Notes
Phantasm,
vol.
3,
no.
2,
issue
14,
1978
Independent
literary
journal
of
original
poetry,
fiction,
artwork,
articles,
features,
photos,
commentary,
reviews,
interviews,
and
announcements.
 |
Poetry Editor Kevin Campbell writes in Phantasm's editorial: |
"The variety of poetry Phantasm receives from poets nationwide is enormous. We try to select the best poetry received based on clarity, technical competence, and of course, our own subjective tastes. We are influenced by whether or not a poem moves us, whether it manages to seem like a moment's thought, whether it is, in short, a piece of art.
"Robert Bly recently complained about the dearth of critics on the modern American scene. I agree with his concern. The trends in American poetry have become so amorphous that we do not really have a basis (or even 10 bases) on which to criticize contemporary poetry. I have forgotten the last time I read an article that even dealt with simple technique; that tried to approach a poem on its own terms! I think most people are afraid to write criticism for fear of being shown up by someone else.
"Editor Larry Jackson and I have decided to make this opportunity available to our subscribers. It feels strange to us, sitting in judgment of thousands of poems and receiving little feedback. We invite you to take issue with the poems in Phantasm. Write us your criticism and we will select letters to share with our readers. Perhaps we can start a forum and learn something about ourselves as American poets."
There was no response to Campbell's editorial.
