June 2013
19 posts
Allen Ginsberg - Howl
The story of Howl’s publication begins in 1955, when 29-year-old Ginsberg read part of the poem at the Six Gallery, where [Lawrence] Ferlinghetti—owner of San Francisco’s City Lights bookstore—sat in attendance. Deciding that Ginsberg’s epic lament “knocked the sides out of things,” Ferlinghetti offered to publish “Howl” and brought out the first edition in 1956. Prior to this reading, “Howl” existed in the form of an earlier poem called “Dream Record, 1955,” which poet Kenneth Rexroth told Ginsberg sounded “too formal… like you’re wearing Columbia University Brooks Brothers ties.” Ginsberg’s rewrite jettisoned the ivy league propriety.
Unfortunately, no audio exists of that first reading, but above … you can hearthe first recorded reading of “Howl,” from February, 1956 at Portland’s Reed College.
I watched the movie “Howl” a few nights ago. I think if I was around in America at that time, I would definitely of been an original hipster, with horned rim glasses and all ;P
The Life Unheard Of: something I need to get off my chest besides my bra →
call-me-blind.tumblr.com
Friend: I hate feminists
Me: Wow you hate equality
Friend: Yeah I do *sarcasm*
(I do understand the point white feminist movement trampling on WoC to get where they are. I do understand if she means she does not identify with feminists because of that)
My friend she’s an awesome and…
“I need feminism because there are people in the bondage community who thinks it’s unnatural for a woman to be the Domme and the man to be submissive.”
I think this is the point that eventually lead me into learning more about modern feminist thought. As a male who is primarily attracted to the submissive role, I don’t exactly fit into the usual mold that is mandated of men.
A male submissive is seen as undesirable, weak, hen-pecked, castrated. A lot of the banter offered in “femdom porn” is humiliation based. ”You’re an idiot, you have a small dick, you are unworthy etc “. To be a submissive is to be a man who dares take on the role tradition dictates is reserved for women.
From this, I began to see just how fucked up society is in regards to gender roles and sexuality in general. From that (via maymay’s blog I believe) I became aware of the culture of rape apologism that infects society, both mainstream and otherwise.
Until the gross imbalance between the sexes is eliminated, I am proud to call myself a feminist.