Tibetan Writer Calls Out Mark Zuckberberg, S.C. House Rep. Reads Omitted Poem, and More

by
Staff
1.15.15

Every day Poets & Writers Magazine scans the headlines—from publishing reports to academic announcements to literary dispatches—for all the news that creative writers need to know. Here are today's stories:

As earlier reported, South Carolina poet laureate Marjory Wentworth’s poem was cut from the governor’s inaugural ceremony yesterday. It was suggested that Wentworth’s reference in the poem to slavery was the reason it was cut, so state representative James Clyburn read the poem on the House floor in response. “I applaud Ms. Wentworth,” he said, “and I am reading her poem today in hopes that the people of South Carolina, across the country, and…around the world are as touched by her words as I have been.” (Columbia Daily)

On the topic of censorship, following the attack on the Charlie Hebdo offices in Paris, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg wrote “Je Suis Charlie” and posted a statement defending free speech on his feed. Tibetan writer and dissident Tsering Woeser called Zuckerberg’s statement disingenuous, as she and other dissidents’ Facebook accounts had previously been censored or suspended. (Washington Post)

The Academy of American Poets has announced three new chancellors: Elizabeth Alexander, Linda Gregerson, and Alicia Suskin Ostriker. (New York Times)

The question, “Is the Internet killing culture?” has been around since the Internet’s invention. However, the anxieties about the creative class and the decline of culture have been around for far longer. At Slate, Evan Kindley writes about Scott Timberg’s book Culture Crash, and how there is always something killing culture.

Amazon Kindle operations senior vice president Russ Grandinetti spoke yesterday at the Digital Book World Conference and Expo in New York City about the future of digital sales and Amazon’s various approaches to publishing. (Shelf Awareness)

“That’s what makes the novel so daunting to attempt: not just length or characters or multiple story lines, but the inherent imperfection of a form whose Platonic ideal has yet to be limned.” At the Chronicle of Higher Education, Lucy Ferriss discusses why the novel has become more and more difficult to describe.

The bleakest of the bleak: The Guardian aptly describes novelist and poet Thomas Hardy as the “Grandmaster of Misery.” This infographic depicts which Thomas Hardy novel is the most depressing.

In January of 1882, author Henry James met satin-breeches-wearing Oscar Wilde. The meeting did not go very well. (New Republic)