You could say I was shell-shocked by the AWP conference I attended. I felt incapable of explaining my dismay. Hence the reason for such silence on this blog.
I’ve been back for four days, so here is my attempt.
If you want to party like it is 1989, then the conference is your kind of place.
- Some of the clothing, hairstyles and self-promotional styles were reminiscent of the “Me Decade.”
- Some of the music at the opening night reception came from the ’80s, as did the dancing style. (This video shows lots of white people dancing, but fails to capture some of their attempts at breakdancing. I’m very sorry I couldn’t get that on video.)
- Finally — and this is the really frightening aspect — out of about 350 panel discussions and workshops, fewer than 10 had anything — anything at all — to do with the magical world that is the Internet.
Really? I couldn’t believe it. I left the conference feeling like I had just met a herd of ostriches busy burying their heads in the sand. (Note: Ostriches do not actually bury their heads in the sand. I’m using the common metaphor.)
Print is not dead, but many writers are too busy lamenting the decline of the traditional medium to embrace the opportunities inherent in our digital age.
During a break from the conference, I also read a blog post by Nicholas Carr wherein he groused about the state of our collective attention span.
We’re shrinking our definition of long-form writing to fit the limits of our ever more distracted reading habits. What would have once been considered a remark is now considered a “short take”; what would once have been considered a “short take” is now a “middle take”; and what once would have been considered a “middle take” is now seen as a “long take.”
Yes, in the “old days,” rich, white, middle-aged men would curl up by the fire and read Charles Darwin’s latest tome in preparation for a lively discussion with their rich, white, middle-aged male friends. (Those were pretty much the only people who were educated back then.)
Things are different now. Different expectations, realities, opportunities. There is a time and a place and a need for “long form” work, just as there is for “short form.” Accept it and move on. Bellyaching is not going to make the Internet go away.
Maybe that will be the title of the panel discussion I will propose to present at the AWP conference in 2012.
Wish me luck!
My former compatriots in student media went to the Georgia College Press Association last week. They learned that the Internet “was the future.” On a related note, have you seen The Daily on the iPad?
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I don’t have an iPad … yet. (I know you are shocked.)
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I wouldn’t worry about it. You’re not missing too much (about The Daily, I mean.) Rumor has it that iPad 2 is coming out soon, but it will be just a little feature bump. The big new update will be iPad 3, which might come out in September. The reason for that is iPods aren’t really that interesting anymore. Apple needs a big product for their September announcements, but don’t want to wait that long to update the iPad.
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Thank you for your Apple report.
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I was just thinking how we never got a chance to talk about *MY* writing or *MY* poetry during your DC visit. Maybe next time. 🙂 ~b.
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Yes, of course. Next time. I’m so sorry!
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On the subject of ‘attention span’ – “A considered approach” filters articles according to how long it will take the viewer to read them.
http://www.consideredapproach.com/
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I hadn’t heard of that site. Thank you for sharing. It is an interesting concept. Nicholas Carr likely would not be pleased.
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GCPA was just as disappointing. At the very least, you had a dance party!
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Yes, a dance party that was good for a few laughs. I heard about that conference. What a shame.
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