> Lucas Klein wrote:
>
> > but I've lost the topic of Pound. Pound's writing seems to me
> essentially Western, based on a great misunderstanding of Chinese
> and Asian philosophy, language, tradition, poetry, etc. I haven't
> done
> anywhere near the amount of research required to back up this
> kind of statement, but well, is there anyone willing either to refute
> or
> support the idea that Pound just didn't get Asia?
 
I have a question about a project based on this idea, that Pound was
essentially Western.  I wrote a brief thesis a few years ago using
Benedict Anderson's theory of imagined communities to argue that Pound
created his own "imagined community."  It began with his participation
in London/Paris newspapers and politics.  Later, his "nation" was
"populated" by his pen pals (or American politician recipients of his
letters) and "recipients" of his radio broadcasts.  His interpretation
of Confucius/Mencius and the writings of Jefferson/Adams fueled his
hope for an American renaissance.  In a way, Pound's misunderstandings
of Chinese philosophy reflect a westernization of it..
 
Throwing this at all of you in such brevity without explaining Benedict
Anderson's theory on nationalism is not fair.  As a non-academic now,
my research has slowed down.  But I would like some input from anyone
familiar with Anderson's theory on nationalism.  My impression of Pound
has been from this angle (Pound as expatriot patriot American with a
Mencius twist).  Any comments or suggestions?  And for those of you not
familiar with Benedict Anderson, what can you say about the utopian
Pound?
 
Thanks,
Kristen Stevens
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