What an excellent response to Mr. Carter. You took the high road while dissecting his attempt to belittle you in a public forum and did so with intelligence and grace that he didn't afford you the courtesy of. Good for you on calling him out.
Thanks for this. J.C. and his snarkitude have been dissected and taken down off his peg by your honesty. I observe him in OAF behaving exactly this way while he contributes almost nothing of poetic value. He seems to need to loom large in his own mind and impress his giant ego on others. That's the mark of a jealous and insecure person. Ugh. Glad you spoke up and if you don't feel better for having done so, I sure do!
Heidi, you might ask other OAF members if my contributions (poems and commentary) have no poetic value. I admit I can be ungenerous and snarky, but I've tried to tone down those faults in many of my recent comments. You might also question your own nastiness
Reading the replies to my admittedly harsh response to Judson's little essay, I was reminded of Tony Hoagland's attack on the literary cult of nice, the desire to appear kind to fellow wanna-be authors no matter how good or bad their work. What suffers is poetry criticism, a dearth of which is constantly mourned by large numbers of established poets. Notice Judson does not quote his work anywhere in the essay, the focus being his personal trials and heroism, NOT the obvious subject: the quality of his writing.
I agree generally with your note about faux or forced positivity. But let’s be fair here: first of all, all essays are “little”. That’s what the word means. Your slight is a self-wounding redundancy. And he doesn’t avoid the question of quality, “good lines, bad lines” etc…and it wouldn’t be to his advantage to quote himself…that would look tedious and insecure…isn’t it obvious that the essay IS his writing? He is responding mainly by demonstrating…quite well I would add (but I’m just a biased brother) 😉👏
Ok, ok, I take back that "little." However, just mentioning "good lines, bad lines" doesn't really confront the issue of quality. I thought he might helpfully have included in his essay a sample of his own poetry or even an image from his painting. To list the number of times his art had been rejected implies that it deserved to be published. You and I both know 90% of all art currently being produced is crap. That's why I say (sarcastically) just what the world needs now, another merely competent poet.
He is a very visible artist. The burden of critic is to know the artist's work in general...I agree that a lot of art is lacking and successful by means of trend or whatever. Luck does its dance. Take care, Jefferson!
What an excellent response to Mr. Carter. You took the high road while dissecting his attempt to belittle you in a public forum and did so with intelligence and grace that he didn't afford you the courtesy of. Good for you on calling him out.
Thanks for this. J.C. and his snarkitude have been dissected and taken down off his peg by your honesty. I observe him in OAF behaving exactly this way while he contributes almost nothing of poetic value. He seems to need to loom large in his own mind and impress his giant ego on others. That's the mark of a jealous and insecure person. Ugh. Glad you spoke up and if you don't feel better for having done so, I sure do!
Thanks!
Heidi, you might ask other OAF members if my contributions (poems and commentary) have no poetic value. I admit I can be ungenerous and snarky, but I've tried to tone down those faults in many of my recent comments. You might also question your own nastiness
in the above remarks.
If you expect to be treated with kindness, then you need to treat others with kindness. It's as simple as that.
I don't expect to be treated with kindness. I don't really care. I DO expect my poetry to be treated frankly, even if harshly.
I found this kind of funny Judson! Scratch a writer and they, you, will write a novel in reply! :)
Thanks Judson,
Nice to see that type of negative personality called out for what it is.
Bitter, short dick man, who gets his jollys tearing others down.
Fuck him and the others lurking out in the ether.
The artist's walk is no easy feat.
Wonderful stuff!
Touché 🤺👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Sometimes it is needed!
Reading the replies to my admittedly harsh response to Judson's little essay, I was reminded of Tony Hoagland's attack on the literary cult of nice, the desire to appear kind to fellow wanna-be authors no matter how good or bad their work. What suffers is poetry criticism, a dearth of which is constantly mourned by large numbers of established poets. Notice Judson does not quote his work anywhere in the essay, the focus being his personal trials and heroism, NOT the obvious subject: the quality of his writing.
I agree generally with your note about faux or forced positivity. But let’s be fair here: first of all, all essays are “little”. That’s what the word means. Your slight is a self-wounding redundancy. And he doesn’t avoid the question of quality, “good lines, bad lines” etc…and it wouldn’t be to his advantage to quote himself…that would look tedious and insecure…isn’t it obvious that the essay IS his writing? He is responding mainly by demonstrating…quite well I would add (but I’m just a biased brother) 😉👏
Ok, ok, I take back that "little." However, just mentioning "good lines, bad lines" doesn't really confront the issue of quality. I thought he might helpfully have included in his essay a sample of his own poetry or even an image from his painting. To list the number of times his art had been rejected implies that it deserved to be published. You and I both know 90% of all art currently being produced is crap. That's why I say (sarcastically) just what the world needs now, another merely competent poet.
He is a very visible artist. The burden of critic is to know the artist's work in general...I agree that a lot of art is lacking and successful by means of trend or whatever. Luck does its dance. Take care, Jefferson!
Whew! hahaha 👏👏👏exciting words brother, well done.