Gregory Corso discusses Jack Kerouac
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- Опубликовано: 6 сен 2024
- The late Gregory Nunzio Corso an American poet, the fourth member of the canon of Beat Generation writers (with Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, and William Burroughs) discusses Jack Kerouac. Some good advise for young poets.
They don't make men like Gregory Corso anymore! What a wise genius he was! RIP.
Corso is Underrated !
This man's life is definitely worthy of a film. Someone write the script please!
I love this piece with Corso. I'm with him overwhelmingly. To hit it divine is the ultimate achievement, goal, as it were. You can question whether certain authors, including Kerouac, ever reached that mark in their work in general, but I do think that Kerouac did indeed reach that mark at times in his writing. And that's far, far more than the great vast majority of writers can say of their own works.
So perhaps the interviewer (or Corso himself!) ought to have made the distinction between a divine piece of writing and a divine poet/author.
corso SHOULD have been an icon to everyone the way he is to me at least!
It's funny how people feel the need to weigh in on the beats or condemn them judge them or sum up their lives. Why not just enjoy them for who they were. Regardless of how you feel about their expression they were nevertheless very inspiring and very wild.
Kerouac was a devoted Catholic conservative all his life.
He literally wrote his dreams in a book he did called "book of dreams" haha. Writing is both extremely smart and extremely basic. All writing does is to put into language what we sense with our own selves in this world. Dreams, daily experiences, stories we think up, etc. Writing is so great because it's not that difficult to do but it can convey difficult thoughts. It's literally the best way to express ourselves that exists besides speech.
What's your latest work of literature?
I can partially understand Corso's point of view about Morrison. Morrison’s poetry is very surreal at times, as well as highly symbolic; there is a pervading sense of the irrational, chaotic, and the violent; an effect produced by startling juxtapositions of images and words. The lasting impression of Morrison’s poems is that they attempt to render the dream or nightmare of modern existence in terms of words and imagery, quite bizarre and obscure, yet compelling at the same time. Most literature regarding Morrison is predominantly biographical, preferring to regurgitate the myth and scandal surrounding his life and times, rather than give his art any serious consideration. Despite interest, both negative and positive, his writing has not been comprehensively analysed in the context of his life and culture. Nor has it been discussed in terms of its merits (and failings), or its place in the ranks of American literature. In 1993, when I was in college, I prepared a speech based on "The Lords" during a course of Modern American Literature. Morrison’s reputation precedes any serious literary analysis of the work. Despite his failings as a human and as a poet, he has left behind some valuable and important examples of his poetic talent that deserve serious analysis. This discussion will focus primarily on Morrison’s earliest work and the display of ideas, influences, and style that evolved into his own poetic voice. It is my belief in the strengths and significance of Morrison’s poetry, which has led me to situate him as a poet in the American literary tradition.
rutazzurra Oh, please. He was a second-rate songwriter who left a small body of work. He attempted poetic voice, but never achieved it. His canon is obvious, juvenile and imitative.
Keith Ninesling Yours it's just a personal opinion as well as mine. In his poetry (The Lord & New Creatures, Wilderness, American Night) I found a deep knowledge of Nietzsche, Rimbaud, Artaud, Blake and so many others hidden in his hermetical and visionary style. Morrison's speech is a native tongue and belongs to what poet/critic Rothemberg calls "American Profecy....present in all that speaks to our sense of identity and our need for renewal". We would expect to find remnants of quotes, stolen lines and ideas in a "second-rate" poet/songwriter, but Morrison shows his strenght by resisting plagiarism and blatant "borrowing", in order to achieve originality in his own verse. As T.S. Eliot has said: Bad poets borrow, good poets steal."
+Keith Ninesling No, there´s more to it. But you need to be a bit free of selfconceptions
+rutazzurra Absolutely agree. He had great talent. It´s quite obvious, if you have an ear for poetry, and for something which speaks in his own language, even if they are limitations
rutazzurra hey thanks man
I like Corso's style, he seems interesting to discuss topics with. Fast replies and intellectual thoughts.
