[Newspoetry] Re: Newspoetry Digest, Vol 2, Issue 1

[Geoffrey Kurtz]

Re: "novels"

I see the same usage with my students. My theory is that the distinction 
between fiction and argument is lost on them, since both are things people 
make up and are therefore all imaginary, all opinion, and all relative. One 
argument is as meaningful as another, and the only way to choose among them is 
to assert an arbitrary personal taste--and the same goes for fiction. That 
form might matter, in either argument or fiction, is thus an alien concept.

So, a set of newspoetry assignments:

1. Compose a poem that has perfect form but is tasteless.
2. Compose a poem that has terrible form but is exquisitely tasteful.


GK