when people say they are "a writer" or a "musician," my skin crawls.
when they say "I write" or "I'm in a band," it doesn't. I feel like people who say those things have the right level of humilty and confidence, and are leaving it open to my interpretation if they are "writer" or "musician."
In college I knew this horrible girl who was a double major in Art History and Film, and I had classes in each with her. 9 out of 10 times when she'd raise her hand in class she'd start off her ramblings with "As an art historian, I..." or "As a filmmaker, I..." What? I didn't know that majoring in something (and being a couple years away from even completing the degree) rendered you an expert is something.
this is the problem i have with poets more so than other kinds of artists
poetry meant something up until probably the '70s. if you were a poet you had some kind of stature or aura and your work actually meant something
in terms of the people i know who say "i am a poet," 99 times out of 100 i shudder, because their work does not mean anything. it's nonsense.
there are very few living people who can call themselves "a poet." mark doty, ok. ashbery, you deserve it. adrienne rich, absolutely. some jackass hip kid stringing together nonsensical lines signifying emptiness? you're a fucking dilettante.
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when they say "I write" or "I'm in a band," it doesn't. I feel like people who say those things have the right level of humilty and confidence, and are leaving it open to my interpretation if they are "writer" or "musician."
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i feel like "i write"/"i'm in a band" is declarative only in terms of the action
whereas
"i am a poet/writer/musician/artist" is a presumptuous assessment of your own work
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poetry meant something up until probably the '70s. if you were a poet you had some kind of stature or aura and your work actually meant something
in terms of the people i know who say "i am a poet," 99 times out of 100 i shudder, because their work does not mean anything. it's nonsense.
there are very few living people who can call themselves "a poet." mark doty, ok. ashbery, you deserve it. adrienne rich, absolutely. some jackass hip kid stringing together nonsensical lines signifying emptiness? you're a fucking dilettante.
GOD I'M SO MAD
(not really)
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