This was so much fun, I love seeing people being so passionate and enthusiastic about reading, and specially about poetry. Not enough people are reading and raving about poetry, about young poets. I'd love to see you both doing a video together once in a while, and this not being a one time thing. It was so awesome seeing the interaction between you, same with your videos with you and your dad.
I can't say anything about their choice of reading material; I'm just happy to see these young guys being enthusiastic about poetry. If there are more of them maybe the genre won't disappear after all.
This was such a fun watch! Whether or not this was the goal, the way you two talked about poetry-casually, in your room, with a friend, joking around-really made it feel more accessible. I usually read fiction and have always found poetry a bit obscure, like Dyson mentioned, but his passion for Diane Seuss actually made me want to check her out. Dyson's poem was very lucid and beautiful. Thanks for sharing this video!
I'm so glad to hear it, definitely the goal with these videos in general. I tend to think that way too, so I get it. I hope you enjoy reading Seuss though, she's incredible.
This is off-topic, but I enjoy the labels of the little video sections/chapters, especially when the videos are long and you have to come up with what to call so many of them haha. What a fun video! I love Dyson's passion and energy for poetry. I almost wish that these were the types of conversations we could have had in school, just chatting with peers and bouncing off one another. I am a big advocate for making literature, poetry, etc more accessible, so I really appreciate at the end when he talks about there being no right way to read poetry. I am definitely someone who has been more comfortable with prose, but all forms of writing have so much to offer, and personally, I really enjoy breaking down pieces of writing and analysing them, whatever form. With Diane Seuss, I thought it was interesting when you guys mentioned her having life experience before writing poetry because that's something that has always frustrated me with my own writing. Sometimes I feel a bit limited because I feel as if I can only write something well if I've experienced it, and you know, I'm only mid-twenties and haven't seen much of the world or experienced as much as some others. I don't think these things should be limitations, but yeah, it's tricky to break out of. Also loved that she had what was deemed a "cobbled education" and that she only won the Pulitzer prize in her 60s. It goes to show that we often have these expectations or ideas of linearity in our lives that don't necessarily have to be followed to be "good" or "successful". Lastly, that line that you read out, "what do you want from me, what did you ever want from me?" was one of those punched-in-the-chest moments. I really felt it. You guys really grabbed me with the Denis Johnson, goodness. Again, love a character that's an awful person and is meant to kind of infuriate you. I don't know why, but if they're written well, it's great. Although, yes, definitely to take with a grain of salt haha. And such a good question that Dyson mentioned: "how do we love people when it's hard to love them? What is loveable in people?" Sometimes it makes your videos feel like a therapy session haha. But yeah, if we think about it, that's a question that probably comes up at some point in every relationship. We're all human, we all have tough times. And especially when it comes to family, which are relationships we haven't chosen. Anyway, I'm getting carried away. Thanks to Dyson for reading out his poem - that imagery was gorgeous! I always enjoy when a piece is brought full circle (like the reversing of the car), yet the two scenes have different meaning. And, of course, twisting the mind with an unreliable narrator. Thanks for the video, Alex! Thoroughly enjoyed it :) well done if you made it to the end of this insanely long comment haha.
Haha I'm glad someone noticed. I have no idea how to break up videos like these, so I go a little off the rails. I agree with what you say about being more comfortable with prose, but I think as I explore poetry more and more, I do find it's held up as this thing that so incredibly complex when it really doesn't have to be. Also, that point about experiencing life first is frustrating for me too. Sometimes I think I don't know enough, haven't lived enough, and I don't necessarily think that's right because we all have something to say, but it's interesting to see the opposite. That's what really drew me in with Johnson, that type of character. And I'm glad you liked Dyson's poems too, they always blow me away. Thanks so much for watching the whole thing, I know this was kind of a ridiculously long one. Always appreciate seeing your thoughts:)
I loved this video. Dyson is super insightful and thoughtful. I’m going to pick up modern poetry now! Alex obviously the videos with just you are great too but I’m really enjoying these guests and dynamic conversations
Ooh a long video to have my breakfast with! As someone who can't for the life me understand poetry, I hope I pick up some things from this video hahaha 😅
I haven’t read Jesus’s Son for 10 years or so. It was gifted to me by a poet friend who was getting his MFA at the time, so perhaps there’s something where Johnson’s prose resonates with poets. Thank you for the excuse to go back to it though - I paused the video halfway through and reread Dirty Wedding. I don’t blame you for framing it this way but I guess I rarely consider the morality or immorality of a character and instead see what makes them human, or how I can relate to them. Perhaps the capacity for destruction (of self and others) is an instinct I understand, so there’s less distance between myself and the character. He’s a drifter and a loner and someone who clearly needs help, and you’re right to point out his hypocrisy in criticizing crowded low income housing when he himself navigates those circles. Almost reminds me of the film Taxi Driver. I always found Johnson’s ability to capture what’s often thought but rarely uttered or acted upon, like following someone off a train out of curiosity or watching a family through a window like in the final story Beverly Home. It’s too perverse an instinct to say aloud and yet I can’t say I’ve never had the thought. Beverly Home is still my favorite in the collection, because perhaps we find some redemption for the first time, a reprieve from the emotional and physical destruction in a community or a “place for people like us.” Again, great video. Really insightful, and thanks for giving me a reason to pick up my dusty copy of Jesus’s Son.
