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| Read the current Monday Report below! |
The ULA Monday Report!
This week's report by JEFF POTTER
Free The Book!
A Literary Petition
GREETINGS!
I recently put up an online petition to call attention to the plight of
independent literature and to DEMAND ITS
IMMEDIATE RELEASE FROM BONDAGE!
Please feel free, no matter where you are in the literary spectrum,
to sign it if you're in favor of a viable indy lit scene and a revived
culture in general.
The ULA is no small group project! It's a big tent. There's room for
any fan of vital literature.
Thanks! --Jeff Potter, member ULA
Here's the link: http://www.petitiononline.com/freelit
And here's the text:
To: Readers, Writers and Literati
FREE THE BOOK!
To All True Readers, as well as those involved in the American
Literary System...
We the undersigned say: Let's see a revived, relevant literature
in America!
Open the doors of the literary system to independent voices! ...
And FREE THE BOOK!
America needs a healthy culture, with shared, sustainable values
amid our diversity. We need to be able to explore who we are and
where we are. To get this we need free and relevant literature.
Why literature? Literature has long been the best way for a
society to see itself and its options. It gives us the biggest step-
back we can get. But it has abdicated this role. And nothing has
taken its place but segregation, pandering and exploitation. Ah-
ha! There's a clue as to why this has happened: it's easier to
make quick profits with weak literature.
Saving American literature means saving world literature. Local
is global. Other countries aren't as ignorant about themselves as
the USA, but the trouble we have here will spread to them soon.
We're all in this together.
We regular people of the world—citizens, readers, writers and
publishers alike—say that literature in America is in a slump and
has been for decades.
We say that to achieve this new relevance that the powers-that-be
need, in particular, to open up access to publication and review.
Even more particularly, we say that INDEPENDENT literature
offers our best chance to change.
It is beholden to no one and nothing. It relies for success only on
its resonance with readers. And this makes all the difference in
the world.
In contrast, corporate and academic writing has every
conceivable string attached...and no real social relevance. Yet
independent writing is denied, prevented, ignored, shut out. If a
book doesn't come from a hooked-up establishment
writer/publisher with a big ad-budget and national distribution
then it's not given a chance. This must change!
So, we say to look openly at writing that is not MFA-oriented,
not NYC-oriented, not pigeonholed, not created primarily to
satisfy professional standards.
That is, we say to look at writing that comes from the street, from
the underground, from the people, from the hinterlands, from
experiences that everyday people can relate to.
The wonderful thing is that freedom-loving writing is already out
there...locked in an underground ghetto. Whenever it breaks out
of its bonds, it changes the nation. And the world. We are so close
to the next breakthrough!
We petitioners say that every one of us might have a different
opinion about how these changes should be made. But if we don't
agree on anything else, we want the return of relevant writing!
We are united in this demand, just as we are united in our
independence before the independent page.
That's not all. We declare that the current literary system got us
into this mess.
What are the problems of this system? We say that: *It relies on
the MFA sweat shop degree network and the idea that writing
can be taught, in top-down fashion, by erstwhile writers posing as
instructors—the "10,000 sneering college writing instructors"
who Kerouac lamented. *We note that a formal system can train
students in style, polish and cleverness—but never relevance or
depth. *The emphasis on degrees, grants and big corporations
results in a destructive attempt to professionalize and "guildify"
the artform, resulting in a narrow, inward approach and a
reliance on marketing and legal strategy instead of merit. *The
system relies on universities, grants, big corporations and
Hollywood screenwriting to pay its bills, not readers reading in
libraries or buying books and magazines from shops. *The system
relies on New York City to guide it, even though NYC is out of
touch. *It relies on the niches/genres concept, which has turned
even the biggest general literature into just another hobby for
segregated interest groups and ever-fewer readers.
Admittedly, these features have their pro's as well as their con's.
Systemization, orderliness, research and inventory management
are all important. They have a place, just not the primary one.
Corporations and colleges simply have never been places to look
for the best art.
Let's not forget that as long as literature is stalled the rest of the
arts suffer. Independent film and music have had highpoints
recently. Literature must be allowed to break out next! While it
is kept down the other independent arts will lose momentum.
What's amazing is how the best of the underground connects so
clearly to the best of our heritage. (What is praised by the System
today is embarrassing by its lack of connectivity; why, it doesn't
even pretend to such a thing and it even considers the concept of
literary heritage itself to be gauche and passe, especially as
regards social relevance.)
