Poetry News

A Very Serious Question

By Harriet Staff

The Great American Think-Off bills itself as the “America’s premier amateur philosophy contest.” Seriously, it does. And this year’s essay and debate question is “Does Poetry Matter?” Seriously, that’s the question. The debate will be held in New York Mills, Minnesota, on June 11, 2011:

New York Mills Regional Cultural Center is a non-profit rural art and culture organization committed to encouraging a dialogue among all Americans that considers important values and questions for our time. This year the focus is on poetry (and the broader field of all the arts). Essayists and debaters may wish to address the role of the poet (artist) in society, whether poetry (and art) can be a vehicle for change either personally or in the larger world, and in what way poetry may play a role in the creation of community, beauty, and creating new ways of perceiving the people and world around us.

Previous questions included “Is the Pen Mightier than the Sword” and “Do We Reap What We Sow?” Seriously!

Posted in Poetry News on Friday, January 7th, 2011 by Harriet Staff.