This was great to read, I'm so happy this made you want to re-read Johnson. I like that point about withholding moral judgement, I think I tend to have that instinct often as well, but at least in Dirty Wedding specifically, it felt like it had to be addressed. I'm not quite sure why. I feel like I have to read Beverly Home now though, so I'll get to that soon. Really interesting how he digs and digs and maybe, as you say, finds something redemptive. So glad you liked the video, again, this was such a cool comment to read.
We need more videos like this!
I love how passionate Dyson is about Diane Seuss. Now I gotta read her poems.
This was so much fun, I love seeing people being so passionate and enthusiastic about reading, and specially about poetry. Not enough people are reading and raving about poetry, about young poets. I'd love to see you both doing a video together once in a while, and this not being a one time thing. It was so awesome seeing the interaction between you, same with your videos with you and your dad.
Oh, and I loved Dyson's poem and the reasoning behind the creative process.
I'm so glad you liked it. We're definitely planning on doing some more, though it might be a few months. Was a lot of fun for us.
@@er1nyes_ So good, isn't it? Thanks so much for watching!
Honestly a perfect video to wake up to, glad it’s long video🥳
These types of videos
Are really good
Keep up the good work alex
I can't say anything about their choice of reading material; I'm just happy to see these young guys being enthusiastic about poetry. If there are more of them maybe the genre won't disappear after all.
no video is ever too long if its discussion abt literature!! I really loved the video and your guest Dyson too, def plan to read Diane Seuss' works
Awesome, let me know what you think!
I love seeing the work of Dyson! He's very authentycal! Very good! Thank you, Akex and Dyson! ❤❤
I love listening in on a discussion like this! Thanks for sharing
i guess this is the new Dead Poets Society and once again I just wanna be a part of it
Hahahaha
love, love Dyson Smith. Smart, articulate, organized, good voice, and really cute
Emphasis on the cuteness
This was such a fun watch! Whether or not this was the goal, the way you two talked about poetry-casually, in your room, with a friend, joking around-really made it feel more accessible. I usually read fiction and have always found poetry a bit obscure, like Dyson mentioned, but his passion for Diane Seuss actually made me want to check her out. Dyson's poem was very lucid and beautiful. Thanks for sharing this video!
I'm so glad to hear it, definitely the goal with these videos in general. I tend to think that way too, so I get it. I hope you enjoy reading Seuss though, she's incredible.
This is off-topic, but I enjoy the labels of the little video sections/chapters, especially when the videos are long and you have to come up with what to call so many of them haha.
What a fun video! I love Dyson's passion and energy for poetry. I almost wish that these were the types of conversations we could have had in school, just chatting with peers and bouncing off one another. I am a big advocate for making literature, poetry, etc more accessible, so I really appreciate at the end when he talks about there being no right way to read poetry. I am definitely someone who has been more comfortable with prose, but all forms of writing have so much to offer, and personally, I really enjoy breaking down pieces of writing and analysing them, whatever form.
With Diane Seuss, I thought it was interesting when you guys mentioned her having life experience before writing poetry because that's something that has always frustrated me with my own writing. Sometimes I feel a bit limited because I feel as if I can only write something well if I've experienced it, and you know, I'm only mid-twenties and haven't seen much of the world or experienced as much as some others. I don't think these things should be limitations, but yeah, it's tricky to break out of. Also loved that she had what was deemed a "cobbled education" and that she only won the Pulitzer prize in her 60s. It goes to show that we often have these expectations or ideas of linearity in our lives that don't necessarily have to be followed to be "good" or "successful".
