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BY SUSAN WICKSTROM see words calendar It comes around every August like an oppressive, smog-infested heat wave: the dreaded Showtime assignment. Though there are always some interesting literary events and exciting visiting writers to list, the most difficult part is coming up with an essay describing the state of the literary arts in Portland. It's impossible to fill a space of a thousand words with tales of suburban book groups, dangerous writers and slamming poets. Portland's literary scene is stagnant. We need to shake up the local literati. There are two distinct levels in Portland's literary life. The glam echelon has gained some national attention with noteworthy books of late. Robert Sullivan has been highly successful with The Meadowlands: Wilderness Adventures at the Edge of a City, and Chuck Palahniuk's well-received 1996 novel Fight Club is currently being made into a movie starring Edward Norton, Brad Pitt and Helena Bonham Carter. In the spring, Palahniuk will publish two more books, for which he's already negotiating the movie rights. But the heavy hitters are rare, even though writers have more opportunities than ever to receive help. For example, Oregon women who write about such hot topics as sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, class or physical disability can now apply to Literary Arts, Inc. to receive a Women Writers Fellowship. These grants range from $500 to $3000 to support projects in poetry, drama, fiction, literary nonfiction and young readers literature. Though Literary Arts, Inc. works to support struggling writers, the Young Turks toiling in the pits of Portland's other literary level who keep plugging away at their art are even more inspiring. Kevin Sampsell, publisher of Future Tense Press, champions the cause of emerging writers by supporting a stable of new writing talent. He flaunts each new book with a spoken-word event, usually at Umbra Penumbra, to showcase the author along with other Future Tense writers. Take a cruise through Reading Frenzy (921 SW Oak), before it's closed by encroaching neighbors next year, to experience the wealth of 'zines and small-press publications churned out by Portland talent. The Portland Poetry Slam seems to be fading away into oblivion since hosting the national competition two years ago. Some blame the lack of energy on poor PR efforts since master promoter Jeff Meyers turned his creative efforts to directing stage plays. Others think the slam has simply had its day here in the Rose City, though poetry slams continue to draw crowds in other major cities. Another changing aspect of Portland's literary world is the struggle to find an event that will solidify the word-loving community. Since Literuption died, Portland has done without a huge extravaganza of literary madness. The environmentally correct art group Orlo is beginning a tradition with its second annual Word on the Street celebration on Friday, Sept. 18; it will encourage residents to indulge in the written word by reading at sponsored soapboxes throughout the city. Those reading at Starbucks will even receive a free biscotti. An evening event starring John Trudell will incorporate work by visual and spoken-word artists; the location is to be announced. The ACLU Foundation's Uncensored Celebration marks its 10th anniversary of celebrating free speech this month with a variety of entertaining and censor-free events throughout the city. Those longing for an old-fashioned regional bookselling event will have to travel to Seattle the weekend of Oct. 24 and 25 for Northwest Bookfest at Pier 48, where 175 authors will hold court for an estimated 25,000 attendees. But what about the average Portland literary-arts aficionado who seeks a way to incorporate his or her love of the written word into everyday life? Book discussion groups are all the rage at the suburban chain bookstores, a certain indication that the movement is mercifully dead in real life. Most people love the idea of belonging to a book group until they actually join one. In theory, book groups are a great way to meet new people and exercise one's intellect; in reality, they're ego-based bloodbaths that can permanently damage participants' souls. Unless you find the perfect set of people, it's much better to take part in Oprah's group, where the only interaction you have is with the television. A much more rewarding way to share one's love of literature is to join the excellent trend of encouraging others to read through such groups as Start Making A Reader Today (SMART, 800-322-8715); SMART matches book-loving grownups with elementary students for a weekly hour of riotous reading fun. Perhaps the next generation of literati will be the ones to shake things up.
originally published September 9, 1998 |
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