Having made my living for many years as a journalist, I'd like to
comment in defense of the Post & Carolyn See.  Most people outside of
academia do not share the enthusiasm for obscure references and
multi-lingual poems.  It always struck me as elitist snobbery... a kind
of intellectual showing off, as in "see how many languages I know" ...
aimed at other people who could devote their lives unravelling puzzles
so they, too, could show off their erudition.
 
Count me on the side of the Post on this one, although I too agree that
they are usually more aligned with the people who write the paychecks
than those who receive them.
 
Brett Zombro wrote:
>
> At 12:33 PM 8/30/99 -0400, Carlo Parcelli wrote:
>                                  <Re. Wash. Post>
>
> >Their approach toward 'serious' literature and thinking in general is
> >not only dismissive and even hostile (witness recent no nothing attacks
> >on Joyce (they couldn't undertsand Ulysses), Schopenhauer, Derrida,
> >Heidegger etc.) But more significantly , it reflects the same way they
> >treat the aspirations of poor people, populist movements, trade unions,
> >grass roots organizations et al.
>
> Well, yeah.   These are among the kinds of things I was thinking
> of as factors having nothing to do with Pound.  But perhaps I should
> have said 'not particularly related to Pound's reputation,' since Pound
> himself certainly was concerned with at least some of them.
>
> And yes, these 'journalists' of whom I was speaking do unfortunately
> include a few people who think of themselves as English professors.
>
> Anyway, you've incited me sufficiently that I may just shoot off a
> letter to Post Book World this week.   We'll see what happens.
>
> --
> Brett Zombro
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