Out With The Old And In With The New

So the blog hasn't been a very busy place lately, but I can assure you the Symposium cogs have been turning.

Here's a brief whirlwind summary of 2013:


In 2013 we started out now bi-annual tradition of Kick-off slams in the Red Room. These slams hark back to the good old Ancient Greek tradition of sharing wisdom over an urn of wine, or in this case, a bottle of cider. Nonetheless, these events are nothing short of fabulous and if you're a poet looking for an excuse to glam up a little, do some laundry and put on your favourite shirt, these are the events for you.



Last year we were lucky enough to have local legend

Jonathan Sri as a guest poet to our inaugural slam and every semester, the guest list gets better and better, with our own poets joining the fray.



We've also had a few more kick-back events,
with our casual library slams giving us even more reasons to have fun (and eat an healthy balanced pizza diet).

They say necessity is the mother of invention, and when the kitty started to run dry, it was at these slams that the Potluck Poetry event was born.

For Potluck Poetry, poets each put their poem into a hat and draw out another poet's work at random. Not only does it take the pressure off performing your own work, it's always interesting to hear your own words in someone else's voice.

It is with great regret however that I wish to inform you all that the Batman Mask worn by the judges (pictured opposite) has been removed from service due to a rather unceremonious crack running its entirety.


But I won't end this post on a bad note, so here's what's happening this year:

• Our book release! For years we've been talking and talking about wanting to publish a book of poems. Well now it's here. Titled 'We'll Be Famous When We're Dead', you can buy our snazzy title from the LuLu website, or from us directly. (Come drop by on Market Day to pick up a copy)
• School outreach program! We're going to be running slam workshops for high school students, letting them write and perform their own poems and proving to that that poetry isn't all about meter and rhyme.
• Even more slams! Aiming never to disappoint we've already organised out Kick-off slam (Red Room 6PM March 20th!) and have many more underway, stay tuned!

So here's to an awesome 2014!

Poetica gratia poeticae
Poetry for poetry's sake

Week 1 Newsletter

Greetings Symposiasts!

Market Day was a blast! Not only did we sell dozens of cup cakes and icy cups and berry tarts but we got over 40 members this year!

It was so lovely to see so many new faces at our first meeting last week, with the theme of holidays. We’re going to be running a getting to know you section starting from next newsletter where we’ll ask each of our members some questions about themselves.

On that note, please send in your reviews—books, poems, movies, restaurants, if you hate it or love it or something in-between let me know!

Calendar & News

The theme for this week is nature, a theme we’ve seen a lot of that never fails to impress. Next week the theme is dance, and the week after that—on the 23^rd of March—we have our first poetry slam (free entry for members, gold coin for non-members)!

We would love to see all of you perform to make this night the best it can be! Even if you’d just like to come along to watch and support, you’re more than welcome.

I’ll be setting up a blog page in the coming days specifically for our slams, including information on prizes, rules and how to enter.

Entertainment Corner

This week we have a book review from our very own Monsieur Vice Preseident Josh:

Title: Island
Author: Aldous Huxley

Island is the last novel by Aldous Huxley, combining a lifetime of spirituality, political, and philosophical thinking. It takes place in the 1960's on the fictional island of Pala from the point of view of the cynical journalist, Will Farnaby. Pala is an island paradise which has used a combination of science, Buddhism, and philosophy to create a Utopian civilisation. However, the outside world is closing in on Pala, with big corporations, believing large oil reserves to be on Pala, closing in, with Will Farnaby being an agent of one of these companies. It deals with a variety of themes, from the nature of love, the raising of children, the importance of psychology, environmentalism, the consequences of capitalism and overpopulation, and christianity. Throughout the novel the sceptical Farnaby slowly comes away to the Palanese way of thinking, yet will Pala be able to hold out against the outside world? Island is fantastically written, being easy to read, yet is incredibly thought provoking. 8/10

Writing Challenge

This week’s writing challenge looks at a common euphemism. Interpret as you wish!

How do you make love?

See you all at the meeting, I look forward do reading your poems!

