the platenpounder

troylloyd the platenpounder — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:15:23 +0000

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.

By: Catherine Halley

Catherine Halley — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 19:29:19 +0000

You all forgot HOT!

By: Annie Finch

Annie Finch — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 19:30:29 +0000

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?

By: Annie Finch

Annie Finch — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 19:25:28 +0000

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 . . .

By: Annie Finch

Annie Finch — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 19:18:32 +0000

white female stereotype: ditzy and harmless

white male stereotype: pedantic and dull

poet of color stereotype (both sexes, any ethnicity):
angry and loud

By: Jack Conway

Jack Conway — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 02:42:31 +0000

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.

By: Miriam Levine

Miriam Levine — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 18:21:17 +0000

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.

By: Arthur Durkee

Arthur Durkee — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 05:00:53 +0000

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.

By: Bradley Paul

Bradley Paul — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 04:04:36 +0000

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.

By: Gail White

Gail White — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:51:01 +0000

(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.