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Paper 2. Political sounds of John Cage and Allen Ginsberg

Chen 1

Tony Chen

Dr. Mairead Byrne

Sound Poetry

8th. March. 2013

Political sounds of John Cage and Allen Ginsberg

    In the book “Silence”, a collection of writings by John cage, one could observe his thought progress through out his years and how heavily influenced was his work by Buddhism. As for Allen Ginsberg, another poet of the same time period with similar influence of Buddhism but created very different works. It is interesting to compare the two poets side by side and investigate upon their similarities and differences within their work and voice. More importantly, how they view politics.

   

    John cage calls himself an Anarchist. I find this interesting. This is another part of john cage that I find very interesting. Through out various points of the book, it is stated that Cage is heavily influenced by Buddhism. However, I constantly feel like what influenced him was not Buddhism but rather, Taoism. His political view of Anarchist further points towards this idea. The idea of anarchism was first founded by Lao Tse around 5BCE, he is also the founder of Taoist. Through out Cage’s work, one could observe its close relations to Taoism and Anarchism.

    John Cage’s work on sounds and ensembles, it is obvious to see its close connections. In the book “silence”, under “experimental music - doctrine”, Cage expressed closely of his eagerness to have randomness closely participating within his work. He explained that music on its own basic level, shouldn’t and can’t be interpreted. This is where I feel the Taoism comes in, Buddhism does not really call for a randomness of life, but Taoism does. It leans closer towards the freeness of life. There is not really a close determination of right or wrong but follow closer with letting things flow along the way they flow. This is also where the Anarchism comes in. People does not necessarily need to be controlled, but they will be able to flow in a way that controlled would not be necessary. In Cage’s ensembles, you do not see soloist support by back up groups. Because he believe that all are equal and could participate in the piece and work without the existence of a “Higher being”. Cage also perform with all sorts of instruments and all sorts of places. He does not regard one instrument higher than another or a location more significant than another. This further signifies the importance of equality within his work and in politics. All of the above locates some basic and fundamental ideas of Anarchism.

   

    Allen Ginsberg, born and composed around the same time, took a very different route and philosophy ideas when compared to John Cage. Ginsberg seem to demonstrate less interest in the way of living but rather political structure. His poem “America” could be closely observed. Within the poem, it embezzles his ideas of socialism and how that is contrasted with the capitalism of the united states. It is obvious that his ideas of socialism or communism exist in a very different form then what we have today. It lies closer to “Utopia” by Saint Thomas More rather than real life models of Russia or Peoples Republic of China.

“America I've given you all and now I'm nothing.
America two dollars and twenty-seven cents January 17, 1956.
I can't stand my own mind.
America when will we end the human war?
Go fuck yourself with your atom bomb
I don't feel good don't bother me.
I won't write my poem till I'm in my right mind…”(America)

One of his main stand point would be to avoid war. Within the poem “America” it pointed out his hatred against US in demonstrating its power over the world with its military power. His next point would be his anger towards the social worker status within the United States. How capitalism forced or leads certain amount of people to live in miserable conditions while others. able to live in luxury. At the last part of the poem Ginsberg expressed his idea of communism. It is much strongly based on the social class. Ginsberg’s Mother is Russian, that could be another reason for his anger and explosion when the cold war was going on. Ginsberg was once accused for being a communist during the cold war but he simply responded that he stands for neither. Since both parties could not exemplify the simple idea of peace.

    It is very interesting to place the two poets side by side and see their progression of their blief. The two poets have very different approach with what they absorbed. In some way, one could also say that Cage in some aspects is also a communist, with his strong belief in equality and every man having the same importance within a group. However, cage approached it very differently. It is embedded in a style of calm music and tranquil motions. It is obvious that both of the poets are influenced by what they see of that time period. The wars, the deaths, the injuries, the government. Cage took the much more peaceful route while Ginsberg seem to look for a much more forefront, aggressive move. The words within Ginsberg’s poems includes curses and stronger word choices, but cage still remains closely with his peaceful practices. One could say they are calling for similar things but with different approaches. John Cage is a man who  challenges the past calls for a change and inserts his own ideas into his practices. As for Allen Ginsberg, he is a man that follows his time. His work revolves around the beat movement, Jazz, and pop. The fundamental differences within the two artist have resulted in very different responses towards politics.

Works Cited

Ide, Todd. "The Hilltop Review." "Party Line: Allen Ginsberg and political expression in Death & fame" by Todd Ide. 22 Mar. 2013 <http://scholarworks.wmich.edu/hilltopreview/vol2/iss1/7/>.

Kostelanetz:, Richard. "Anarchist Art of John Cage." Anarchist Art of John Cage. STERNECK.NET. 22 Mar. 2013 <http://www.sterneck.net/john-cage/kostelanetz/index.php>.

Rambles, Baker. "America Analysis by Allen ginsberg." HubPages. 22 Mar. 2013 <http://bakerrambles.hubpages.com/hub/America-Analysis>.

