Poetry in Motion
A CD-ROM based on the same-titled documentary (1982) by Ron Mann, presenting the works of various American poets.
CD-ROM cover
This CD-ROM is based on a film which director / producer Ron Mann made in the early 1980s (Sphinx Productions, 1982). Footage for the movie and the CD-ROM was taken from a marathon poetry reading at a New Year's benefit night for the Poetry Project at St. Mark's Church Ukrainian Hall in New York City, and at various readings in Toronto.
The CD-ROM includes work by several Beat poets -- for instance Gary Snyder, Ed Sanders, William Burroughs, Diane DiPrima, and Allen Ginsberg -- as well as stalwarts of the New York school like Ted Berrigan and Kenward Elmslie. Also included among the 24 are Charles Bukowsky, John Cage and Robert Creeley, and there are also some surprises like Michael Ondaatje and Tom Waits. A wild chaotic groan from the Canadian sound-poetry performance group, The Four Horsemen, brings bpNichol into the picture, with Paul Dutton, Steve McCaffery and Raphael Barreto-Rivera.
Technically, the CD is a HyperCard stack with sound added. The user selects a poet from his picture frame, who then comes to life in a Quicktime movie.
