http://cabbagerabbit.com/2009/06/10/beat-goes-on/ Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:17:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://cabbagerabbit.com/2009/06/10/beat-goes-on/comment-page-1/#comment-134 William Mohr Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:59:10 +0000 http://cabbagerabbit.com/?p=273#comment-134 "... while giving some of its less well-known players fresh exposure." So I assume that Stuart Perkoff and Venice West get at least one full paragraph? My guess is that Perkoff, Bruce Boyd, Frank Rios, and John Thomas are not mentioned at all, and if that is the case, then this book simply reiterates stereotypes for readers who are poseurs, the equivalents of Beatniks (to make use of this reviewer's important distinction. The reviewer also makes a crucial point that would apply to the Venice West scene: "Many of the subjects don't seem to be beatniks, but something else entirely." Those interested in going beyond the surface of a movement's image might benefit from considering the relationship between anarchism and the Venice West scene. Women justifiably complain about their exclusion from accounts of the Beat period, but women beats get far more respect than West West, which is often not even acknowledged as having existed. Donald Allen's "New American Poetry" (1960) contains several poems by Perkoff, including the first major experimental poem about the Holocaust. Perkoff also had several poems in Lipton's best-selling book, "The Holy Barbarians," which the Venice West poets despised for its exploitation of their community. “… while giving some of its less well-known players fresh exposure.” So I assume that Stuart Perkoff and Venice West get at least one full paragraph? My guess is that Perkoff, Bruce Boyd, Frank Rios, and John Thomas are not mentioned at all, and if that is the case, then this book simply reiterates stereotypes for readers who are poseurs, the equivalents of Beatniks (to make use of this reviewer’s important distinction. The reviewer also makes a crucial point that would apply to the Venice West scene: “Many of the subjects don’t seem to be beatniks, but something else entirely.” Those interested in going beyond the surface of a movement’s image might benefit from considering the relationship between anarchism and the Venice West scene. Women justifiably complain about their exclusion from accounts of the Beat period, but women beats get far more respect than West West, which is often not even acknowledged as having existed.
Donald Allen’s “New American Poetry” (1960) contains several poems by Perkoff, including the first major experimental poem about the Holocaust. Perkoff also had several poems in Lipton’s best-selling book, “The Holy Barbarians,” which the Venice West poets despised for its exploitation of their community.

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