Dead Poet's Society.

[wildsweetone]

Did you like or hate this movie? Did it alter your thinking of poetry? (i've just got it out today and intend watching it over the weekend.)

 

[PatCarrington]

Did you like or hate this movie? Did it alter your thinking of poetry? (i've just got it out today and intend watching it over the weekend.)

i thought it was fair, at best. entertaining enough to watch.

it isn't a movie about poetry, though. poetry is just one of the tools it uses to explore the themes of non-conformity and WASP dysfunction.

 

[wildsweetone]

ty, i shall watch avidly for the non-conformity and the WASP dysfunction (what on earth is WASP dysfunction?)

 

[annaswirls]

ty, i shall watch avidly for the non-conformity and the WASP dysfunction (what on earth is WASP dysfunction?)

stinger backfiring etc

 

[BooMerengue]

ty, i shall watch avidly for the non-conformity and the WASP dysfunction (what on earth is WASP dysfunction?)

lol ya Kiwi!! It's White Anglo Saxon Protestant snobbery and elitism. It is a good movie- Pat's right.

 

[wildsweetone]

i'd like to use poetry to explore the themes of non-conformity and wasps backfiring.

actually, it sounds kinda ouchy. maybe i should sit with a hot chocolate while i'm watching it.

why am i now suddenly itching to write something about non-conformity?



and why does a backfiring wasp have interesting connotations?

okay i'm going because i've said enough.

do you guys know you are really weird? i just don't know why i hang out here. i think i might have to go back to writing prose, or something.

 

[BooMerengue]

i'd like to use poetry to explore the themes of non-conformity and wasps backfiring.

actually, it sounds kinda ouchy. maybe i should sit with a hot chocolate while i'm watching it.

why am i now suddenly itching to write something about non-conformity?



and why does a backfiring wasp have interesting connotations?

okay i'm going because i've said enough.

do you guys know you are really weird? i just don't know why i hang out here. i think i might have to go back to writing prose, or something.

You say we're weird?? You're going to bed thinking about backfiring wasps and we're weird???

 

[champagne1982]

Wasp venom burns its way through the artistic
path to true inspiration and yet the fool
still scratches at the bite of the frivolous muse
and lets the words drool onto the page.

There is no reason for his rage other than the fury
makes the fire flare hotter as he burns the masters.
For they were constrained within the cruel heat
of the weal of a sting and never freed from the blister

with a scratch of artsy nails that refuse to feel
the scrub of a brush or the clip of scissors.
Conformity in a manicure, and a dab of Orajel
to take the sting from the bite of truth.

 

[Recidiva]

It's a good movie.

Most of these movies have the fun people leaving.

There's a really good reason.

 

[eagleyez]

I enjoyed the flick, albeit years ago.

Robin Williams is rather compelling as the story comes to a close, as I recall.

Enjoy it WSOne

 

[eagleyez]

stinger backfiring etc

*cackles*

good one Anna...

 

[Lonelypoet]

Nonconformity!

Did you like or hate this movie? Did it alter your thinking of poetry? (i've just got it out today and intend watching it over the weekend.)

First off, "nonconformity" is not a hyphenated word. lol Next, WildSweetOne, yes, it did alter my idea and concept concerning the writing of poetry. In fact, I think the movie first came out about 1989, but I never saw it till it hit tv in January, 1992, while I was living in South Texas. That movie inspired me to write poetry.

The movie attacks elitism and conformity as the others have well stated. But, it also teaches a very valuable lesson, and that is each one of us is in control of our own destinies, therefore the concept which Robin William's character presents at the beginning of the movie, "Carpe Diem" (Latin: Seize The Day). Webster says: "Enjoyment of the present without concern for the future." He goes on to say, "Make your lives extraordinary."

I love the part where Robin Williams instructs his class to rip out the introduction to the book of poetry. That was powerful! He was tearing down the walls of elitism at that moment. He was saying basically, who does this Mr. Pritchard think he is making rules concerning what makes up a poem, for poetry is formed in the heart, not from the "rulers" and "measurements" and "rhymes" and "meters" of the elitists. He was showing that man many times makes up "rules," and if someone does not conform to those rules, then they do not "fit into their group." I say, "Bah, Humbug."

I love the movie! It is a true classic, and should be required to be watched in every English Lit class of every high school and private boarding school. The daily life principles taught in that movie are awesome!

One more point. It taught me to never try and control my children's lives, because their lives belong to them, and I will support them in whatever decisions they make, and whatever road they want to travel in life, so long as it is a respectable one. The father in that movie destroyed his own son because the father was an elitist who wanted to mold his son after his will. The son took his own life, because he figured, if I cannot live and direct my own life, then I will just, "exit stage left." That part was very sad! Parents, don't try and control your children. Let them live their own lives, and make their own decisions as to what they want to do with their lives.

