Comments on: Thoughts on Shane Koyczan, Poetry and the Opening Ceremonies

By: Mark Evans

Mark Evans — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:08:30 +0000

To Evergreen comment, “how Mr Koyczan could claim, to millions of people, that BC’s forestry practices–”We reforest what we clear”–is a matter for his own conscience.”

I assume that you have some sort of poetic talent seeing as you have found this page… ever heard of a metaphor? Isn’t that what makes poetry so amazing, the fact that one statement can be interpreted in so many ways? Sad that you would assume he is talking only specifically about BC’s forestry industry.

By: Mark Evans

Mark Evans — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:17:05 +0000

Amidst all the generous comments you are sending Shane’s way, it still sounds like you are quite envious. Shane’s performance was incredible. I am familiar with his work, but when I watched the Opening Ceremonies with my family we were all blown away by this guy. So much emotion, he made the little hairs stand up on our arms. Props to VANOC.

Curious to know though how a poet laureate would have performed at the opening ceremonies in comparison to Shane?

FYI, you sound like a whiner.

By: Norway

Norway — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:46:53 +0000

Hi, I am wondering what kind of issues this poem questions? what do you think this poem represents? from a Canadian point of view.

By: Section 98 – Open Source Entry #5 – I believe in the power… of you and I – Praxis Theatre

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:22:06 +0000

[...] you there’s a lot of interesting stuff to read on Cran’s Poet Laureate site, including his take on Shane Koyczan, the slam poet featured in Vancouver’s Opening Ceremonies. Here’s [...]

By: daniela elza

daniela elza — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 23:31:45 +0000

PS Oops. I forgot to ask: So what does a poet laureate do?:-)

By: daniela elza

daniela elza — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 23:28:49 +0000

Thanks Brad,

for creating this space for a discussion around poetry, and the Olympics. (I have not seen the opening ceremonies yet, since i do not have a TV, but am looking forward to watching them taped.) And I am thrilled that Shane was up there. And quite proud.

Poetry on the stage is a fine balance, hopefully a performance filled with food for thought. It has to be delicious, delightful, gripping, addictive, contagious.

I also think that the better we inhabit our work as poets, the better we are at performing it. So it is a process on a continuum.
Thanks for all the comments.

By: cynthiacrampton

cynthiacrampton — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 06:58:20 +0000

I thought the Opening Ceremonies were sensational. To hear W.O Mitchell quoted was fantastic. I thought the ceremonies hit all the right notes as far as I was concerned. Inclusive? You bet. Gay, lesbian, east, central, west, first nations and artists, artists, artists. For a sporting event, the arts were front and centre at the Opening Ceremonies. When Shane came on, it was a crowning moment for me. Brad Cran had his own reasons for not participating; it is admirable, but certainly was a missed opportunity to get spoken word up where it belongs. As Shane’s grandmother says: “you often don’t get another chance if you let an opportunity go by”.

By: Angela Mairead Coid

Angela Mairead Coid — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 06:05:12 +0000

“Bread and circuses”: the modern Olympics, and maybe the ancient?
But wasn’t it a wonderful surprise to see and hear a ‘poet’ in the Opening Ceremonies! Super performance also! Go Shane go!

Re. “We re-forest what we clear.”
I just ‘weeded’ a foot-high Hemlock out of my native shrub bed today. Trees are pretty determined in this province. And the re-forested areas near Port Renfrew and Port Alberni look a lot healthier than funding to the Arts.
In any case it was wonderful to suddenly see Shane up, up high there on the 12th.

By: Nikki Reimer

Nikki Reimer — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 01:01:06 +0000

None of the poets I know “crumple into the fetal position from stage fright.” And surely a reach of only 20 to 30 people is hyperbole. Can we please get away from this trope of the invisible victim-poet?

By: Sandy Garossino

Sandy Garossino — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 05:32:12 +0000

Oh, and ps:

To be a complete contrarian here, props to whoever in VANOC and the Opening Ceremonies committee had the boulders to program an unknown POET in the finale of the Canadian culture segment of the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympic Games.

Just consider for one moment what a risk that was.