Lastly, that line that you read out, "what do you want from me, what did you ever want from me?" was one of those punched-in-the-chest moments. I really felt it.
You guys really grabbed me with the Denis Johnson, goodness. Again, love a character that's an awful person and is meant to kind of infuriate you. I don't know why, but if they're written well, it's great. Although, yes, definitely to take with a grain of salt haha. And such a good question that Dyson mentioned: "how do we love people when it's hard to love them? What is loveable in people?" Sometimes it makes your videos feel like a therapy session haha. But yeah, if we think about it, that's a question that probably comes up at some point in every relationship. We're all human, we all have tough times. And especially when it comes to family, which are relationships we haven't chosen.
Anyway, I'm getting carried away. Thanks to Dyson for reading out his poem - that imagery was gorgeous! I always enjoy when a piece is brought full circle (like the reversing of the car), yet the two scenes have different meaning. And, of course, twisting the mind with an unreliable narrator.
Thanks for the video, Alex! Thoroughly enjoyed it :) well done if you made it to the end of this insanely long comment haha.
Haha I'm glad someone noticed. I have no idea how to break up videos like these, so I go a little off the rails.
I agree with what you say about being more comfortable with prose, but I think as I explore poetry more and more, I do find it's held up as this thing that so incredibly complex when it really doesn't have to be. Also, that point about experiencing life first is frustrating for me too. Sometimes I think I don't know enough, haven't lived enough, and I don't necessarily think that's right because we all have something to say, but it's interesting to see the opposite.
That's what really drew me in with Johnson, that type of character. And I'm glad you liked Dyson's poems too, they always blow me away.
Thanks so much for watching the whole thing, I know this was kind of a ridiculously long one. Always appreciate seeing your thoughts:)
Love this! keep it up with poetry videos, i would love to hear more about your views on other poets as well
I loved this video. Dyson is super insightful and thoughtful. I’m going to pick up modern poetry now! Alex obviously the videos with just you are great too but I’m really enjoying these guests and dynamic conversations
lol appreciate the shoutout fellas
Ooh a long video to have my breakfast with!
As someone who can't for the life me understand poetry, I hope I pick up some things from this video hahaha 😅
next time we'll just do shapero and shoot for sub 30 minutes
For sure. Maybe we'll split it up in two, gotta talk about your thesis too.
I haven’t read Jesus’s Son for 10 years or so. It was gifted to me by a poet friend who was getting his MFA at the time, so perhaps there’s something where Johnson’s prose resonates with poets. Thank you for the excuse to go back to it though - I paused the video halfway through and reread Dirty Wedding. I don’t blame you for framing it this way but I guess I rarely consider the morality or immorality of a character and instead see what makes them human, or how I can relate to them. Perhaps the capacity for destruction (of self and others) is an instinct I understand, so there’s less distance between myself and the character. He’s a drifter and a loner and someone who clearly needs help, and you’re right to point out his hypocrisy in criticizing crowded low income housing when he himself navigates those circles. Almost reminds me of the film Taxi Driver. I always found Johnson’s ability to capture what’s often thought but rarely uttered or acted upon, like following someone off a train out of curiosity or watching a family through a window like in the final story Beverly Home. It’s too perverse an instinct to say aloud and yet I can’t say I’ve never had the thought. Beverly Home is still my favorite in the collection, because perhaps we find some redemption for the first time, a reprieve from the emotional and physical destruction in a community or a “place for people like us.”
Again, great video. Really insightful, and thanks for giving me a reason to pick up my dusty copy of Jesus’s Son.
This was great to read, I'm so happy this made you want to re-read Johnson. I like that point about withholding moral judgement, I think I tend to have that instinct often as well, but at least in Dirty Wedding specifically, it felt like it had to be addressed. I'm not quite sure why. I feel like I have to read Beverly Home now though, so I'll get to that soon. Really interesting how he digs and digs and maybe, as you say, finds something redemptive. So glad you liked the video, again, this was such a cool comment to read.
great video, keep bringing more people.
That's the plan! Filming something really cool today.
@@agwriting can't wait! good luck