~ Lonelypoet

 

[Angeline]

i thought it was fair, at best. entertaining enough to watch.

it isn't a movie about poetry, though. poetry is just one of the tools it uses to explore the themes of non-conformity and WASP dysfunction.

I can think of better movies about WASP dysfunction (Ordinary People, that movie with Kevin Spacey, the title of which escapes me at the moment, lol). Of course some people would say WASP and dysfunction are redundant...but they'd mostly be my relatives.

My tribe's dysfunction is more fun. So's yours.

 

[Angeline]

First off, "nonconformity" is not a hyphenated word. lol Next, WildSweetOne, yes, it did alter my idea and concept concerning the writing of poetry. In fact, I think the movie first came out about 1989, but I never saw it till it hit tv in January, 1992, while I was living in South Texas. That movie inspired me to write poetry.

The movie attacks elitism and conformity as the others have well stated. But, it also teaches a very valuable lesson, and that is each one of us is in control of our own destinies, therefore the concept which Robin William's character presents at the beginning of the movie, "Carpe Diem" (Latin: Seize The Day). Webster says: "Enjoyment of the present without concern for the future." He goes on to say, "Make your lives extraordinary."

I love the part where Robin Williams instructs his class to rip out the introduction to the book of poetry. That was powerful! He was tearing down the walls of elitism at that moment. He was saying basically, who does this Mr. Pritchard think he is making rules concerning what makes up a poem, for poetry is formed in the heart, not from the "rulers" and "measurements" and "rhymes" and "meters" of the elitists. He was showing that man many times makes up "rules," and if someone does not conform to those rules, then they do not "fit into their group." I say, "Bah, Humbug."

I love the movie! It is a true classic, and should be required to be watched in every English Lit class of every high school and private boarding school. The daily life principles taught in that movie are awesome!

One more point. It taught me to never try and control my children's lives, because their lives belong to them, and I will support them in whatever decisions they make, and whatever road they want to travel in life, so long as it is a respectable one. The father in that movie destroyed his own son because the father was an elitist who wanted to mold his son after his will. The son took his own life, because he figured, if I cannot live and direct my own life, then I will just, "exit stage left." That part was very sad! Parents, don't try and control your children. Let them live their own lives, and make their own decisions as to what they want to do with their lives.

~ Lonelypoet

Lauren's gonna smack me for posting this again, but your post made me think of it so wtf.

Introduction To Poetry


I ask them to take a poem
and hold it up to the light
like a color slide

or press an ear against its hive.

I say drop a mouse into a poem
and watch him probe his way out,

or walk inside the poem's room
and feel the walls for a light switch.

I want them to waterski
across the surface of a poem
waving at the author's name on the shore.

But all they want to do
is tie the poem to a chair with rope
and torture a confession out of it.

They begin beating it with a hose
to find out what it really means.

Billy Collins

 

[The_Fool]

I can think of better movies about WASP dysfunction (Ordinary People, that movie with Kevin Spacey, the title of which escapes me at the moment, lol). Of course some people would say WASP and dysfunction are redundant...but they'd mostly be my relatives.

My tribe's dysfunction is more fun. So's yours.

So why did I think you were Jewish?

 

[Angeline]

So why did I think you were Jewish?

Well I don't think I sound like a refugee from a Woody Allen movie, but I suck at self-awareness.

Ever see the movie Radio Days? The parents in it remind me of mine:

Then there were my father and my mother. Two people who could find an argument in any subject.

Father: Wait a minute. Are you telling me you think the Atlantic is a greater ocean than the Pacific?

Mother: No, have it your way. The Pacific is greater!

Narrator: I mean, how many people fight about oceans?

Really.

 

[wildsweetone]

i watched it twice and probably could have watched it again. it seems Robin Williams brings soul into whatever character he portrays, i could watch that man forever and a day.

i liked the movie, if one can like such a thing containing a suicide and over-bearing parents (why does that ring a bell?). i loved the settings! i love how the director of the movie brought out the best in each actor and how he was willing to alter the script/settings as he felt best. flexibility is a good thing in life.

like you LonelyPoet, i enjoyed the ripping out of the 'introduction to poetry' pages. it horrified me that students should simply wipe out published notes like that. horrified and excited. how cool. no rules writing.

viva la freedom!



Angeline, that Billy Collins poem is awesome. Thank you for risking a smacking from Lauren and posting it!

