Douglas Kearney: Not a Melody, but a Thorn
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Douglas Kearney discusses recordings that give rise to reflections on human interaction and the potential for both connection and violence held there. Kearney introduces Rosa Alcala\\u0301 as she uses found text to chart the shape of violence (\\u201cAre You Okay?"), Marti\\u0301n Espada as he encounters \\u201creeling hyper-reality\\u201d in the courtroom (\\u201cCity of Coughing and Dead Radiators\\u201d), and Ai as she pushes the limits between understanding and sympathizing with cruel narrators (\\u201cAbortion\\u201d). Kearney ends by reading a poem sparked by Fred Moten\\u2019s essay \\u201cBlack Kant.\\u201d
Listen to the full recordings of Alcala\\u0301, Espada, and Ai reading for the Poetry Center on Voca:
Rosa Alcala\\u0301 (2020)
Marti\\u0301n Espada (1992)
Ai (1972)
You can also find readings by Douglas Kearney on Voca, including his most recent with percussionist/electronic musician Val Jeanty, which was given as part of the Thinking Its Presence conference in 2017.
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