It's National Poetry Day, and I am posting this video I recorded during lockdown for Just Another Poet's Poetry Asylum: A Virtual Poetry Yurt from Cardiff. Thanks to Taz Rahman for asking me to record it. https://youtu.be/wldTbXXch5w Poetry Reading You can also see the reading in context at Poetry Asylum with other poets here: https://youtu.be/8gx43mE06FI [...]
How to write about difficult material without using confessional poetry?
This week I was giving a talk for Black Lawrence Books about an essay I wrote for a new anthology, Far Villages: Welcome Essays for New and Beginning Poets edited by Abayomi Animashaun. The talk was about the problem of needing to write about difficult material but not being able to because of the exposure [...]
Motherhood Projects & Talking to My Hospital Nurse About Reproductive Rights
Jude and Zoe Brigley So I'm excited that I am going to be speaking next month at an online series of seminars on motherhood. The online event is titled "Maternal Forums" and it is part of a larger project on "Performance and the Maternal." Sign up here. Our event is on Tuesday 13 October on [...]
Teaching about the Context of Violence with the #ThatsHarrassment Video Series
Recently I have been writing up a book chapter on teaching in the #MeToo era, and this is one exercise that I do not have room to include in the chapter so I thought that I would post it here. In the chapter, I discuss the importance of situating violence not just as an act [...]
Tonight! Reading with Rob Mackenzie and Louise Peterkin
Just a note to mention that I am reading tonight at the launch of books by Rob Mackenzie and Louise Peterkin. It's 7.30pm on Zoom. I'm filling in for Cheryl Follon who can't make it. You can reach Rob here if you want to come along. I wrote a blurb quotation for Louise's new book, [...]
Culture Declares Emergency
Today I signed up to the pledge at Culture Declares Emergency. It is an international organization bringing arts and culture organizations together as well as individual people working in the arts and culture industries: Mission: the cultural sector is a leading contributor in creating a regenerative future that sustains everyone, everywhere. Vision: to grow, support and [...]
Green Film Reviews: “Normal is Over 1.1”
Normal is Over 1.1 (directed and create by Renee Scheltema) is an award winning film packed with ideas about tackling ecological crisis. Most valuable are the different experts who speak about new approaches and inspiring ideas. This focus on individuals springs from Ian McCallum, director of the Wilderness Foundation, who suggests that human beings are [...]
Green Film Reviews: “From Flint: Voices From a Poisoned City”
Movie Poster: From Flint, Voices of a Poisoned City Today, I watched this very moving documentary directed by Elise Conklin about the Flint Water Crisis in Michigan. Titled From Flint: Voices of a Poisoned City, this 2017 film really does foreground the voices of residents of Flint first and foremost. It allows them to tell [...]
Sneak peek of Aubade After A French Movie
I am really looking forward to the publication of a new chapbook with Broken Sleep Books titled Aubade After a French Movie this October. Here is a sneak peek of the cover and one of the poems, a translation of Medieval poet Gwerful Mechain's 'Ode to the Cunt'! This pamphlet features new translations of Medieval [...]
Malia Womack: The Rights of Women in Puerto Rico
The Sinister Myth Harpy Logo This morning, we just released a new podcast for Sinister Myth, and this one features an interview with Malia Womack, recorded at the end of last year when she was doing field work in Puerto Rico. I met Malia when she participated in my Sexuality and Violence course, and she [...]
