For me, there is a paradox in poetry, which is like the paradox in tragedy. You have the most terrible subject, but it's in a form that is so sensually gratifying that it connects the surviving heart to the despairing intellect.
Tony HarrisonRead
I hate being called poet/dramatist/translator/director. 'Poet' covers it all for me.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The term 'poet' encompasses all aspects of Tony Harrison's creative identity.
In this quote, Tony Harrison expresses a preference for the term 'poet' over other labels like dramatist, translator, or director. He believes that the essence of his work as a poet inherently includes the skills and creativity required in these other roles, thus making the broader label more fitting.
Themes
PoetArtIdentityCreativityExpression
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the importance of artistic roles, one might quote Harrison to emphasize the unifying power of poetry.
More from Tony Harrison
All quotes →Theatre has to be theatrical. It has to draw attention to itself, like poetry.
Tony HarrisonRead
There's a kind of despair about whether art can really do anything, but you have to incorporate that despair into the way you work. I try to soak my work in my sense of futility and fury.
Tony HarrisonRead
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When I'm about to train a new opera, I first listen to how Jussi Björling did it. His voice was unique and it's his path that I want to follow. I would more than anything else wish that people compared me with Jussi Björling. It's like so I'm striving to sing.
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