Gary Snyder on Ecology and Poetry - part 1

[IzzyIsou]

I'm sorry, I'm going to be stating a negative opinion, which, with many of Snyder's fololowers, is a capital sin. Gary Snyder is a lousy poet. In fact, most of those Beat Generation / US Zen / "environmentalist" poets were and contiinue to be. His poems have neither eloquece, mystery or anything moving about them. He is, like many that cme from that scene, a "star" regardless of talent. Poetry omes from the innards; Snyder and his cronies were all on the external -- like a Coca Cola commercial.

[logosthedestroyer]

@IzzyIsou I find that quite interesting; personally I do find his poetry to flow from within - I suppose it's just down to us as different individuals. My main interest though with Snyder is his (very) deep ecology and his unique and well-developed ideas about the human condition within that. Thanks for your comment.

[regardingwave]

@IzzyIsou YOU whoever you are, are obviously mentally challenged and basically fucking stupid. You obviously inhere from the neanderthal or homo erectus in your DNA! You would not know true human emotion and expression if it ate your fucking heart! He lived everything he wrote-what the fuck have YOU DONE??

[TheRamblinjim]

We don't seriously become a poet in order to get the dick wet, and to be a poet in America today is to court imprisonment.

Gary writes ecology to redeem himself for his parent's logging crimes.

But like all forms of redemption attempts, and lounge-lizard lines. they're destined to fall flat as a pancake

Every single time

[logosthedestroyer]

@TheRamblinjim Well, you're entitled to your opinions but I firmly believe you have Snyder's intentions as wrong as can be. If you don't like this, find something you do like so that you can channel your energies in a more positive way.

[TheRamblinjim]

Snyder's a fine poet but the problem with political or social (or ecological) poems is that the author lacks a wide enough audience. Compare how Gary has changed things versus Bob Dylan. Very few respect the poets voice, and if you tell a prospective date that your occupation is a poet then you will never get your dick wet. You won't even get a second date or peck on the goodnight friendly backslapping kiss. The woman may even stab you where you stand. That't shitty, but real

[logosthedestroyer]

@TheRamblinjim Well, that's as may be. But as far as I'm concerned, poetry is the end in itself and if you're a proponent of the arts merely to "get your dick wet" I'd suggest you stay well away from them until you know what they're for.

[Countrychiddler]

@logosthedestroyer Write poetry? What ya got?

[logosthedestroyer]

@Countrychiddler Sorry, I don't know what you mean

[Countrychiddler]

@logosthedestroyer Do you write poetry? 

[ritubahar]

Why is global TV netwrok called "Dish TV"? A dish is a dish on the table for the sustenance of body and soul. Why should that be confused with TV channels that often provide all kinds of tasteless garbage even in the name of entertainment.

Would the poets, advocating ecology poetry, think about this? Thanks.

[4zxeue]

Argh, I absolutely love Gary Snyder's writing (both his essays and his poetry) but the way he reads them grates on me for some reason.

He reads almost as if his audience is children, in his pace, tone, and enunciation. His writing is incredibly powerful, but it loses some of that power in his voice...to me at least.

[logosthedestroyer]

@4zxeue Well I think everyone's entitled to their own opinion. Personally I love the way he recites - my way of seeing it is that each word has its own resonance, and that you never miss the meaning of any word. I suppose the nice thing about poetry though is that you can make it what you like - when you read it you can phrase it how you like.

[humadapon]

THANK YOU so much for posting this!

[logosthedestroyer]

You're very welcome

[LeperKing]

That makes a world unfit for life Toxic wastes destroy our seas While poison gas pollutes the air A waste of life, while no one cares The earth becomes a giant tomb Critical mass will be achieved And ruins will be all that's left A hell on earth, what we create Dragging life to death with us All living things destroyed or used By shortsighted human beings We do these things, let them be done Apathy creates despair The damamge done will be too great The world wounded beyond repair

[LeperKing]

The bio-sphere, the place we live It seems like we don't give a damn Other species flushed down the tubes We need another race to rape The way we live, we will destroy Every other living thing Till none are left except our race And then we will destroy ourselves Another forest dies Bring on the acid rain Slightly insane, the type of greed That makes a world unfit for life

[LeperKing]

Check out Nuclear Assault's video 'Crtical Mass' if you want a good ecoccentric thrash metal song. Good stuff.

[LeperKing]

Next time you want to wipe your ass use a spotted owl

[logosthedestroyer]

Sorry?

[lightbearerusa]

A legend! Thank you.

[BahLahLah]

Thanks for the video. I really did enjoy it.

[swervebank]

He wasn't joking about the trees just passing through. It's a shame that everyone laughed

[seldomseen233]

I wouldn't say its a shame. They were just laughing because it was presented in a somewhat comical manner. I think even the people laughing still recognized the truth behind it.

[jakesturgess]

They weren't laughing because it was a joke. That's just the way he put his point across, successfully

[vioguy]

Awesome.

Good deed by posting this.

[logosthedestroyer]

Glad you like it

[IzzyIsou]

The only good "Beat" poet was Bob Kaufman - necessary, ephemeral and forgotten.

The West Coast White American fascination with Asian philosophy is based on the homogenous, fascist grounding of Asian culture.

Don't believe the hype!

[smokinbill]

hahhahahhaa

[logosthedestroyer]

What are you talking about?

[babyloncrumble]

thank you for posting this

[logosthedestroyer]

Thank *you* for watching :)

[joshebben]

Thanks for posting this. I borrowed this on VHS from a library years ago and haven't been able to find it since.

[logosthedestroyer]

No worries. I have it in hard copy too so hopefully will be able to keep it!

[1nessism]

the real work, indeed...

[shatki7]

to know that japhy ryder is out there in the world gives me hope in humanity. thank you so much for posting this amazing series

[logosthedestroyer]

It does for me too, Shakti. It really really does. May Shakti herself bless you.

[nicdafis]

Many thanks for uploading this series. I've been reading Snyder for years, but have never seen him on film, let alone in a live reading.

[logosthedestroyer]

Thank-you. I could hardly believe my luck either.. and seeing as it was a non-profit film I hope the makers don't mind me posting it. Seeing him gives the performance a whole other dimension, I think.