tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12600583.post5698445286046983584..comments2023-12-31T13:45:18.628-05:00Comments on ottawa poetry newsletter: On Writing #65 : Gail Scottrob mclennanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07958889643637765864noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12600583.post-3454179164122117272015-07-04T09:42:44.346-04:002015-07-04T09:42:44.346-04:00I tend to agree with much (most) (all) of Gail'...I tend to agree with much (most) (all) of Gail's assessments. Certainly, there are very few REAL literary critics anymore. Everyone is a reviewer, given to discussing plot and how the reviewer related to the characters with nothing about the actual writing or writing style beyond (maybe) praising cliched and/or hackneyed images. Most so-called literary magazines and pulishers choose to print similar MOR sentimental, pedestrian and easily digestible prose and poetry. It's as though the long history of experimentation in the Arts never existed. <br /><br />Radio is content to play mainly Top 40, cable TV relegates what mainstream bullshit it puts into (in)convenient packages for a comatose public, Hollywood is generally bankrupt of ideas so recycles (badly) what worked in the past, bookstores are going the way of the dodo bird and it takes some real effort and digging to find something that pushes the envelope for anyone seeking the new and different. <br /><br />That said, three cheers for those who continue to shun the status quo and pursue and promote "experimentation" (whatever that means) and seek out the "other" -- you know who you are -- even if it does feel like you're pissing in the wind more often than not. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com