Amateurism can be considered a source for hope. It has given
vitality to many fields where creators can pay their bills by other
work. But even this option is prevented due to today's careerism.
An amateur writer outside the system is shunned. Let's change
this!
Recently, liberated writing flourished in the world of zeens
(zines), which came to world attention in the 1990's and continues
today. Zeensters publish as they please and distribute it
themselves, interacting with whoever responds. These writers
come from the street. Some move from tiny scenes to somewhat
wider notice. Zeensters rise up on their merits, unmediated and
unfiltered, asking permission of no one. The system undervalues
this resource. Let's change this!
Since the 1990's the Internet has come to dominate a still-
nebulous domain of our culture. There's a huge noise-to-signal
ratio as new ways pop up of telling zippy storylets to those with
short attention spans, something that means, well, we're not sure
what. We ask, how best to explore what the Net means to us? ...
Indy lit!
Many others have already declared much of the above—isolated,
weak and unheard. Groups have even formed to discuss these
things—in small circles. Only one group has come together to
give a big LOUD voice to these concerns, widely promoting
anyone who steps up to help literature: the ULA.
The Underground Literary Alliance formed in 2000 (http://
literaryrevolution.com) as a way for the unheard to be heard. It's
a loosely defined concept that lets those who want relevant
literature join their voices for amplification. The ULA is far-
flung with no resources—members and supporters come from
around the world; many are longtime zeensters, underground
artists or just fans—it's open to anyone who wants to create more
traction for this cause. When anyone wants attention for an indy
voice, or catches wind of a project or action they agree with,
that's when they can raise their voices together with the ULA
banner. Without their rallying cry and noisemaking none of these
concerns and new voices would've seen the light of day with any
effect. The ULA has got dozens of major media notices for its
actions, writers and exposes to date. We hereby give kudos to
efforts like these. Even where we disagree, we at least support the
cause. And we say we want to see more.
Surprise us!
===============================================
Contact Jeff Potter c/o ULA PRESS
===============================================
CLICK HERE TO READ THE PREVIOUS MONDAY REPORT!
GO HERE TO ENTER THE MONDAY REPORT BOX.
This week's report by JEFF POTTER
Free The Book!
A Literary Petition
GREETINGS!
I recently put up an online petition to call attention to the plight of
independent literature and to DEMAND ITS
IMMEDIATE RELEASE FROM BONDAGE!
Please feel free, no matter where you are in the literary spectrum,
to sign it if you're in favor of a viable indy lit scene and a revived
culture in general.
The ULA is no small group project! It's a big tent. There's room for
any fan of vital literature.
Thanks! --Jeff Potter, member ULA
Here's the link: http://www.petitiononline.com/freelit
And here's the text:
To: Readers, Writers and Literati
FREE THE BOOK!
To All True Readers, as well as those involved in the American
Literary System...
We the undersigned say: Let's see a revived, relevant literature
in America!
Open the doors of the literary system to independent voices! ...
And FREE THE BOOK!
America needs a healthy culture, with shared, sustainable values
amid our diversity. We need to be able to explore who we are and
where we are. To get this we need free and relevant literature.
Why literature? Literature has long been the best way for a
society to see itself and its options. It gives us the biggest step-
back we can get. But it has abdicated this role. And nothing has
taken its place but segregation, pandering and exploitation. Ah-
ha! There's a clue as to why this has happened: it's easier to
make quick profits with weak literature.
Saving American literature means saving world literature. Local
is global. Other countries aren't as ignorant about themselves as
the USA, but the trouble we have here will spread to them soon.
We're all in this together.
We regular people of the world—citizens, readers, writers and
publishers alike—say that literature in America is in a slump and
has been for decades.
We say that to achieve this new relevance that the powers-that-be
need, in particular, to open up access to publication and review.
Even more particularly, we say that INDEPENDENT literature
offers our best chance to change.
It is beholden to no one and nothing. It relies for success only on
its resonance with readers. And this makes all the difference in
the world.
In contrast, corporate and academic writing has every
conceivable string attached...and no real social relevance. Yet
independent writing is denied, prevented, ignored, shut out. If a
book doesn't come from a hooked-up establishment
writer/publisher with a big ad-budget and national distribution
then it's not given a chance. This must change!
So, we say to look openly at writing that is not MFA-oriented,
not NYC-oriented, not pigeonholed, not created primarily to
satisfy professional standards.
