GETTING THE WORD OUT

Program 05-10-02-A

Listen!

To The Best of Our Knowledge
from Wisconsin Public Radio

Imagine Superman, demented with age, on a final mission to save the world. Or Conan the Barbarian, civilized and living in L.A. boarding the bus with a good book. It's all there in the poetry of Charles Harper Webb. Words fly this hour on the Peabody Award-winning program, To the Best of Our Knowledge, as we take in performance poetry from a fast-talking Scotsman and listen to Camille Paglia's favorite poems of all time.!

SEGMENT 1:

Jonah Raskin is the author of "American Scream." He tells Steve Paulson why Allen Ginsburg's "Howl" became an anthem for a generation. And we hear Ginsburg reading the poem.

SEGMENT 2:

Charles Harper Webb is the author of a poetry collection called "Hot Popsicles." He talks with Jim Fleming about the use of pop culture imagery in his work and reads several examples. Also, social critic Camille Paglia explains to Steve Paulson what makes some of her favorite poems great, and we hear them read. Paglia's latest book is "Break, Blow, Burn."

SEGMENT 3:

Jem Rolls runs poetry cabarets and poetry slams in Edinburgh, Scotland. He tells Jim Fleming how he learns his performance pieces and why speed is an important part of what he does. And we hear lots of samples of Jem Rolls' recorded performances.

Cassette copies are available at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 05-10-02-A.

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Books:

• Camille Paglia, Break, Blow, Burn: Camille Paglia Reads Forty-Three of the World's Best Poems (Pantheon)
• Jonah Raskin, American Scream (California)
• Charles Harper Webb, Hot Popsicles (University of Wisconsin Press)

Music:

• --Cosmic Rays/ The Beat Generation: Volume Two/ Rhino Word Beat
• --Everywhere You Turn/ The Bad Plus/ These are the Vistas/ Columbia
• --Misirlou/ California Guitar Trio/ Pathways/ DGM

Distribution dates:

week of 10/02/2005 - hour 1

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Questions and comments can be addressed to: flemingj@wpr.org

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