After attending the Billy Collins reading, I was struck with his originality, and fresh, witty commentary. His ability to read with intention was also impressive. His voice was generally flat, but with the slightest inflection, he made his musings more interesting. It was clear that he's been doing readings for a while.
I was also struck by the various reactions to his performance. Most students were impressed, while some considered him too "safe." While it may be true that Collins doesn't tackle very controversial topics, he is undoubtedly a rare talent. And while popularity doesn't necessarily equal quality (see Justin Bieber or Katy Perry), Collins satisfies the harshest critics and poetic ignoramuses alike. He is great for the art because he exemplifies how influential it can be. Even if budding poets realize that they most likely can't make a living writing poetry, the potential for touching others is definitely inspiring.
I agree that the Billy Collin's reading is a great way to discover poetry and have fun with it. I noted after we left that students would really enjoy that reading because it was so entertaining and fast paced. When I got to school on Wednesday morning, my colleges were shocked to find out that no, it wasn't in a coffee house; no I did not snap or drink coffee; and no, I didn't wear black. I think that most peoples' misconceptions about poetry push them away from wanting to hear it read aloud. Another classmate noted how different a live reading is compared to silently reading to yourself. For Billy Collins, I think this couldn't be more true. In order to get people interested in poetry, they have to enjoy and feel like it's not something above their intellectual or social reach. Although I'm not much of a giggler, and I don't clap very often, overall, the reading offered a different, relevant approach to poetry that "non-poetry" people can enjoy.
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