Newspapers / University of North Carolina … / Dec. 1, 1971, edition 1 / Page 10
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page ten/the journal/december 1, 1971 If 1 arts/ entertainment journal photo/alsop a review Forum and chaos -by jay eaker It was as if the sponsors of the North Carolina Writers’ Forum had isolated samples of the poetic virus from the population at large and put them in test tubes to display in the Parquet Room for public viewing and panel discussion. The atmosphere was that of a carnival and the topic was Poetry and Chaos. One got the distinct impression that no one really cared what the topic was as long as they could come and be seen. There were plenty of little ole ladies, a sprinkling of students, and even some people who looked serious and contemplative as befitted the austerity of the occasion. After some superfluities like “Welcome to” and “Brought to you by,” moderator Sam Ragan kicked off the discussion with some dry humor and introduced both the topic and the first speaker, Paul Baker Newman, a Queens professor. Dr. Newman addressed the topic of Poetry and Chaos for the first and what turned out to be the last time that night. He gave both definition and etymology of the words. Chaos he defined as anti-form. In the same way that matter has anti-matter, form has anti-form. Man has ordered the universe so that he can explain it. We call it science. Poetry deals with the human heart, balances the problems of the individual, and harmonizes the individual, with himself. The relationship between the two comes by creative contact with Nature. With impeccable classroom delivery, Dr. Newman had the intellectuals in the room sitting on the edge of their chairs and the majority of the audience falling asleep. When he had adroitly summarized his views on the topic, he sat down. Next, George Barrax referred us to W.B. Yeats for his definition of chaos and referred us to Jamestown, Va. in 1619 for the beginning of chaos and anarchy in America. That was the year the first Africans were brought to America as slaves. With the history of Black verse from Paul Dunbar on up, he explained that poets are our conscience and that the history of Black Verse is the history of protest against the injustices of slavery in America. Conscious of his heritage, Barrax is a Black poet and writes about Black things. The next speaker up and the first to sit down and use the microphone at the panelist’s table was UNCC’s own Robert Waters Grey. Speaking “off the cuff,” he defined poetry as an ordering process (which neatly wraps up both poetry and chaos) and went on to say that words are horrible symbols (“Just when you think you’ve got them nailed down, they get up and walk away.”) As an alternate definition of poetry try, “poetry is an obscure way of lighting up obscure corners ...obscurely.” With his Cavettlike delivery, he was the popular favorite of the audience and his one-liners warmed the heart of everyone. But, nothing compared to his reading of his poem “Dead Chickens.” In retrospect, he didn’t say anything that important or to the limited point, and he refused to take the audience seriously, which was, 1 suppose, the only thing any intelligent person could do, under the circumstances. Speaking last, just off the plane from California, was George Butler, president of a record company. His contribution to the discussion of Poetry and Chaos was a speech on the origins and relevance of the lyrics of popular songs, punctuated by cuts from various albums to illustrate his not-too-obvious point. To say that he didn’t know what he was talking about would be to understate his not-too-well stated statement. Beginning with Elvis Presley and “You Ain’t Nothing But a Hound Dog,” Dr. Butler bombastically traced the evolution of popular lyrics from their primitive origins to their present debatable refinement. His expertise in oratory was matched only by his adroit handling of the record player. With the volume turned up to just below the level of pain, each time he played a cut the needle bounded all over the record. He explained that he only recorded records... he didn’t play them. Logistics aside, he really didn’t say anything that everyone didn’t already know anyway and he didn’t say THAT well. One garnered the impression that his musical taste is dictated by what the market will bear. He mentioned that someone is coming out with a rock version of Handel’s Messiah. (You could hear the cash register ring) But more astounding was the way in which he justified the use of classical works by rock “composers.” Personal interpretation my ass. clossijieds When Dr. Butler finally gd through destroying the record player, Moderator Ragan asked the audience for questions. Everyone was reluctant because it was late and they wanted to go home. Besides, no one remembered what had been said before Dr. Butler had begun to speak. A few people at length managed to frame some fairly intelligent-sounding inane questions and after a few of the^i Moderator Ragan called it quits and everyone finally got to go home. Journal Classifieds are FREE to all University members, regardless of status. Anything you want to buy, sell, trade, and/or locate-just write up the item and drop it by the Journal office (Room B-4, basement) or at the Info Desk in the University Center. All ads will be run once only, space permitting, and the editor reserves the right to edit ads for clarity or conciseness or style. For Sale: 1970 Plymouth Dust^' 340 C.I., 4-barrel cbtr., 3-speeo- Yellow with black top, pinstri $200 and assume payments. 537-7943 after 8:00 p.m. call For Sale: 1967 Ford Van in excelient Condition. $1100. Call 537-0385. 2 DAYS ONLY^ DEC. 10-n A Park Center 7:30 p.m. ADVANCE TICKETS ^ TYPING: Fast, professional term paper and thesis typing. Call 332-6505 anytime. The UNCC Bookstore will pay you cash tor your old books — '/z price! See the list of titles to be bought posted around campus. The 8th Summer School in Sp3' will be held at Ciudad Universitari|- Madrid, from June 30 to August > The six week courses 'hclu/f® elementary and intermediate Spam’,,; Composition and Conwersatio ; Spanish Culture and Civilizat'O Cervantes; 19th and 20th centu'r novels; Survey of Spanish Literatu' and Independedent Study. Extensive travel to historical a cultural sites also will be included. Cost for the school is $790.00. » For full information, write to 0(- ^ Doreste, Augustana College, Ro Island, III., 61201. 3 College students may maximum of 12 quarter creo'^, transferable to any college university in the U.S.A. •Record Bar •Music Land •Record City •Shrude •Infinity's End •The Real Store •Mail Box 12527 $4.00 Advance $4.50 Door “Far Superior to Jesus Christ Superstar After Dark Mag. BACKPACKING HIKING ROCK CLIMBING OPENING DEC.1 SUPPLYING YOU WITH THE VERY BEST IN EQUIPMENT LIGHTWEIGHT DOWN PARKAS-SWEATERS SLEEPING BAGS-PACK FRAMES & PACKS-TENT^ BOOTS HIKING & CLIMBING WITH VIBRIM SOLES CLIMBING GOLDLINE ROPE-PITONS CARABINERS-HAM mep^ MOUNTAINEERING SOUTH (Behind Grace Restaurant) 845 MERRIMON AVE. ASHEVILLE, . Q Pi .‘ht ’h !°i “6 Of ^hl iM ■ fh' \ N ’ lOi
University of North Carolina at Charlotte Student Newspaper
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Dec. 1, 1971, edition 1
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