Mum was a Kickass poet. She wrote for herself and shared with friends. This was her main man. Not Allen not Jack but Gregory. I came to his his work through her. lt started with gasoline. I shared it with good friends. They got him. He is welcome to be as much of a curmudgeon as he wants to be afaic. Mum didn’t care for his personality much but she was all about the poetry. She didn’t like that he was such a drinker. But she separated the work from the person doing the work. I like him even more after watching this.
i have my own views on what he said but what he said was very interesting - shows he used his brain unlike most people who, especially today, just go along with other people's opinions (as wilde said)
Corso was remarkably informed, extremely well read, and (for better or worse) attached to a lot of folks in the "literary god" place. Take him on his own terms.
I don't think any of you get it. Corso was a poet, Ginsberg, Ansolm, Ferlingetti, etc. They were poets. Dylan, Morrison, they were lyricists before they were poets. Their poetry would never have been well received if it weren't for their musical influence on pop culture.
Dan Stetzel i can only say in response to this-watch ginsberg choke up in scorsese’s no direction home when discussing john lennon and bob dylan, their relevance and the degree to which they tapped into the consciousness of their times. the beats never achieved 1/1000th of their success ... i know a ton of people that can recite a ton of dylan and lennon but not one person that can recite anything from ginsberg, corso and co.
Throck Morton so that means you know a lot of people that aren’t well read. So what. I know a bunch of people that know Backstreet Boys songs word for word, does that mean their body of work is more impressive than Kerouac’s?
Uncle Dan & Fam art changes. just look at the history of painting ... sadly, we don’t have poets anymore, haven’t for years (poets that have even a modicum of relevance). ginsberg realized that dylan and the beatles connected in ways that the beats never could, and he was jealous! he almost weeps in the clip, maybe you have seen it ... personally, i think ginsberg did a lot to kill poetry with his howl reading. poets don’t really write anymore, they “perform.” slam poetry signed the death knell for poetry ages ago. as for kerouac, i subscribe to truman capote’s assessment-“that’s not writing, it’s typing.”
Throck Morton I write poetry. Not slam poetry either. So do a shitload of other people. I know plenty of fantastic poets. Also, the best poets are responsible for a lot of “contemporary” writers and musicians. Hell, Ray Manzarek of The Doors said they wouldn’t have existed if it weren’t for Kerouac and the Beats.
Throck Morton and Capote was a hack that couldn’t who only gained notoriety because of non-fiction narrative writing, he was jealous of Kerouac’s talent. Kerouac is the greatest American novelist of all time in my opinion.
I miss you, Gregorio.
Ciao gregory riposa in pace tuo cugino enrico corso
I do actually agree with him about "rock star poets"...yes, they write poems, and some of them can be damn good ones too, but what he's saying here is just because you write poems, doesn't make you a poet.
i met CORSO IN BOULDER WHO KNOWS WHEN A LITTLE ON THE STIFF SIDE YET COOL TO A CERTAIN DEGREE`. YET GOD REST IN PEACE. CIAO LET THE LOVE LETTER SPEAK
Corso you fuckin' card! Blaggin' it as ever. Talk the talk ma man. What a hero. 'Out the window with the window!'. Miss all these guys, don't you?
I took part as a Musician (flute/sax ) and Poet at the Melkweg in 1981. Gregory was also taking part.
I wrote a song about him which I sung and played sax during my 'Spot'.
Gregory was in the audience.
"Gregory Corso
wouldn't twist his torso for a can of coke
he's that kind of bloke,
but give him a brandy , that will make him feel dandy.
and give him a smoke, that will make him feel oke,
would Gregory Corso.
When I had finished, he approached the stage, beaming.
He held out his hand to shake mine - and missed.
He was a very likeabls guy.
Incidentally, you may like my 'Mr Easy song' (amongst others) on Y/tube.
Cool! I never had a face and voice attached to Mr. Corso's being.
Thank you for saying Shelly before I ever listen to/read in my age ....corso's recognition is un infiltrated confused and composed
Well I guess we both have subjective opinions here.
