Poet-in-residence inspires listeners

During a time where Facebook statuses and Twitter updates reign supreme, the quiet intimacy of a poetry reading may seem not only strange, but completely uninteresting. Yet on Aug. 25, in the dimly lit Arts and Sciences Auditorium, students, faculty and Milledgeville residents gathered to hear the recent works of poet-in-residence Alice Friman.

Her new book is entitled “Vinculum,” which means strong unity or bond, and covers a wide variety of subject matter that connects the audience not only to Friman’s life perspective but their own personal truth as well. The reading was the first in the Visiting Writers Series, an annual event for features writers who have been published in Georgia College’s literary journal, Arts & Letters.
“These writers offer a deeper pleasure than other kinds of entertainment that we often turn to,” said English professor Martin Lamman. “That entertainment is more about diversion … these writers offer works that offer deeper pleasure and deeper insight into ourselves.”
Alice Friman has written for years, winning awards such as the Ezra Pound Poetry Award and has worked with students to improve and enhance their writing. She currently works on Arts & Letters with GC graduates, and finds that the greatest reward in working with students is their energy, which drives her to continue writing.
“It’s good for me,” Friman said. “It keeps me young, mostly.”
During her long career, Friman has developed numerous techniques and methods that have helped her in the writing process and spur inspiration. One method Friman often uses is taking an “image walk,” giving her a chance to become in tune with her thoughts.
“You have to be alone,” Friman said. “Writing is a lonely business…just make yourself blank and just write about what you see.”
Friman explains that by doing this, one is able to figure out what really matters which leads to written expression. This expression then leads to literary inspiration.
“The more you write the more you have to write,” Friman said. “It’s a way of thinking … you find out what you’re thinking, what you’re really thinking.”
Friman finds this aspect of writing most attractive and feels poetry accomplishes this better than other forms of writing.
“Poetry gets to the heart of whatever it is,” Friman said. “It’s like writing with a girdle, a tight girdle … it gets to the crux of the matter.”
Through her writing, Friman is able to reveal some of her deepest thoughts and emotions and does it in a way that intrigues and even surprises her audience.
“I thought it was going to be all serious,” Ansley Burgamy, sophomore English literature major, said. “But she was really hilarious; it was very entertaining.”
Other students had similar reactions and although some attended simply as a course requirement, each seemed to enjoy the event. Senior Jessica Jackson, an English and history major, commented on the variety of subjects Friman addressed and expressed her admiration of Friman’s ability to take the audience on an emotional roller coaster.
“She really took you on a gambit of emotions,” Jackson said.
This sort of connection is one of the purposes of the Visiting Writers Series, giving students the chance not only to gain further insight into themselves but also network with professionals who have accomplished their current goals.
“[The] impact is very important, I think, for our student writers because they are aspiring to be published writers,” Lamman said. “It’s good to interact with other writers as well … to meet with them, talk with them and sometimes even do workshops with them.”
Although everyone who attended may not be an aspiring writer, Friman did provide the chance to experience a type of entertainment that goes beyond the immediate gratification commonly found in the media. Her poetry reading provided an alternative way to connect with the university community.

Posted by Noelle Brooks on Sep 1 2011. Filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.