 

[Angeline]

i watched it twice and probably could have watched it again. it seems Robin Williams brings soul into whatever character he portrays, i could watch that man forever and a day.

i liked the movie, if one can like such a thing containing a suicide and over-bearing parents (why does that ring a bell?). i loved the settings! i love how the director of the movie brought out the best in each actor and how he was willing to alter the script/settings as he felt best. flexibility is a good thing in life.

like you LonelyPoet, i enjoyed the ripping out of the 'introduction to poetry' pages. it horrified me that students should simply wipe out published notes like that. horrified and excited. how cool. no rules writing.

viva la freedom!



Angeline, that Billy Collins poem is awesome. Thank you for risking a smacking from Lauren and posting it!

It's a wonderful piece, isn't it? A lot of poets seem to look down the nose at Billy Collins because he writes fairly plainly and his subject matter is often seemingly mundane. I think he's deceptive though, draws you in with warmth and easy humor and works up tp profound. I had never heard of him until a few years back when smithpeter raved about him to me. I love reading him.

 

[bogusbrig]

It's a wonderful piece, isn't it? A lot of poets seem to look down the nose at Billy Collins because he writes fairly plainly and his subject matter is often seemingly mundane. I think he's deceptive though, draws you in with warmth and easy humor and works up tp profound. I had never heard of him until a few years back when smithpeter raved about him to me. I love reading him.

Hmm I think I said this before somewhere. I'm prejudiced against Billy Collins, simply because of the bitch (sorry ladies but I have to use that word when I think of this particular woman) who introduced him to me and gave me a copy of his book. Every now and again I come across it and want to commit murder.

Damn, I ought to throw that book away but it's against my religion. I'd rather murder her than burn a book. The world would be a better place for it too.

Aaaah Now I feel better for spitting that bit of poison.

 

[PatCarrington]

It's a wonderful piece, isn't it? A lot of poets seem to look down the nose at Billy Collins because he writes fairly plainly and his subject matter is often seemingly mundane. I think he's deceptive though, draws you in with warmth and easy humor and works up tp profound. I had never heard of him until a few years back when smithpeter raved about him to me. I love reading him.

i agree. i think he is deceptively profound.

i am a big fan of higher-level simplicity in writing, in prose and poetry and lyrics. i think that happened from reading Hemingway extensively, and listening to Tom Waits, and reading poets like Billy Collins, who certainly is looked down upon by a lot of poets.

it's an interesting debate, the values of simplicity vs. obscurity in poetry. finding a good balance, not forgetting about your audience. Lauren and i engaged in a bit of that discussion a while back.

Hmm I think I said this before somewhere. I'm prejudiced against Billy Collins, simply because of the bitch (sorry ladies but I have to use that word when I think of this particular woman) who introduced him to me and gave me a copy of his book. Every now and again I come across it and want to commit murder.

Damn, I ought to throw that book away but it's against my religion. I'd rather murder her than burn a book. The world would be a better place for it too.

Aaaah Now I feel better for spitting that bit of poison.

i think i'd burn the book. i'd view it as a metaphorical necessity.

you could always get another copy...it might feel differently in your hands, and read a bit better, after a purification by fire.

 

[Angeline]

i agree. i think he is deceptively profound.

i am a big fan of higher-level simplicity in writing, in prose and poetry and lyrics. i think that happened from reading Hemingway extensively, and listening to Tom Waits, and reading poets like Billy Collins, who certainly is looked down upon by a lot of poets.

it's an interesting debate, the values of simplicity vs. obscurity in poetry. finding a good balance, not forgetting about your audience. Lauren and i engaged in a bit of that discussion a while back.





i think i'd burn the book. i'd view it as a metaphorical necessity.

you could always get another copy...it might feel differently in your hands, and read a bit better, after a purification by fire.

I'd lose the book too, and get a different one by Billy. I know I've said I hate poets (all sorts of things, really) for ultimately arbitrary reasons. Who doesn't? But Billy is too good to lose because some bitch spoiled him for Bogus.

And I know exactly what you mean about the balance. Bill Knott, right?



Bogus is in trouble. I have a mission now.

 

[PatCarrington]

And I know exactly what you mean about the balance. Bill Knott, right?



Bogus is in trouble. I have a mission now.

Bill Knott is perfect.

do go after Bogus...it feels good to have you off my ass and applying your conversion manias to someone else.

oh...good morning.

 

[Angeline]

Bill Knott is perfect.

do go after Bogus...it feels good to have you off my ass and applying your conversion manias to someone else.

oh....good morning.

good morning.

you do need to understand that I slow down now and again, but I never give up. just so you know.

 

[PatCarrington]

good morning.

you do need to understand that I slow down now and again, but I never give up. just so you know.

that's what i figured, miss missionary.

i guess i should cherish the down time while it's here.

 

[Angeline]

that's what i figured, miss missionary.

i guess i should cherish the down time while it's here.

Yes, lucky you. I have to leave for work soon.