To me art is a reflection of life and good art is a mixture of both truth and beauty. Problem is a lot of good art goes by the way side because sometimes it is over intellectualised and becomes inaccessible.
The truth is I'm not really into reading poetry but I love Bob Dylan (as a poet) because his words are carried by good music. That's why his poetry is more well known/praised than the others mentioned. It ends up getting thru to people.
Agreed. Well said.
Bob Dylan is one of the greatest poets ever ! I can’t believe Gregory even utter those words lol Jim Morrison is a true poet also . It made me sick to hear corso call both of them “not real poets but rock stars” so unfair
Corso-" MAKE ME A STEAK!!!-then I will write some poetry" These beats were holding onto the masculine ideals of poetry. Females were still cooking all the meals. I live in Iowa City and that same shit goes on at the writers workshop. Rich kids standing around at parties puffing their chests. The great American Blog life. There are enough books already. By these people that is. Rich kids. I like me some Frederick Siedel-at least he knows how to live. A head full of snow and vermouth soaring on his Ducati. I loved all the beats as a kid because I was supposed to. Some many art kids sat in art school pretending to read Naked Lunch. OR Kaddish. I always thought it was equal to a bird showing feathers in some mating ritual. I liked Corso. and Kerouac. I love on the road in that it has inspired so many greyhound trips and loose sex and cheap wine drinking. That book gave so many people herpes.
***** You miss the point. Kerouac, more than anything else, was a chronicler of a very small segment of disaffected post-WWII society, who embraced the romance of the American continent and saw opportunities in a new, spiritual literature to convey it. If all you get from Kerouac is the restless moving about, the seeking of kicks, you're reading him on a very primary and immature level.
Too many people are Johnny Come Latelys to Beat literature, aren't especially well-read in it, nor understand what it's really about.
And, admittedly, it's not the greatest corner of American letters...
you sound like a jealous idiot.
You choose Aurthur Rimbo as your fucking screen name so you are most def in the writers workshop....jealous? Of who?
Go write the next great amrican blog post you kook
Kerouac talks about living off of Apple pie and ice cream and finger banging in that book. So I don't know if the maturity is lacking on my part or his.
You cannot keep Kerouac on a pedestal because he's drunk and will fall off. On The Road is a book for youth. I read it 25 years ago and don't inagine I could stand to pick it up today. You guys are being so serious-I am taking the piss. Look up the story about Gregory Corso being cajoled into writing g poetry by Kerouac -it is funny as hell. Corso gets fed up and says make me a steak! Then I will write. Poetry is the last thing to take serious. And I can write amazing poetry everyday and do so.
Here is a poem for this comment thread
Rain
Is plain
But bagels
And lox
Is nox
Hard knocks
Soft pack
Get a job
Testing fleshlights
Peace
A true poet.
@josh, write on! yet i agree with corso here [that] kerouac wasnt a poetic writer, as much as it *looked* to be so...he wrote more in pragmatic color-stream the events emotional inspirational around him, like when describing antics of cassady or the soaring soul of jazz for instance. corso was the real poet of the troup, in my view. (glad to hear him mention morrison.)
like i knew some of these guys, but wished i'd've at least *met* corso!
Birth is but the hint of a promise....solely kept by the orphaned mind. Viva Kerouac!!!
Does anyone have a copy of Kerouac's appearance on the old Buckley show? It's excerpted in the documentary this is taken from. It's pretty out there.
😂
AMEN, DUDE! A-to the fucking-MEN!
Respond if you're a writer. We all write in our dreams, don't we? In our dreams, we write beautiful prose and poetry as quickley as we read; beyond spontaneously..am i right? Nothing is more frustrating than waking up and losing that poem. When we try to write this way while awake, we can't quite capture the spontaneous quality that we can while we dream; when we write without thinking. This man, Jack Kerouac, has done what we dream of doing. He writes without thought. He writes his dreams
if you had listened to the video properly, you will see he's not trying to elevate his own art. he names two poets who have reached the "divine" stage - percy shelley and jack kerouac. he doesnt comment on his own poetry - thats because he's smart enough to know that its up to other people to decide on its value. it sounds like you are a shallow person and incapable of understanding anyone who goes beyond saying stuff like "he's amazing" or "he's writes awesome or make awesome music".
