Newspoetry Coverage of Ropes Panel Discussion on Electronic Literature with Richard Powers and Sven Birkerts at the University of Cincinnati on February 3rd, 2000

Birkerts

Powers

LeClair

Mr. Birkerts, 40-ish, a critic with a reputation as a technophobe Mr. Powers, 40-ish, a novelist with a reputation as a technophile Mr. Powers is discussing the self Mr. Birkerts claims he was discussing "the social self" Mr. LeClair, 50-ish, a critic & novelist, fond of large books and geniuses Mr. Powers writes between the two extremes of researcher and novelist of character An audience member discusses Mr. Powers' fictional character "Richard Powers" Mr. Birkerts has just taught that novel He is trying to think of a way to say "with all due respect" Mr. Birkerts confesses that he is driven crazy and bedeviled by that technique Mr. Powers says intelligence is a series of narrative scripts and the ability to choose one: to be able to tell the right story at the right time Mr. Birkerts reiterates his previous point Mr. Powers is trying to get Mr. Birkerts to agree with him To return to the subject of corporate capitalism According to a gentleman in the audience, 60-ish, art has lost what Walter Benjamin calls "aura" Now Mr. Birkerts is establishing the importance of physically turning pages A woman in the audience is saying, in response to something no one said about the novel dying, that she sees no signs that the novel is dying Perfect Mr. Powers claims rightfully that the novel has always been more threatened by film than by anything digital Mr. Powers has pointed out to my great relief that the great Victorian novels, during the period in which they were written, were enjoyed only by a very, very privileged few People living in Beethoven's time didn't have access to Beethoven's music this isn't the Renaissance, but access to the art of the Renaissance has never been easier Mr. Birkerts has made a living as an expert on something he knows nothing about and hates. He's a dummy, a shadow, a yes-man for a smoky room of ghosts and old boys: the canon incarnate Mr. Powers embraces understandings of things: he is not afraid to learn Mr. Birkerts is afraid to learn Mr. Birkerts refuses to use email Does he cling to humanity, or live in denial of it?