That is, we say to look at writing that comes from the street, from
the underground, from the people, from the hinterlands, from
experiences that everyday people can relate to.
The wonderful thing is that freedom-loving writing is already out
there...locked in an underground ghetto. Whenever it breaks out
of its bonds, it changes the nation. And the world. We are so close
to the next breakthrough!
We petitioners say that every one of us might have a different
opinion about how these changes should be made. But if we don't
agree on anything else, we want the return of relevant writing!
We are united in this demand, just as we are united in our
independence before the independent page.
That's not all. We declare that the current literary system got us
into this mess.
What are the problems of this system? We say that: *It relies on
the MFA sweat shop degree network and the idea that writing
can be taught, in top-down fashion, by erstwhile writers posing as
instructors—the "10,000 sneering college writing instructors"
who Kerouac lamented. *We note that a formal system can train
students in style, polish and cleverness—but never relevance or
depth. *The emphasis on degrees, grants and big corporations
results in a destructive attempt to professionalize and "guildify"
the artform, resulting in a narrow, inward approach and a
reliance on marketing and legal strategy instead of merit. *The
system relies on universities, grants, big corporations and
Hollywood screenwriting to pay its bills, not readers reading in
libraries or buying books and magazines from shops. *The system
relies on New York City to guide it, even though NYC is out of
touch. *It relies on the niches/genres concept, which has turned
even the biggest general literature into just another hobby for
segregated interest groups and ever-fewer readers.
Admittedly, these features have their pro's as well as their con's.
Systemization, orderliness, research and inventory management
are all important. They have a place, just not the primary one.
Corporations and colleges simply have never been places to look
for the best art.
Let's not forget that as long as literature is stalled the rest of the
arts suffer. Independent film and music have had highpoints
recently. Literature must be allowed to break out next! While it
is kept down the other independent arts will lose momentum.
What's amazing is how the best of the underground connects so
clearly to the best of our heritage. (What is praised by the System
today is embarrassing by its lack of connectivity; why, it doesn't
even pretend to such a thing and it even considers the concept of
literary heritage itself to be gauche and passe, especially as
regards social relevance.)
Amateurism can be considered a source for hope. It has given
vitality to many fields where creators can pay their bills by other
work. But even this option is prevented due to today's careerism.
An amateur writer outside the system is shunned. Let's change
this!
Recently, liberated writing flourished in the world of zeens
(zines), which came to world attention in the 1990's and continues
today. Zeensters publish as they please and distribute it
themselves, interacting with whoever responds. These writers
come from the street. Some move from tiny scenes to somewhat
wider notice. Zeensters rise up on their merits, unmediated and
unfiltered, asking permission of no one. The system undervalues
this resource. Let's change this!
Since the 1990's the Internet has come to dominate a still-
nebulous domain of our culture. There's a huge noise-to-signal
ratio as new ways pop up of telling zippy storylets to those with
short attention spans, something that means, well, we're not sure
what. We ask, how best to explore what the Net means to us? ...
Indy lit!
Many others have already declared much of the above—isolated,
weak and unheard. Groups have even formed to discuss these
things—in small circles. Only one group has come together to
give a big LOUD voice to these concerns, widely promoting
anyone who steps up to help literature: the ULA.
The Underground Literary Alliance formed in 2000 (http://
literaryrevolution.com) as a way for the unheard to be heard. It's
a loosely defined concept that lets those who want relevant
literature join their voices for amplification. The ULA is far-
flung with no resources—members and supporters come from
around the world; many are longtime zeensters, underground
artists or just fans—it's open to anyone who wants to create more
traction for this cause. When anyone wants attention for an indy
voice, or catches wind of a project or action they agree with,
that's when they can raise their voices together with the ULA
banner. Without their rallying cry and noisemaking none of these
concerns and new voices would've seen the light of day with any
effect. The ULA has got dozens of major media notices for its
actions, writers and exposes to date. We hereby give kudos to
efforts like these. Even where we disagree, we at least support the
cause. And we say we want to see more.
Surprise us!
===============================================
Contact Jeff Potter c/o ULA PRESS
===============================================
CLICK HERE TO READ THE PREVIOUS MONDAY REPORT!
GO HERE TO ENTER THE MONDAY REPORT BOX.
| Questions, Comments, Submissions? Email to: report@literaryrevolution.com |