From: nikolay@husc10.harvard.edu (Philip Nikolayev)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.poems
Subject: Re: An Act of Kindness (was: Re: a rose-fingered...)
Date: 23 Dec 92 05:19:04 GMT
Article-I.D.: husc10.NIKOLAY.92Dec22211904
Organization: The Kremlin Wall of Harvard
In-reply-to: eric@npri6.npri.com's message of 22 Dec 92 19:27:29 GMT

eric@npri6.npri.com (Eric Williams) writes:

> Philip Nikolayev writes:

> [a slab of severe criticism deleted]

PN
>>Remember that, in the wise words of Cyril Connolly, the author's
>>only valid purpose is to create a masterpiece. Everything else is at
>>best a loveless excuse for sloth, and always a crime.

EW
> From a theoretical standpoint, I agree with this, but as far as
> practicality goes, it is nonsense. If we were to follow this dictum
> to the letter, there would be no publishing industry, few galleries,
> no commercial or personal art. The world would be a bleak and bare
> place. Even the masters of art have produced bowsers, all the better
> to encourage humility in their followers.

On the contrary, we would have no galleries and even no commercial art
if no one aimed at brilliance. The world would be a bleak and bare 
bazaar indeed. You are a somewhat muddled thinker if you fail to see 
that the desire to produce a masterpiece is the only proper expression
of humility in art, as opposed to the oft-expressed egotism of many a 
bleeding r.a.p. soul: "I know that this poem ain't mighty good, but at
least it's sincere, so don't be too harsh." Or worse: "Don't tell me 
that I write crap, 'cause its all a matter of personal taste anyway."

PN
>>But one must always try one's level best.

EW
> The target of your tirade may insist she is trying. What then?

Yes, he might, naturally, although I don't suppose he would.
At any rate, I have no interest in anyone's delusions except
Plato's and my own, and I said specifically that that I wasn't
trying to prove anything.

PN
> Should she apply for a welding job at the local shipyard?

Feeble jab; wrong target.

PN
>>Don't seek to charm anyone, Marek: only great masters are entitled
>>to that sort of thing.


EW
> Even Joyce Kilmer, that pariah among hacks, has managed to charm
> enough schoolmarms to elevate his name to commemorative status in
> directories of US public schools. It is fallacy to say that quality
> leads to popularity or that success is based on care, good breeding
> or mastery of art.

It is indeed a fallacy to say that; and it is the easiest thing
in the world to attribute a stupid view to your opponent and promptly
to refute it. I simply suggest that there is a difference between
a poential artist and a charmer of r.a.p. omnivorous audience. 
These two kinds of person hardly have anything in common.

> [more entertaining bullying deleted]

>>Philip Nikolayev nikolay@husc.harvard.edu

> Keep up the good work, Nick! Although your verse doesn't scan and
> your themes tend to be repetitive, I think your niche is assured in
> r.a.p. as the poet who poses as a raving, elitist critic with a
> sawtooth bite and a butterknife soul. Exemplary!

I doubt that you have seen any of my verse, Bill, unless, of course, you
read Russian and have access to Moscow periodicals and anthologies.
If you did, though, you'd have a hell of a hard time trying to show
that it doesn't scan. But it's all right, you're welcome to bleat, 
butterball Bill. Post more crooked timber; I'll just shake the 
sawdust from my feet.

> -------- eric@npri.com ---------- or ---------- ...uunet!uupsi!npri6!eric -----
>             "You know it isn't massacres and laughter all day long."            
> Eric C. Williams/ NPRI/ Alexandria, VA/ USA/ (703) 683-9090/ Usual disclaimers.

No disclaimers. All the above opinions have been
approved by the Harvard Board of Trustees and 
the Harvard Administrative Board.

Philip Nikolayev
nikolay@husc.harvard.edu