1960

Mr. Hartzell interviews three American poets to find out why they are writing poetry in a mechanical age. Is being a poet a real job? Or is a poet essentially a non-productive member of society? Should everyone be able to write poetry? Mr. Ciardi and Mr. Rexroth discuss the reasons for the fact that much of today’s poetry seems incomprehensible. Mr. Eberhart describes the poet’s function, and what motivates his choice of subjects. Slums, wars, despair, are as valid subjects for poetry as are spring, love and joy, since the poet’s function, among other things, is to be a commentator on all phases of life, the three poets decide.

Dick Hartzell; John Ciardi; Richard Eberhart; Kenneth Rexroth; Office of Television Activities, Washington University; Ralph Patrick; Everett Bovard; Robert N. Wilson; Richard Heffron; Harold Barron; Dan Lovins; KETC, St. Louis

National Educational Television; Indiana University Audio-Visual Center

Educational

Poetry ; Poets.

National Educational Television

IUL Moving Image Archive

English

2 Films (0:00:00); 16mm

IULMIA Film Database: 40000003175330; Other: GR00466436; MDPI Barcode: 40000003175330; MDPI Barcode: 40000003113547