These Corso clips come from my documentary WHAT HAPPENED TO KEROUAC?
Please include this credit in the title: Gregory Corso discusses Jack Kerouac, from the documentary "What Happened to Kerouac?"
No wise king would want to hear refrain, redundancy in their ear~
Amazing footage. Could you please post some more data about this clip? Is it from the film Keroauc or the film What Happened To.... ? Thanks.
True words.
I don't agree with eveything corso said, however, he did present a lot of extremely cogent thoughts.
Hey Kids --
It really doesn't matter what Corso says about anybody.
This video is about Corso, himself.
Pay attention to what he says about others at your own risk. But, truly, this interview shows us about Corso.
In Iowa I know by now
difficult to hear Corso speaking, after have readed The Subterraneans, I cannot avoid think in Kerouac's drama
In which order should I do all these things you say.
Literally have no idea what I'm responding to but there are my thoughts.
Thank you.
How does Corso know the Divine? How does anyone?
Fucking genius!!!
Nothing's wrong with combining arts, music with literature....
Give me a definition of a POEM, a definition of POETRY!!! Dylan's work can be called POETIC and POETRY!
But did bob dylan make it as a poet ? no he made it as minstrel.
Beats also said "Comparisons are Odious," I believe a Gary Snyder (Japhie Ryder/Dharma Bums) phrase. Corso just spat all over that one to proclaim the Divine Art. 😂😂😂
@@barneyrubble8255The minstrel won the Nobel Prize for Literature. How sweetly ironic.
everything is regurgitated thats not a judgement it is neither good nor bad we all get etched as we go.............
I thought just the same
The forlorn rags of growing old...
Not a bad comment apart from that stuff out me being shallow. It's good of him not to elevate his own poetry but artists rarely do (unless you are Jerry Lewis or Mustaine) but I think reading between the lines it sounds like he feels unappreciated and probably never got his due. He has a very bitter tone in his voice.
As I said part of genius art is to make it accessible, otherwise what ever point you are making is just lost on most people. It doesn't sound like that's the way he wants it.
This is the message I attempted to post about ten times night, to no avail.
However, I think Corso is wrong. If any poet can be said to be "divine," it would have to be Keats.
How could any poet be more divine than their Grandpa Blake?
Next thing, you'll be telling us that "his brain was squirmin' like a toad" is the greatest line of poetry ever
Thomas Gore my favorite morrison “lyric” is ... “well i’ve been down so goddamn long, that it looks like up to me ...” which of course he didn’t write ... richard farina’s book- “been down so long it looks like up to me” was writeen in 1966 based upon a 1928 fury lewis lyric from the song -i will turn your money green- “i been down so long it seem like up to me ...” i think jim added the goddamn ... just like jim to do that, the snarky bastard.
It fits the melody of the song epically. Morrison was a hell of a ministrel, and his poetry was kind of cool.
Gregory Corso was Italian
I realize that the 50s was an age where one was not openly called an "alcoholic" or was alcohol even seen as addictive. I commend Cassady for admonishing him; and shame on Ginsberg and Carolyn Cassady, and moreso John Clellon Holmes, whom corresponded with Kerouac right up until his death. Surely Kerouac wouldn't have listened, but to allow him to drink himself to death and not say a word is a form of enabling.
It's all subjective. What is a great writer / artist etc...?
Respect for him, but i think Corso Miss something about Morrison. "Re-saying" and not just "say"? Well An American Prayer is considered one of the 900 masterpiece. Also, the fact that he consider Morrison a "musician", which he totally wasnt, says all about his vision and knowledge of that.
