On November 7, I was interviewed by poet Rustin Larson on KRUU's Irving Toast, Poetry Ghost. It was a fun and interesting experience. For most of my life I have been a writer, but it has been many years since I have conversed with writers about writing. I found myself articulating concepts that I believe but have never explicitly expressed.
In many ways, the interview was similar to writing this blog. It gave me the opportunity to think about what I write and why I write.
For myself, it was most interesting to discuss the relationship between autobiographical writing and art. I found myself discussing the idea that real art extends beyond the historical self and reaches for the transcendental--our "total" selves, one might say. This is where art begins, when the artist leaves behind the point value self and focuses on the unbounded self--seeing the spiritual within the physical, seeing the soul beyond the mind.
This discussion connects to what I call consciousness-based writing, writing that inspires the reader to seek the transcendental basis of reality, writing that celebrates the spiritual.
It was fun to read some of the poems from Bare Ruined Choirs aloud. This is also something I have done only rarely. To hear the poems out loud--even if I was the one doing the reading--was to reawaken the experience of writing the poems. Sound--the vibrational value of language--is so integral to meaning.
Rustin will let me know when the show will be aired (and also posted on the KRUU website), and I will pass on the information.
Rustin is a good poet and an insightful interviewer. He is our local lion of literature. I recommend his books and his radio show. Some links are listed below.
The Wine-Dark House, by Rustin Larson
KRUU, 100.1 FM (See Archives for past shows of Irving Toast, Poetry Ghost)
Rustin Larson is also on Facebook.
Copyright 2009 by Thomas L. Kepler, all rights reserved
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