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Howe (Susan) Radio Program Sound Recordings
MSS 0190
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Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla 92093-0175
Title: Susan Howe Radio Program Sound Recordings
Creator:
Howe, Susan, 1937-
Identifier/Call Number: MSS 0190
Physical Description:
6.4 Linear feet
(6 record cartons and 1 archives box)
Date (inclusive): 1965, 1970-1981
Abstract: This collection consists of sound recordings from Susan Howe's radio program on WBAI New York spanning 1965, and 1970-1981.
Also includes other WBAI poetry-related recordings owned by Howe.
Languages:
English
.
Scope and Content of Collection
The majority of this collection contains original recordings from Susan Howe's radio program, referred to as "Susan Howe with
Poetry," "Poetry Today," and/or "Poetry." It was generally a thirty minute program, but special events would last upwards
of an hour and a half. Howe would interview and/or host guests, who would read on the program. She also edited and produced
the broadcast versions for radio. Notable guests include John Ashbery, Anne Waldman, Ron Padgett, Alice Notley, and Jerome
Rothenberg. The recording and editing decisions created a unique experience for each event due to Howe's belief that, similarly
to choosing interview questions, sound editing and final production requires choices that are different for each individual
being featured. The dates provided are either the creation date of the broadcast reel or the first broadcast date of the program,
with additional broadcast dates listed in the notes.
Supporting broadcast materials in Series 3 are unedited productions tapes that serve as the content source for WBAI roadcast
versions. However, these materials are largely duplicative of recordings in Series 1) SUSAN HOWE WITH POETRY, and contain
very little unique content.
Arranged in three series: 1) SUSAN HOWE WITH POETRY, 2) OTHER WBAI POETRY BROADCASTS, and 3) SUPPORTING BROADCAST MATERIALS.
Susan Howe (b. 1937) is an American artist, poet, and writer. Howe's poetry evolved from her painting and drawing career,
and her first major publication was the 1974 edition of Hinge Picture (New York, Telephone Books). Closely associated with
the late 1970s and 1980s Language Poets' movement, Susan Howe's poetry and scholarship are most accurately characterized as
language-based and experimental. In the 1970s, Howe produced a radio talk show for WBAI radio in which she interviewed and
hosted a wide range of American and European poets. Through producing and editing this show, Howe not only interviewed poets,
but introduced their readings, facillitated discussion, and read poetry of her own. Howe's sound editing work is echoed in
her authorial voice and her splicing and language use within her written works. Howe also wanted to create a program that
required participation and active listening on the part of the listener.
Susan Howe Radio Program Sound Recordings. MSS 190. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego Library.
Acquired 2001
Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.
Original sound recordings are restricted. Listening copies of most recordings are available.
Susan Howe Papers. MSS 201. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego Library.
This collection has been digitized.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
American poetry -- 20th century
Poets -- Interviews
Howe, Susan, 1937-
WBAI Radio (New York, N.Y.)