Corso is being a little hard on him, Michael Mclure was sweeter and encouraged jim to write poetry. I like jims love jims voice and the doors music, his poetry is cool. But Not in the league of Mclure Corso and Kerouac. There's levels..... morrison was pretty good at poetry forsure. but he's not in the BIG POETS CLUB and Corso is, . and Corso's being Corso's having fun slamming the door in his face
whether Corso is a good poet or not is irrelevant to what he's saying here.
Corso was a great poet.
Thats a subjective opinion , but he comes across discerning to me as opposed to bitter. I think there is something to the idea of 3 pillars but dylan not been a poet , well thats debatable. Secondly, Ulysses and Finnegans Wake are anything but accessible.
Dylan, fine, but you can never say for sure about Morrison. He was only 27 when he died, for chrissakes (before anyone cites contrary 'examples;'you've done well on all your papers! Now crawl back underneath the bed). He might have been a fine poet. He was moving in that direction.
Respectfully disagree. I think Morrison probably had had some potential as a poet when he was young (e.g., some of his early lyrics -- "The cars crawl past all stuffed with eyes / The streetlights shed their hollow glow . . ."), but I think the alcohol and the ego-tripping fried him to the point where it was gone by the time he started trying to get published as a "serious" poet. Most of his actual written poetry is simply not very good.
I am Irish and I cannot understand what this man is saying at all, his accent is very wierd. Tis a pity because it sounds probably very interesting
You got that, dear?
Corso rocks
...which?
Humility and modesty is possibly the best quality of a great writer -- so most of you miss the point. You're just readers. This is not intended to insult, but rather provoke thought. You see everyone is capable of poetry, but few have wisdom.
I can understand what Corso is saying about Dylan and Morrison. But, I think he's a little off point thinking the poet should just be a poet and not spread it around. The thing is, Morrison and Dylan have lasted and their... whatever you want to call it, is still great--no one can deny that. Go ahead and thumb me down, but you know I'm right.
Morrison and Dylan have the power of melody and their excellent unbeatable vocal nuances to emphasis the emotion of their lyrics. not to mention top tier band mates and producers and engineers. What Corso does with words is differnt. He writes books of poetry that stand on their own, and that's it. he's poet they are poetic ministrels.
J.K was the re incarnation of Ambros Bierce.
Has Dylan ever referred to himself as a poet/
I know he once called himself a trapeze artist in response to that sort of question. 😊
Whether or not we agree with Corso about Morrison and Dylan, he's way off when he tries to separate poets from bards and minstrels -- in classical times, that distinction simply didn't exist. Poetry was written to be sung. No less than Homer was a bard who sang his poetry.
Sure but bob dylan and morrison still aren't in the big poets club. They are singers and lyricists, its a differnt art form and craft.
What's wrong with combining arts? Is it wrong combining music with poetry???? He's completely wrong about Dylan and Morrison as far as I'm concerned! Still.......a genius!
I think the 60s were very liberating times but I agree with John Barth who states they did not produce too many good writers or poets. Corso, Burroughs, Ginsberg and Kerouc are full of themselves -long on wind short on craft and depth. The poet doesnt fit some "Divine" profile - Dylan Thomas was a bureaucrat film producer, Wallace Stevens was a sucessful insurance salesman (VP), Hopkins a priest, TS Eliot an assistant editor - it goes on and on.
I prefer the poetry that Corso Ginsberg Kerouac, burroughs and Mcclure wrote, over Dylan Thomas and TS Eliot myself. If a poem can evoke the sacred in a reader, that's more fun than a "good work of literature" in my taste.
It does not say Poet on Morrisons grave
No!!!!! You are completely drawing false conclusions from what i said!!!
Corso says that Morrison's grave states "POET", which is true: Morrison wrote 2 poetry books during his lifetime!!! Dylan has even been nominated for the Nobel Prize.....
I am not saying that Jim Morrison is THE GREATEST POET in the world! He did wrote good poems, Dylan as well, Leonard Cohen too and a few others!
Morrison was known for his music not his poetry. if morrison died without being in the doors would his grave say poet? No he'd be unknown guy who wrote a couple scribblers of unplished poetry........I could do that. you going to put poet on my grave? Maybe I will !
