Comments on: Personally, I’d choose “c) Madness in Flanders” http://rebelsofromance.wordpress.com/2008/08/02/personally-id-choose-c-madness-in-flanders/ Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:08:43 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Carolyn Jewel http://rebelsofromance.wordpress.com/2008/08/02/personally-id-choose-c-madness-in-flanders/#comment-255 Carolyn Jewel Mon, 08 Sep 2008 01:29:29 +0000 http://rebelsofromance.wordpress.com/?p=190#comment-255 None other than Joyce Kilmer (yes, that Kilmer), editor of the New York Times Book Review, had much to say in those pages about degenerate artists (writers and artists). If he didn't write the article himself, he certainly seemed to place a lot of conservative voices in his NYT pages who roundly spoke out against these new-fangled modes of expression. Marcel Duchamp's Nude Descending A Stair was considered a horror. The Free-verse contingent of poets came in for scathing denigration as did the Vorticists (Ezra Pound and his ilk). There's little indication, though, that these artists cared all that much what people thought. Part of the point was that they were doing something the establishment hated. Of course "they" didn't get it. One suspects "they" weren't supposed to. And now, Kilmer is remembered primarily for a maudlin verse about a tree while the others he vilified are considered great artists. It's probably worth mentioning that Kilmer's experiences in WWI fundamentally changed his view of the world and I do think that had he not been a casualty of that war, we might well have seen a more important poet emerge. The NYT archives are fascinating. None other than Joyce Kilmer (yes, that Kilmer), editor of the New York Times Book Review, had much to say in those pages about degenerate artists (writers and artists). If he didn’t write the article himself, he certainly seemed to place a lot of conservative voices in his NYT pages who roundly spoke out against these new-fangled modes of expression. Marcel Duchamp’s Nude Descending A Stair was considered a horror. The Free-verse contingent of poets came in for scathing denigration as did the Vorticists (Ezra Pound and his ilk). There’s little indication, though, that these artists cared all that much what people thought. Part of the point was that they were doing something the establishment hated. Of course “they” didn’t get it. One suspects “they” weren’t supposed to.

And now, Kilmer is remembered primarily for a maudlin verse about a tree while the others he vilified are considered great artists.

It’s probably worth mentioning that Kilmer’s experiences in WWI fundamentally changed his view of the world and I do think that had he not been a casualty of that war, we might well have seen a more important poet emerge.

The NYT archives are fascinating.

]]> By: Liz Maverick http://rebelsofromance.wordpress.com/2008/08/02/personally-id-choose-c-madness-in-flanders/#comment-143 Liz Maverick Wed, 06 Aug 2008 18:27:03 +0000 http://rebelsofromance.wordpress.com/?p=190#comment-143 Leanna, I would be so excited if my post got someone to go see the exhibit. This particular phase of his work really is extraordinary. :) Liz Leanna, I would be so excited if my post got someone to go see the exhibit. This particular phase of his work really is extraordinary.

:) Liz

]]> By: Leanna Renee Hieber http://rebelsofromance.wordpress.com/2008/08/02/personally-id-choose-c-madness-in-flanders/#comment-141 Leanna Renee Hieber Wed, 06 Aug 2008 01:45:11 +0000 http://rebelsofromance.wordpress.com/?p=190#comment-141 Oh, hey, I like that Kirchner. I'd never heard of him and my dad's an art teacher. Consider me schooled. I need to get to the MoMA. Oh, hey, I like that Kirchner. I’d never heard of him and my dad’s an art teacher. Consider me schooled. I need to get to the MoMA.

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