Zero Point Zero this week is about poetry and identity politics. I was writing the column before our recent debate, played with it a bit as a result. Thank you.

Have at it. It’s right here.

I swear this isn’t based on anything except the column I’m writing for this week.

When I was a youngster, disco was king. Lots of people hated disco out here in the suburbs; in later years, I realized that at least some of the dislike was based in racism, conscious or otherwise.

So…

How much do you think the dislike of hip-hop poetry comes from the same source?

I’ll be over here behind the bulletproof glass if you need me.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

ADDENDUM:

My perception of racism being behind dislike of disco or hiphop is based on observations and comments I’ve heard. Just that.

This perception by those feeling hostile to them that these art forms were/are associated with non-white cultural expressions is simply that: a perception.

I didn’t say it was logical, valid, or reasonable. Prejudices rarely are.

PLEASE stop trying to convince me I’m wrong about that perception. I’m not. I’ve seen it, heard it. Period.

My question here is pretty simple: do you see it too? And do you see it as being pervasive, less than pervasive, or what?

Clear?

Yow.

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I’m really not sure what to say about this, as I didn’t like the movie despite the presence of Bowie.

In general, science fiction, speculative fiction, fantasy, horror movies, supernatural thrillers in any medium simply do nothing for me, with rare exceptions. This was not one of them.

BASIC

Something there is in us that likes to go to war,
but is dishonest, and will not admit
to a love of blood,
yet snickers up its sleeve when we try to justify
this warm pool growing sticky around our feet.

We will search for anything to make it good and right
that we are here again, in love with resolve,
and cordite, and smoldering. We hand over the wheel to stolid, steadfast men,
then crouch near our televisions
for hours until we hear the first news of carpet bombing.

We turn to each other. “Outstanding,” we say.
When our children come
too close,
we shoo them
from the room.

I just got accepted to read at this event. They’re still looking for readers, but you’d better get stuff to them quickly…it was on craigslist not too long ago, was forwarded by a friend.

“The Gallery of Social and Political Art sees itself as part of a broad ongoing struggle against all forms of social injustices. Though we are highly supportive of artists, we do not showcase them or their work: we showcase their concerns about social justice. The non-profit Gallery is run by two directors: Nathan Burke and (myself)Holly Wheeler.

“The upcoming exhibition, ‘Is this OUR country?’ will run from September 17th – October 17th, 2004. It features works of art that analyze the current state of our country and will feature a poetry reading that will take place during the opening. The scheduled exhibition will be held at a very important time in the year.

“This is a time for us to come together and express our views about America. We are still accepting poetry submissions for the reading, so if you know of any others that may be interested I urge you to spread the word!”

I submitted my work (which included “Political Art,” setting me up for one of the great meta-moments of all time)to them embedded directly in a e-mail to:

gpsaboston@gmail.com

ADDENDUM: The gallery is in Boston, at 565 Boylston Street.

And he’s a nice guy to boot. But you knew that.

The open at AS220 was pretty typical; with the absence of Jared (who got arrested at the RNC, surprise) Morgan stepped in to fill the hosting duties.

I read in the open, doing “News Conferences,” as I threatened earlier. I shared with the crowd my solid feeling that George Bush would win the election and why I felt that way.

Put bluntly, the Right has shown that they’ll kill to defend the country as they define it, and people are fine with that. We the people don’t mind someone killing in our name as long as it’s elsewhere and the dead don’t look like us. We’ll even tolerate a certain level of bloodshed on our side, if we feel safer in the long run.

Safety through bloodshed. It’s an American tradition.

Nobody trusts the Left to be good killers.

The Left needs to stop being pissy and unbelieving that people don’t understand their logic. Americans could care less about logic and sense. They want the emotional satisfaction of blood in their mouths. They distrust intellectuals and will rather follow a man of strong resolve and dull mind anyday.

What the Left needs to do is to go apeshit.

ANYWAY…

Sage finished his new album this afternoon, for release on Epitaph in February. He treated us to three-quarters of the album done a cappella for his feature.

I’ll be buying it.

Afterwards, we talked (before too, but that was mostly goofing with hairy_lamb and androidlustre), and he’s walking on air about the recording…too cool.

I left before the slam, per usual…

Zero Point Zero is up — review of Sage, some random reflections on mastery. Here’s the link.

to see Sage Francis and Slug from Atmosphere (which, evidently, means something to a lot of people) at the slam.

Haven’t been out for a purely fun time in a bit. Gonna read in the open, something loud and nasty for George to hear all the way in NY — probably “News Conferences,” or maybe “In America” if I’m feeling loud enough.

Corrina will be there, Alex, John, and who knows who else.

Yay!

Historic underprosecution of rape?
Victim demonization?
Harassment of victims?
Consensual vs. forced?
Malicious prosecution for the sake of money?

Historic railroading of black men who have sex with white women?
Automatic presumption of guilt? Of innocence?

The vast number of cases of all of the above that no one ever hears about?

Celebrity justice?
Dollars infuencing justice?
Justice as commodity?

Celebrity arrogance?

The media’s blinding spotlight?
The media’s lemming-like gaze?

Where do you stand on this? Not because it’s important; not because it matters; but because of what it says about you. About us.

Do you know why you choose to consider some of these dynamics and not others?

Can you even tell?

Let’s see what happens next, shall we?

Kobe walks on the criminal complaint.

is ill spent on the Internet, reading up on news and such.

I really need to visit NY soon — need a fix.

I really need to book some features here and there — need a fix.

I really need to schedule a tour — maybe Texas in the spring?

I really have to get my fat (albeit slimmed down) ass in gear and have a poetic career. More submissions. More publications.

More poetry.

More work that makes me happy, makes me feel good. Less that makes me feel old and tool-like.

I’m coming up on twenty years here in May. Shit. Although I’ve bounced around and done a lot of different stuff…gotta say it: too long.

I’m 44 years old and ready not to act my age.

I don’t think this is a midlife crisis, or a manic episode, or even a moment of self doubt and despair — it’s just the simple revelation that I’ve been wasting my time.

Everything else will remain true — I’m unhappy, stressed over aging, sick near unto death with the inability to balance my moods. Those things are simple facts.

But it could all be ameliorated a bit if I changed my life to own my poetic endeavors more fully.

So…I shall.