Trainspotters r us
Completism!
Nick pops up in the comment section of Harry's Place to give us his thoughts about copyright (and I accordingly plagiarise them wholesale):
Sorry to barge in, but I find reading the blogs so much easier than getting on with my work. I don't mind copyright but the present system is pushing the artist's rights to the limits and beyond. For instance, I wanted to quote from poems that W H Auden and C Day Lewis had written between 1936 and 1939 in a recent book. In both instances I had to pay the publishers. I didn't mind, they were very helpful and the quotes made my points far better than I could. But I was struck by the thought that Auden and his contemporaries wrote their best poetry when they were young men. Copyright goes for 70 years after their deaths. Auden died in 1973, so copyright extends to 2043 -- or more than 100 years after he published his socialist poems. Auden is going to be read for as long as people read English poetry. But C. Day Lewis and the other 'pink poets'? If they were out of copyright, independent publishers might collect their work and try to interest new readers. But as it is, the costs of the very system that is meant to protect them may ensure that they are forgotten.
Nick pops up in the comment section of Harry's Place to give us his thoughts about copyright (and I accordingly plagiarise them wholesale):
Sorry to barge in, but I find reading the blogs so much easier than getting on with my work. I don't mind copyright but the present system is pushing the artist's rights to the limits and beyond. For instance, I wanted to quote from poems that W H Auden and C Day Lewis had written between 1936 and 1939 in a recent book. In both instances I had to pay the publishers. I didn't mind, they were very helpful and the quotes made my points far better than I could. But I was struck by the thought that Auden and his contemporaries wrote their best poetry when they were young men. Copyright goes for 70 years after their deaths. Auden died in 1973, so copyright extends to 2043 -- or more than 100 years after he published his socialist poems. Auden is going to be read for as long as people read English poetry. But C. Day Lewis and the other 'pink poets'? If they were out of copyright, independent publishers might collect their work and try to interest new readers. But as it is, the costs of the very system that is meant to protect them may ensure that they are forgotten.
posted by The Rioja Kid at 11/24/2006 04:05:00 PM
2 Comments:
Not entirely relevant, as I was looking for something else (I thought Auden hadn't been to Spain at all; and I was hoping for some decent 'McSpaunday' dirt) but Wikipedia on Auden:
In early 1937 Auden spent about six weeks in Spain observing the Spanish Civil War, an experience that affected him deeply in ways that he did not write about until many years later. Intending to work as a medical aide, he was briefly put to work writing and broadcasting propaganda from Valencia for the Spanish Republic. Like George Orwell he found that the political realities in Spain were more complex and troubling than he imagined, and while he continued to support the Republic, he was troubled by the falsehoods in its propaganda and that of its apologists. On his return he published a pamphlet poem Spain in support of the Republic; his royalties went to Medical Aid for Spain, a charity associated with the Republican side.
My emphasis. I don't know where they go now. (It is Spain Nick quotes isn't it?)
Why is Nick Cohen's view on copyright of any interest at all?
I think your work here is done. The man is a fool, his opinions are of no worth. If there were any indication that his opinions mattered, then I would be all in favour of this blog. As it is, his pretence that he represents a significant view from the left is empty.
He's just a well paid bloke writing for his employers.
Nice work if you can get it, and all that, but ramblings of a piss-artist nontheless.
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