"Morrison had no "Realistic" dept as a poet! He was a show-on-a-stage! a delusional lyricist! as a musician he was a master, but as a poet- he was a child!"
I disagree. He wasn't a great poet, but he had potential. The same goes for this Corso who wasn't able to trascend the second-rater poet status for the life of him. Morrison had brains, a real talent for poetic nuance, and captured better than most the absurd through his art.
And the fact the Morrison was not a Musician says all about the wrong vision of Corso about Jim. He said that they (Morrison, Dylan) were re-saying instead of just say, but i think Corso miss An American Prayer, whichi i consider a real '900 masterpiece.
Corso is a first rate poet. Morrison a first rate singer and very good lyricist along with Robby Krieger
But it surely doesn't reside in cliches.
*A Coney Island of the Mind* or bust
Probably, and it's irrelevant to what I was saying.
This z a poem
@IzzyIsou haha, that's funny shit man.
Man......what would Dylan's music be without the poetry in it??? What would Morrison's music be without his poetic lyrics???
Poetry, or "poetic" was a main part in their music!
Dylan's music is sometimes cacophonic, its lyrics are the whole idea!!!!
@@mikeu5380 It was morrisons voice and the bands sound and arrangments that made him famous...
Corso sounds like Dee Dee Ramone. Maybe its a NYC accent.
Mindfield is seriously good. Better than Ginnsy in my opinion.
to a point, but you can't take that kind of romanticism too far, because then anybody could write an awful book and call it genius--since it's all subjective. There has to be some kind of scale.
corso was the best thing about the video. he stole the show.
i always thought him jealous and bitter of his friends
Smelly Shelly
Hey Moe...
@FuttBucker667 nope
Corso...put in your "teeth" and see if it increases your I.Q. by about 50 points. Dylan and Morrison were both poets. What level...I have no idea but I consider them both poets.
Anybody who writes a poem is "a poet" Corso is talking about THE POETS of histrory the club. Corso is in it. Dylan and Morrison aren't they are in the greatest ministrels club. I wouldnt quenstion Corsos IQ
@goback3spaces hm. I'm assuming you're one of those women?
So what gets me about all this self appointed poet stuff. Corso's got a valid and heady line here but their sitting in the stature of the world's need to embrace the living and if you throw a rock out the window in this day and age your gonna hit someone who wants and believe's they are special . My God I wrote that yesterday so I'm a poet. False enigmatic usualness like this shit comes easy because I'm lonely and a pretty girl waits for a bus but in the end musicless words that are going to carry down the ages are oh so hard to find and I think the bulk of it is never heard and maybe that's the key. The beats were in the right place at the right time and that's not their fault but now everyone from Louise the stenographer to Bill the pediphile is a poet. Alas. So be it.
tamato tomato
LOL and that it was "divine"
If theres anyone who can insult the artistic merrit and dylan and morrison
its corso
Though i dont agree with him
What's to disagree with Morrison and Dylan are singers. Corso is a poet. That's all he's saying. They are differnt crafts, differnt vocations, obviously
Ego.
Alas, it is all we have, in the end... ; )
david dickinson is really losing it
Morrison was much better at performing and singing rather than writting poetry, his poems are at best sixth form.
This post took me by surprise....my brother's name is Gregory Corso. I'm pretty sure there's no relation, but it was weird finding this.
I honestly hate the word “poet”. They are writers.
@joshgibson "On the Road" remains popular with readers, particularly women. I enjoy watching them on the subway with a paperback of Kerouac's seminal novel, holding it in their laps, unable to keep their eyes focused on the pages, their gaze drifting around to whatever attractive guys might be in the car with them, anything other than actually reading the piece of shit they have in their laps...
iNTERESTING STUFF...
Corso wishes he could be as good as Dylan
Yes but I AM Irish. I live in Ireland and am just saying that for me it is difficult to understand this man.
Bob Dylan is a great, incredible writer. The Beatles are music, Bob Dylan was a writer.