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July 30, 2003
Elsewhere
J. Bottum's astute revaluation of the poetry of Robert Lowell is in the current issue of the Weekly Standard:The general reader of literature can now walk many of the poetic battlefields of the twentieth century with little more emotion than the tourist's usual wonder at how much blood was spilt to gain so little ground....William Carlos Williams has won, and Stephen Vincent Benét has lost. Hart Crane has surprisingly faded, and Wallace Stevens has unsurprisingly shone. Delmore Schwartz has been washed under by the great wave of the world, while Sylvia Plath has made it safe to shore. Amy Lowell is out, and Robert Lowell is...well, what is he these days? Time will revisit some of these judgments. Time ought to revisit some of these judgments. But what will time make of Lowell?
To find out, go here.
My fellow artsjournal.com blogger Tobi Tobias, who writes about dance, recently invited her readers to respond to this question: "Some would say that dancing is the cruelest profession, all but guaranteeing grueling work, physical pain, poverty, and heartbreak. Yet the field has always been rich in aspirants willing to dedicate their lives to the art. Why?" To read the answers she received--some of which are quite strikingly beautiful--go here.
And for sheer smart snarkiness, make The Minor Fall, the Major Lift a daily part of your blogdiet. I am now officially addicted.
Posted July 30, 2003 12:03 PM
