Weather

Whereas some authors write within conceptual systems, suggesting them with their fragments, robertson casually passes over systems, ideals, ideas, suggestions of academic trends. They become objects in her poetry, her poetry is like a wind of objects. Somehow this poetry is commentary on contemporary philosophy but its hard to grasp. Almost concrete, almost conceptual, very stream of consciousness, is refined meditation an oxy-moron? Does Robertson really want to write philosophy but is too lazy so she writes SOC poetry?? Quite enjoyable, however too confusing, theres no reason to drop philosophical anecdotes into this kind of poetry, it lies in contrast with the function of the poetry.

Discussion Questions (Week 10)

Here are this week's discussion questions:

• Consider the difference between repetition and permutation. In what way does Lisa Robertson's The Weather engage with these two processes. How does repetition and permutation (identicality and difference) affect or reflect the words, phrases, sentences themselves?
• Can you critique/make interpretation of the way Robertson read "Tuesday" aloud. How is pacing or rhythm an active component of the book? Can you compare her reading to the way the words are laid out on the page: sentence length, word choices, visual shape, etc.
• Return to the title again, why "weather"? What is weather? what does it do? what do we know about or do with weather? What is anologous to the way weather works, or to the way we interface with weather?
• How might this book be read in terms of gender? race? class? sexuality? Is it possible to discuss The Weather in the same way that we discussed the more explicit contexts analyzed in Deborah Richards' Last One Out?
  
• How is The Weather similar to the other books we have been reading in this class (several have mentioned Fitterman and Rowntree's War)? How does it differ in its writing strategies? What ARE those strategies? Where can we make meaning in what the book says and where can we make meaning in what the book does?

Lastly, a few of you requested more information on the other writers we listened to in class. Here are a few links for you to follow:

• Kurt Schwitters: here's a link to the full audio of him reading his Ursonate, plus the visual score.
• Christian Bök: This is a recorded reading and interview of Bök (pronounced 'book') on the PENNsound website, a great place to find writers reading their work (it's already linked to our Neato Links here on the class blog).
• Allen Ginsberg: here's a link to an audio recording of "A Supermarket in California" and also some writers on Allen Ginsberg and other cool info.
• Jack Kerouac: A whole slew of readings and sound bytes.