Page Two
THE MICHIGAN DAILY
Thursday, September 7, 197:
Page Two THE MiCHIGAN DAILY Thursday, Sepfember 7, 1972
magical noise
in vocal poetry
By GLORIA JANE SMITH
Supplement Co-Editor
You undoubtedly remember
hating poetry during your ear-
ly school years . . . tedious lec-
tures that ripped poems apart
word-by-word in order to ex-
hibit a disciplined metric pat-
tern or an intricate rhyme
scheme?
Often overlooked then was
the most obvious - that poetry
is written to be enjoyed, to be
tasted and relished, to be fully
experienced.
"There is an irrational magi-
cal noise to poetry that distin-
guishes it from prose," explains
Donald Hall, nationally known
poet and professor of English
at the University.
"You've got to be able to hear
the magic . . . to plant the
poet's voice in your head," he
emphasizes.
Almost every Tuesday after-
noon this fall, amid the sterile
and dismal walls of the Multi-
purpose Room of the Under-
graduate Library, such aesthetic
discoveries will be realized when
both nationally famous and lo-
cally admired poets present
their works.
These poets usually face a
crowded room of listeners, many
of whom travel from surround-
ing communities as far away as
Detroit for the readings. Once
'on stage' poets usually not on-
ly read their poetry but also
answer questions about their
personal lives and philosophies
and their work.
These readings, co-sponsored
by the University's English de-
partment and its Extension Ser-
vice, are part of what appears
to be a growing national de-
mand for poetry readings at
universities. For not only has
poetry itself become "vogue"
but the desire to listen to poetry
has increased.
"Today, there is more atten-
tion to sound," explains Hall,
'and not so much emphasis on
a poem's visual appearance on
the written page."
"Poetry is definitely more
oral. More poets are giving
readings and many are impro-
vising while they read."
In the late fifties, two poets
read each year on this campus.
while now the poetry series
brings at least ten poets to the
University each term.
The gradual growth of the
series, sparked by English Prof.
!Bert Hornback, has been mostly
in response to student interest.
Hornback began to expand
the series about four years ago.
At that time, poetry readings
were sponsored entirely by the
English department. This made
it financially impossible to at-
tract a large number of good
poets, many of whom support
themselves by their work.
The series eventually received
additional financial support
from various local groups and
individuals, which enabled it
to expand.
The series has also been able
literary journals
sustain cretvt
,
i
Exotic & herb teas
Cookbooks
Whole bean coffees Herbs & spices
Fondue pots
Ice cream makers
All manner of exquisite cookware
at
PC &
415
a
Far
DETROIT ST.
across from
mer's Market
to feature poets otherwise fi-
nancially impossible by coordi-
nating their efforts with other
universities and 'Poetry: Ann
Arbor,' a groupithat schedules
poets to read in local public
schools.
Included in last year's sched-
ule were University professors
Donald Hall, Robert Hayden,
Robert Stillwell and Radcliffe
Squires, as well as poets Ted
Berrigan, Donald Justice, Mil-
ton Kessler, Galway Kinnel, John
Logan and Jack Marshall.
The schedule for this fall is
not yet finalized, although Horn-
back predicts that Donald Hall,
Robert Hayden and Galway Kin-
nel will read. Check with the
English dept. and the Daily Of-
ficial Bul11e t in for definite
- schedule.
Poets are also brought to the
University by various other
campus groups, such as the
Writer-in-Residence p r o gram
which most recently sponsored
ecology - conscious zen poet
Gary Snyder and Robert Bly.
hopwood
awards
For over forty years, students
at the University have had the
opportunity to be generously
rewarded for their creative writ-
ing talents by the Avery Hop-
wood and Jule H o p w o o d
Awards.
The contest was first held in
1931, three years after the death
of prominent American drama-
tist Avery Hopwood ('05).
Under the terms of his will,
Hopwood bequeathed one-fifth
of his estate to the Regents of
the University for encouraging
creative work in writing.
:7
U I
"The new, the unusual, and
the radical shall be especially
encouraged," Hopwood wrote.
The Regents, at a meeting in
1930, a p p r o v e d regulations
which authorized the distribu-
tion of prize money as major
and minor awards.
The contest, open to students
of University c o m p o s i-
tion courses who submit manu-
scripts of drama, essay, fiction,
and poetry, is scheduled once
each year. There are also two
s m a 1 1 e r underclassmen
and summer contests.
Manuscripts are' read by a
panel of judges of national
reputation. Recommendations
are made to a University com-
mittee of judges who make the
final decisions concerning
awards.
Last year, t h e awards
amounted to $25,500.
Past recipients of the awards
include Betty Smith who wrote
"A Tree Grows in Brooklyn,"
Maritta Wolf who wrote "Whis-
tle Stop," and playwright Ar-
thur Miller.
Have a flair forc
artistic writing
III If you are interest-
ed in reviewing
drama, dance,fl,
poetrt and ausic,
stories about the
arts: Contact Arts
Editor, c/o The
Michigan Daily.
I a ~ ai~
By BARBARA BIALICK
How does a student retain
creativity in spite of vast
amounts of homework?
For.those inclined to writing,
a good idea is to keep in touch
with the campus literary jour-
nals. Besides some upcoming
publications, Anon, Michigan
Quarterly Review, and Genera-
tion are best known. Each has
its own format and appeal, val-
uable to know for those who
may want to submit manu-
scripts.
