Much On The Cliffs: The Philosophies of John Ashbery

Winner of multiple awards for literary excellence, writer and educator John Ashbery is a seminal force in modern poetics. In an enlightening installment of Artists On The Cutting Edge, Ashbery reads, and comments on, selected works. Series: "Artists on the Cutting Edge" [8/1997] [Humanities] [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 3260]

Category:

Education

Tags:

• poetics
• poetry
• postmodern

[dinnerbucket9]

What interests me these days is nexus re Ashbery, Ken Koch and Donald Bartheleme, who has cited both as primary influences [ after Beckett, Gertrude Stein and Echo and the Bunnymen]on his own daft experiments. April Galleons and 3 Poems have been glued, page by page, to my prison cell and the old man has 'caught fire' here at the penitentiatry.

[molloyxx1]

In my case perhaps more like reading Murphy before Molloy.

[amputechturebird]

LOVE THIS. Ashbery is my favorite poet as of now. Only have his selected works but its enough to keep my mind in the cardboard realm beside my bed for weeks to come.

[molloyxx1]

That is an instruction I can follow. I have never heard Carters music, piker that I am, and so very much look forward to my first moment with it. Thanks again and Happy New Year.

[molloyxx1]

thanks sombres. Here I confess I have not a clue as to how to access this.

[flammesombres]

if you're interested in hearing it, I uploaded a piece by Elliott Carter called "Syringa", which uses the Ashbery poem of the same name.

[molloyx]

oh, just long enough

[quagapp]

From the great poem in 'The Tennis Court Oath'

[quagapp]

There is an interview with Carter on here - he 100! But he won the Pulitzer, as did another favourite musician (of Ashbery and myself) Charles Ives. Carter's music takes a bit of getting used to but I like it if I concentrate on it. BTW I feel that one book of JA's that I feel is somewhat overlooked is his - in my view - quite brilliant "A Vermont Note Book" with Joe Brainard.