Anguish, frustration, mostly anguish though...

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Local Parasite

Member Elite

since 2001-11-05

Posts 2527
Transylconia, Winnipeg

0 posted 2003-10-01 04:10 AM

I can't stand ignorant people.  It's even worse when they happen to be teaching a course in a University.  And it's even worse than that when they are teaching your Creative Writing course.

I was recently pushed out of a course on Creative Writing, which I the student paid for, because the instructor felt the need to change the criteria of the course to suit his own ignorance.  He told the class recently that he himself doesn't know the slightest thing about poetry and that the course (which was outlined at the time I registered as being a general creative writing course) would focus on prose with only minor exercises in poetry.  This was in light of our handing in a first assignment, in poetry or prose as he'd said, and being marked rather unfairly due to the fact that he doesn't have any appreciation for structurual writing.

I exchanged emails with him a few times.  He concluded that my style of writing is "archaic" (he actually said that meter/rhyme went out of style 2 to 3 hundred years ago) and has no present-day relevance, and that it's not suitable for a creative writing course.  My reaction, naturally, was "what the hell?"

I responded to him, giving him numerous examples of the timelessness of poetic form, using Philip Larkin and Robert Frost as modern examples.  Hopefully, for the sake of those who are choosing to stay in his class, it'll give him a little wake-up call.  He's made it clear that he's probably never even bothered to open up an anthology of poetry in his lifetime.

For now, I realize I have nothing to learn from this person, and so I've been screwed out of a creative writing course which I'd been looking forward to for literally years.

Okay... that's out in the open. I'll apply next year when the "real" creative writing teacher is teaching the course again. This has been a saddening and disgraceful few weeks, and I still feel really down. I can't even sleep. All I can think of is this moron "educating" people with his baseless lessons of what poetry "should be."

I can't stand how badly the common notion of "Poetry" has been deteriorating in our time... I had faith that a professional (that is, someone who would be instructing a creative writing course) would have the insight to know better.

What a let-down.

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean

since 2000-02-02

Posts 27738

1 posted 2003-10-01 04:35 AM

This page has been deliberately left blank.

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

2 posted 2003-10-01 07:01 AM

At first I thought he was subtly teaching a side course in "the Art of Diplomacy" but upon further reading, discarded that idea.

At least you made the attempt to e-mail him with your concerns.

Now, link him to the thousands of poets whose current day writings, both contemporary, archaic, and structural, you appreciate, and showing him...

we ain't dead yet!

And then report his comments to his superiors.

[This message has been edited by Sunshine (10-01-2003 07:02 AM).]

Janet Marie
Member Laureate

since 2000-01-22

Posts 18554

3 posted 2003-10-01 09:02 AM

He's made it clear that he's probably never even bothered to open up an anthology of poetry in his lifetime.
============================

Bri...that says all you need to know....
Theres nothing you can learn from him...
hes so out of touch with both teaching and what it takes to be creative that I'm sure he was intimidated by your talent and your intelligence.

I am so sorry you had this experience...I had one similar...all we can do is learn from their lacking. A teacher with a closed mind cant enlighten anyone....and we already know youre light years ahead of most anyway.

Now bring your archaic cute style on over here and give the moth some structure

LOL

smile Bri-babes...he was way out of his league with you in the class.

Ringo

Member Elite

since 2003-02-20

Posts 3684
Saluting with misty eyes

4 posted 2003-10-01 10:24 AM

This Professor sounds like a real genius.
He reminds me of that Head Master in the movie Dead Poets Society... it's just too bad you are in Robin William's class.

We are all equal but we’re individually different
and able to reach the impossible if we try.

wranx
Member Elite

since 2002-06-07

Posts 3689
Moved from a shack to a barn

5 posted 2003-10-01 11:34 AM

This Pinhead is probably just a politician, that is until he's tenured. Then he'll be completely worthless!

Its too bad that he can't live up to the silibus. Take heart friend Parasite, You have a better understanding of all things poetic than most. (Including the teachers of generalities). You'll find the instuctor that will do you justice.
I know this, because I know you'll LOOK for him/her!
Meanwhile...GET YOUR MONEY BACK! It's no fault of yours that the person that you hired is unable to perform the contract.
Right?
Right!

Ed...

Toad
Member

since 2002-06-16

Posts 161

6 posted 2003-10-01 05:30 PM

Is he, in your opinion, a good prose teacher?

LoveBug

Moderator

Member Elite

since 2000-01-08

Posts 4697

7 posted 2003-10-01 11:40 PM

Ew... this is a very large and credible univesity too, right? I'd go over his head and speak to the dean of the department...

Oh, make me Thine forever
And should I fainting be
Lord, let me never ever
Outlive my love for Thee

Balladeer

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-05

Posts 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA

8 posted 2003-10-02 12:09 PM

Parasite, welcome to the world. I've heard that from teachers and also book publishers. Structured poetry is indeed considered archaic in today's time...unfortunately. I have fought this for years, being a structured poet, but I am screaming in the wind. Structured poets are looked down upon in today's world. Publishers will not use it, magazines will not print it, poetry groups will not acknowledge it and teachers will not teach it. Yes, once in a great while some piece may make it but, overall, it is treated like leprosy. If you expect to find a teacher who will study it and teach it, I wish you luck. It may receive a token amount of being studied but I'll be amazed if any professor tries to teach or encourage it.......good luck.

Mysteria

Member Laureate

since 2001-03-07

Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada

9 posted 2003-10-02 01:24 AM

There is the answer! Balladeer could apply for the job!

What a ripoff - can't you get your money back and take another course? Boy, I would not be taking that course as is, and demainding a rebate. I am so sorry this happened to you Brian, could you hold a group in your "spare time?" Ya right!

littlewing
Member Rara Avis

since 2003-03-02

Posts 9655
New York

10 posted 2003-10-02 08:34 AM

Brian:

mann you know I took the same course when I started college . . . Creative Writing
hah! More like "You will write what I want you to write" . . . almost failed it too
yes, failed a creative writing class.
So, I do understand where you are coming from . . . as for this teacher, if he cannot recognize a prodigy when he sees one, that is his problem, not your own, what a fool!
Heh! One day he may have to open up YOUR book to teach a class

Do get your money back . . .
you are far better than this fool
who obviously knows nothing of any sort of writing whatsoever.

Sorry Brian, keep your head up
You know how good you are
but yes, this fool teaching . . .
(apply for his job?)
heh
*smile*
xxoo

nakdthoughts
Member Laureate

since 2000-10-29

Posts 19200
Between the Lines

11 posted 2003-10-02 11:02 AM

http://www.mathombookshop.com/writings.html

I met Professor Lewis Turco , retired from teaching at the State University of New York at Oswego  (I think he was a professor) during one of the poet meets a few years back in Richmond Virginia...we had dinner with he and his wife. He has a book out that he signed and gifted to us called "The Book of Forms" he also has a small antique book store in New England I believe.
I searched out his website for you to see..and  maybe if you contact him he will have some words of wisdom...it's a wonderful book with forms and explanations and his own poems and others as examples...

I know what you mean...about  people thinking rhyme is a by-gone era...but if that's true why are new generations in school taught about rhyming and to write poems that way and then why are childrens books rhyming most of the time..form and rhyme is not dead..it just needs some reviving and acceptance by those who think writing  words in vertical lines and with such hidden meanings that hardly anyone can understand what is meant..sort of like beatniks way back when

before my time...they are just beating a drum...sound only, meaning...less.

just my take on poetry...although there is room for all, with none to be excluded ..everyone has different tastes.

Maureen

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