Paper 1. The eyes of Sound Poetry

Chen 1

Tony Chen

Dr. Mairead Byrne

Sound Poetry

8th. March. 2013

The eyes of Sound Poetry

    The idea of sound poetry is more than just sounds composing a poetry. It expands through a large dimension. Sounds could create a image, a image that could paint a picture. It could live within the words, painted within the waves or an existence within mere silence. It is hard to imagine the complexity that exists within these sounds to create such prolific images. It is the experience, the process that one sits through to able to encounter and be submerged to be able to see with their ears.

    Allen Ginsberg’s “Howl” creates a strong image, a image not only created by words, but also the way it is read.

“whole intellects disgorged in total recall for seven days and nights with brilliant eyes, meat for the Synagogue cast on the pavement,

who vanished into nowhere Zen New Jersey leaving a trail of ambiguous picture postcards of Atlantic City Hall,

suffering Eastern sweats and Tangerian bone-grindings and migraines of China under junk-withdrawal in Newark's bleak furnished room,”

The words itself creates a powerful image, leaving significant trade marks of the world of its time. It provides its reader with fragments of reality. These words could connect with the people of his time and stands strong even to its audience today. The words itself creates a strong connection with its audience. It creates images through familiarity. Words like “ambiguous postcards of atlantic city hall’ or “Junk-withdrawal in Newark’s bleak furnish room” calls for recognition and reflection. However, the “look” of this piece is not only created through the words, but also the reading by Ginsberg himself. The breathless reading, the fast tempo, the machine gun like word separation further enhances the image. It creates the precise “look” that Ginsberg wishes to present. The feeling of desperation, anger, hate, emptiness all exists within the reading style. How could one avoid that image once they have heard his reading? This is a strong example that exemplifies that a sound poem’s image could exist in multiple dimensions. It could exist in the words that provides the setting, while the reading, the presentation, creates the atmosphere.

    The poem, “Ursonate”, by Kurt Schwitters creates a different image through a different process. The setting of the image is no longer presented by words, as the words no longer make any sense but rather, only the sounds created provides a different vivid image. The image exist in two forms, the imagination and the script. Within the brains of the audience, one could clearly see the lips and mouth of the reader even without their presence, even only through a recording. This is simply because of the powerful use of those organs. One could see the movement, the expansion by the sounds produced. It is not blabbering or some old language. It is a language of its own. A language created to create a image of its own. The script itself is another image. The organization, the use of letters and spread of words is a beautiful image. It is something that one could not understand but able to say and pronounce. It gives everyone the power to recreate, perform and translate the experience through letters. The structure and complication of the piece could also be seen within the script. The script acts like some form of scripture, a strong guide. However, this is a guide that only provide certain limitation and not a full scale restriction. One still have the power and ability to create their own image, their own picture. The beauty of sound poetry within this example is that images could be created even without real words. Why does this poem look good? Because it challenges the mind and experience of its audience. It does not provide you with words that could be easily connected to the world, but rather sounds that one could use to connect with themselves.

   

    After the first two examples one may ask could sound poetry only look good when there is sound? The piece by John Cage, “4’33””, is a piece that points to the contrary. Yes, it is a piece that remains silent for a spend of four minutes and thirty-three seconds. The image it creates is a simple one, but a deep one. It creates an image that is only connected to oneself. The audience themselves see what they see within the time spend. The truth is, there is no true silence. No matter how hard we try, there will always be sound. Once can hear their own heart beat, the breath of others, the ventilation system, no matter what it is, one could hear what they could hear. This is a rather “Zen” process, it is a conversation within ones inner self and the outer rather ambient sounds. Another painted image would be one’s experience when they are at the concert seeing this piece. It looks good and seem rather ritualistic. One could see the existence of the conductor but not the sound. As the conductor conducts the sound within ones self, as one response to the actions and movement of the conductor with their inner self.

    Sound poetry does not only exist in the form of sound but also the visuals. The visuals exists within the mind and also the process. As we could observe the beauty of “Ursonate” also lies within the script, while “4’33”” also paints a strong visual within the concert. All of the examples above all creates a strong image within the mind, as human creates connection with sounds. Thus sounds could not merely exist as sounds, but also as visuals. But with sound alone, without apparent visuals creates a stronger imagination, create blanks that one could fill when they encounter the sound. This is the true beauty of sound poetry.

Works Cited

Blonk, Jaap. "About Kurt Schwitters' Ursonate, by Jaap Blonk." About Kurt Schwitters' Ursonate, by Jaap Blonk. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Mar. 2013. <http://www.jaapblonk.com/Texts/ursonatewords.html>.

Ginsberg, Allen. "Allen Ginsberg "Howl"" Allen Ginsberg "Howl" N.p., n.d. Web. <http://media.sas.upenn.edu/pennsound/authors/Ginsberg/Knitting-Factory/May-4/Ginsberg-Allen_01_Howl-I-III_NY_5-4-95.mp3>.

Schwitters, Kurt. "URSONATE De Kurt Schwitters." URSONATE De Kurt Schwitters. UbuWeb, n.d. Web. 08 Mar. 2013. <http://www.ubu.com/historical/schwitters/ursonate.html>.

Solomon, Larry. "The Sounds of Silence." 4'33" Solomonsmusic, 1998. Web. 08 Mar. 2013. <http://solomonsmusic.net/4min33se.htm>.