Hi! I appreciate this response! I am calling this project (((Shylock))) for a few reasons. The triple parentheses was a strategy used by anti-semititic Twitter users a few years back, not sure if it's still in place, as a way to identify Jewish people in their tweets. Shylock is the most famous Jewish character in literature, as far as I can see, written by a non-Jewish author. Both of these are projections. I'm interested in the idea of writing from behind these projections, through these smeared lenses, through the idea of The Jew--as scapegoat, as wrestler, as cultural barometer, as character, as historical construct.
Shylock is a character fundamentally changed by history. You can look at a culture's idea of the Jew by the way Shylock is portrayed in that culture. I want to layer all of these Shylocks on top of each other, and wonder how, as an actor, as a poet, and as a Jew, I might approach him.
Thanks, Jeremy. I am aware of The Merchant of Venice and your other references. This is (((new))) to me. I am so wounded over the rising popularity of antisemitism that I'm jumpy. An Irish friend wrote a poem that has made international rounds with the line "we (the Irish) are not people of the sheckle." I've never been able to voice my problem with it, but I notice that I haven't felt as close to her. Thank you for taking the time to respond. You're an amazing poet and a mensch. Sincerely, Rochelle
This one gives the overused and coy phrase, "mic-drop," a reason to reappear.
You captured the moment of truth...that may never happen in live-time, but o goddess yes! has already happened in our hearts... the only place and moment that matters.
I love the poem, but the title-- It's like using the N-word!
Hi! I appreciate this response! I am calling this project (((Shylock))) for a few reasons. The triple parentheses was a strategy used by anti-semititic Twitter users a few years back, not sure if it's still in place, as a way to identify Jewish people in their tweets. Shylock is the most famous Jewish character in literature, as far as I can see, written by a non-Jewish author. Both of these are projections. I'm interested in the idea of writing from behind these projections, through these smeared lenses, through the idea of The Jew--as scapegoat, as wrestler, as cultural barometer, as character, as historical construct.
Shylock is a character fundamentally changed by history. You can look at a culture's idea of the Jew by the way Shylock is portrayed in that culture. I want to layer all of these Shylocks on top of each other, and wonder how, as an actor, as a poet, and as a Jew, I might approach him.
Thanks, Jeremy. I am aware of The Merchant of Venice and your other references. This is (((new))) to me. I am so wounded over the rising popularity of antisemitism that I'm jumpy. An Irish friend wrote a poem that has made international rounds with the line "we (the Irish) are not people of the sheckle." I've never been able to voice my problem with it, but I notice that I haven't felt as close to her. Thank you for taking the time to respond. You're an amazing poet and a mensch. Sincerely, Rochelle
This knocked me out. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Perfectly perfect.
This one gives the overused and coy phrase, "mic-drop," a reason to reappear.
You captured the moment of truth...that may never happen in live-time, but o goddess yes! has already happened in our hearts... the only place and moment that matters.
Thank you.
Wow!