Anon is the English depart-
ment's annual journal whose
goal is to print "unpublished
poetry" from the University
community. Most of those pub-
lished are teaching fellows, pro-
fessors, and winners of the Uni-
versity's Hopwood Writing Con-
test. This year's edition in-
cludes mostly poetry, with one
long story at the end. There ap-
pears to be no set theme, al-
though some of the work fits
into categories of nostalgia,
gimmic poems, the mind, and
generalities on student life. The
poetry is generally more con-
cerned with thought than with
the sensuous qualities of words;
this "thought" is often too gen-
eral to be thoroughly under-
stood. Anon is pleasant to look
through even though there is
scant art work and the print
looks like typing. The journal
is good exposure for new writ-
ers.
The Michigan Quarterly Re-
view, edited by University En-
glish professor and poet Rad-
cliffe Squires, is a different kind
of journal. There are no draw-
ings, and the words are print.
ed professionally on fine paper.
It includes fiction,-critical es-
says, book reviews, and verse by
notable professors, editors, and
authors. It's probably untouch-
able to newcomers. A quick look
at the Spring 1972 issue reveals
that there are more insightful
sketches of people than the
works included in Anon. The
language is more academic and
spans subjects that have not
only linguistic but historioal
meaning. The authors do not
merely talk about memory, but
rather write polished pieces
composed of things remember-
ed. The concern with symbolism
and with such discussions as
"Poet as Philosopher: Robert
Frost" (John Morris), make the
journal good reading, but an
unlikely place for newcomers to
be published.
Of the three, Generation is
the most easily accessible for
student writers. It is composed
of drawings, photos, and a va-
riety of writings. Past editions
have been pleasant to look
through, although the caliber
of writing. often fell. below
Anon. (except when professor-
writers were solicited.) The last
issue of Generation reflects not
only financial problems, but
misunderstandings 4 e t w ,e e' n
staff and editors concerning
what would be printed. More
important, the amount of ma-
terial submitted was too small
to make an adequate selection. 4
Right now, Generation hangs
suspended between existence
and non-existence. If an in-
spired group of people get to-
gether this year,; Generation
can build back ifts reputation.
Someone has to organize the
journal, but most of all, the
writers have to create and send
in manuscripts to the Genera-
tion office in the Student Pub-
lications Building, 420 May-
nard.
A fine collection of other lit-
erary journals can be found in
the University's Hopwood
Room, 1006 Angell Hall, open
Monday through Friday from
8-12 and from 1-5.
At the round table, riot
knights but lovers of words
peruse .the clutter of national
and international joutnals.
There are also books which
can be signed out, a ,cabinet of
prize-winning Hopwood 'nanu-
scripts, and comfortable chairs.
The secretary,' Hilda; Bonham,
will try to answer your ques-
tions about writing contests.
During fall and winter, there
are inspirational tea and cook-
ies served on Thursdays 3,45. All
curious and hungry are wel-
come.
.ea.-da Woma
YPSILANTI
for
FINE ITALIAN AND
AMERICAN FOOD
COCTAIL LOUNGE
AND ENTERTAINMENT
NOW APPEARING:
WYNN & JOHN
483-3027
Carry Out Service on Entire Menu
11 W. MICHIGAN AYE.
YPSILANTI
I
0.
- -- -U {
..I ...... ....
.P
.NN
li
'1
I
vi
:E
E
V
-immma-
A.A.C.T. Proudly Presents Its 43rd Season
Oct. 4-7
FORTY CARATS
I
Nov. 29-Dec. 2 ANYTHING GOES
Jan. 17-20
THE LION IN WINTER
A light hearted French view of
the problems of love across the
generations.
The classic musical c o m e d y
about improbable doings on an
ocean liner in the 30's.
A struggle for control of the
destiny of Medieval England.
The universal conflict between
s t r o n g men and determined
women.
Three pickpockets, in masquer-
ade, a palatial home and young
love.
A powerful story of a dominat-
ing teacher and her influence
over a group of girls in pre-war
England.
Announces
Mass Meetings
Sept. 11-14
201 MULHOLLAND
(off W. Washington behind the
housing commission office)
7:30 P.M. -11:00 P.M.
Feb. 21-24 THIEI
May 16-19 MOSi
/1AJK
fES' CARNIVAL
IE OF MISS JEAN BRODIE
[ HAPPY FELLA
SEPT. 11th
SEPT. 12th
SEPT. 13th
SEPT. 14th
7: 0-Doors Open
8:00-Costumes
8:45-Props
9:30-Make-up
7:30-Doors Open
8:00-Stage Management
8:45-Acting
9:30-Directing
7:30-Doors Open
8:00--Lights & Sounds
8 :45--Set Design
9:30-Set Construction
7:30-Doors Open
8:00-Promotions
8:45-E.T.C. (and the million
9:30-and one other areas that
need and want you)
Love and Wine growing
"Watching All the Girls Go
and
BY~
in Napa Valley make for a Most
Popular Musical.
~mmmm. ummmmmu mm~minu uinmmin3 minmm~inu umminminmu
U
-'
DON'T DELAY-ORDER SEASON TICKETS TODAY
r r
r r
CIT
r r
r r
ANN ARBOR CIVIC THEATRE PRODUCES
SIX MAJOR
i
I -. . .. --i aw AA