First “Festival of Literary Magazines” Features French and American Magazine Editors and Writers in Panel Discussions and Poetry Readings

Programs Will Take Place at The New York Public Library and The City University of New York, October 4 Through 6

New York, September 20, 2002 -- Throughout the 20th century, the connection between French and American poets has resulted in an exchange of forms, manifestos, philosophies, and translations that has contributed, both historically and socially, to the furtherance of contemporary poetics in both countries.

At the first Festival of Literary Magazines, both American and French poets and editors (often one and the same) will come together and discuss such issues as community, translation, practices of reading, tradition, funding, and cross-cultural and cross-genre influences on their publication practices. The three-day conference, which features both panel discussions and readings, will take place at The New York Public Library’s Humanities and Social Sciences Library (Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street) and the Graduate Center at The City University of New York (365 Fifth Avenue at 34th Street), October 4 through 6. Admission is free.

All conference events are free and open to the public. For more information, the public may call Julien Seroussi at 212.439.1413, or Jean-René Etienne at 212.239.1424. The Festival is held in conjunction with the upcoming Library exhibition Reviews of Two Worlds: French and American Literary Magazines, 1945-2002, which opens October 4.

Schedule of Conference Events

Friday, October 4

Celeste Bartos Education Center,
South Court Auditorium,
Humanities and Social Sciences Library,
The New York Public Library
Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street

3:30–5 pm France and the United States, a literary relationship
Keynote speakers: Michel Deguy and Rosmarie Waldrop

7–9 pm Reception and poetry reading
Cultural Services of the French Embassy,
Fifth Avenue and 79th Street

Clayton Eshleman, Jean-Pierre Faye, Liliane Giraudon, Peter Gizzi, Andrew Maxwell, Anne Waldman

Saturday, October 5

Celeste Bartos Education Center,
South Court Auditorium,
Humanities and Social Sciences Library,
The New York Public Library
Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street

10 –11:30 am Panel 1: Considering the avant-garde
Critical issues surrounding the historical lineage of the avant-garde have been important to/around the development of an audience for literary magazines in both France and America. This panel engages editors in a discussion of the critical contexts and contemporary concerns they work with(in) in publishing their magazines.

Moderator: Stephen Sartarelli
Editors: Clayton Eshleman, Jerrold Shiroma (Duration), Jean-Michel Espitallier (Java)
Rapporteurs: Stacy Doris, François Dominique

11:30am –1 pm Panel 2: Considering historical precedence
The history of literary magazines is the history of literature. This panel asks editors to articulate their engagement with a larger historical trajectory.

Moderator: Guy Bennett
Editors: Andrew Maxwell & Macgregor Card (The Germ), Eric Giraud (Issue), Philippe Castellin (Doc(k)s)
Rapporteurs: Anne Waldman, Jean-Pierre Faye

3–4:30 pm Panel 3: Considering economy
Given the options for distribution, sales, and promotion of small press literary magazines, this panel asks editors to discuss the ethical and political contexts in which they publish and promote their magazines.

Moderator: Marcella Durand
Editors: Ed Foster (Talisman), Caroline Crumpacker/Frances Richards (Fence), Henri Deluy (Action Poetique)
Rapporteurs: Cydney Chadwick, Frank Smith

4:30–6 pm Panel 4: Considering translation
In a time of globalization and short-sighted international policies, literary magazines offer rare open spaces for creative international dialogue. This panel looks at the ways in which editors function in relation to international issues of translation.

Moderator: Cole Swensen
Editors: Liliane Giraudon (If), Andrew Zawacki (Verse), Olivier Brossard & Omar Berrada & Vincent Broqua (Double Change)
Rapporteurs: Serge Gavronsky, Paul Vangelisti

7–9 pm Poetry Reading
Bowery Poetry Club
308 Bowery (between Houston and Bleecker streets)

Dodie Bellamy, Philippe Castellin, Norma Cole, Jean-Michel Espitallier, Eric Giraud, Christophe Hanna, Paul Vangelisti, Stephen Sartarelli

Sunday, October 6
Segal Theater
The Graduate Center at The City University of New York
365 Fifth Avenue at 34th Street

2 pm Opening Remarks

Mary Ann Caws, Distinguished Professor of French, English and Comparative Literature of The Graduate Center, CUNY

2:30–4 pm Panel 5: Considering the editor-at-work
Most magazine editors are also poets. This panel explores the relationships between artistic and editorial practice in pragmatic and also critical/poetic terms, asking editors to make connections between themselves as writers and editors.

Moderator: Laird Hunt
Editors: Jena Osman & Juliana Spahr (Chain), Christophe Hanna (Nioques), giovanni singleton (Nocturnes)
Rapporteurs: Peter Gizzi, Pierre Joris

4:30–6 pm Panel 6: Considering community
Small press literary magazines work for and within and/or necessarily create communities of writers and readers. This panel questions representation, inclusion/exclusion, and audience in relation to varying ideas of community.

Moderator: Eleni Sikelianos
Editors: Dodie Bellamy/Kevin Killian (Mirage #4), Brendan Lorber (Lungfull!), Jean-Michel Maulpoix (Le Nouveau Recueil)
Rapporteur: Norma Cole

7–9 pm Poetry Reading
Location: TBA

Guy Bennett, Henri Deluy, Pierre Joris, Jean-Michel Maulpoix, Jerrold Shiroma, giovanni singleton, Cole Swensen

 

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