POETICA GRATIA POETICAE

Sincerely,
Katelyn
Priestess of the Press

Welcome to Symposium 2012!

Greetings Symposiasts!

Calendar & Events
Welcome to another year of poetry and certain craziness. This year we are proud to welcome back our executives, and welcome some new faces:

Madame President: Caitlin Prouatt
Monsieur Vice President: Joshua Lovett
Minister of Propaganda: Michael Astle
Mistress of the Mint (Embezzler of Funds): Felicity Ford
Lady of the Letters: Laura McKenna
Priestess of the Press: Katelyn Richards

Symposium is going to be bigger and better than ever this year! Given all the fun we had last year attending (and for a few brave souls, competing!) the Brisbane heats of the National Poetry Slam, we're holding our very own slams this year. Entry into the (friendly!) competitions is free for members, just flash your Symposiast card.

The first two slams will be on March 23rd and May 11th, at Cafe Checocho in West End.

In addition to organising our bustling social calendar, our Minister of Propaganda has also arranged some great deals for Symposiasts: a 10% discount with our good friends at Archives Fine Books and membership to the Queensland Writers' Centre.

Madame President is currently arranging for guest speakers from the QWC, entry to QWC events and more! I'll keep you all posted as it happens.

We've also planned our weekly themes in advance this year, with the first week's theme being holidays. Bring a poem to this theme,  an epic story from your travels or perhaps some happy snaps you'd like to share. Our meetings, as usual, will be at 5pm on Fridays, starting on March 2nd, Bld 39a, room 209. Afterwards, those who are feeling peckish can venture out for the weekly dinner pilgrimage.

Entertainment Corner
This year, I'd love to see your words filling this section of the newsletter! Send me your poems, your stories, blurbs about your favourite books or movies or songs. Even if it's just a note about your new favourite place to eat, or an awesome microwave cupcake recipe, I'm happy to put it in this section. (If you have any ideas for a better title or sub-titles, send them my way too!)

I'm also happy to announce that while on exchange to Edinburgh, our very own Geraldine shall be our foreign correspondent  and write back with all the latest literary news from Scotland. I look forward to her letters and castle adventures!

Writing Challenge
I thought I'd kick this year's writing challenge off with something a little philosophical (and related to the first week's theme):

the journey or the destination?


I look forward to seeing you all at meetings!

POETICA GRATIA POETICAE

Sincerely,
Katelyn
Priestess of the Press

Week 11 Newsletter

Greetings Symposiasts!　

Calendar & Updates
This week we had a wilde week, watching the film Wilde, about one of our favourites: Oscar Wilde. We festooned ourselves with green carnations graciously provided by Bronte and settled down for what was an epic trek through literary history.

Afterwards, we headed again to Nandos but we’re still open to new suggestions for nest week’s dinner.

We’re also themeless at this point, so please suggest a theme you’d like to cover on our facebook page.

Entertainment Corner

What We’re Reading

Geraldine would like to report that the book I mentioned last week, 'You Can't Do Both' by Kingsley Amis, was not the book she was hoping for; so perhaps don’t rush out to buy it, but she has recommended a movie for us this week.

What We’re Watching

Geraldine recommends Glorious 39,  a  breathtaking BBC historical film set pre WWII, and available to watch on on youtube.

Writing Challenge

This week’s fun writing challenge is: write a piece that explores what it means to be wild.

POETICA GRATIA POETICAE



Sincerely,
Katelyn

Week 10 Newsletter

Greetings Symposiasts!　

Calendar & Updates
This week we shared original poetry, and although historically our most popular theme, we were sadly lacking in numbers tonight. We did however get to hear some beautiful originals from Jessy Carlisle and Brian’s take on A Place Called Home by Kim Riche, a very beautiful rendition indeed.

This week’s post-symposium dinner was at Nandos, which proved delicious indeed and I am glad to report that several recommendations have been made for next week; we will not go hungry!

We are also still planning fundraising efforts for our anthology, and your ideas are all welcome. Post us a note on our facebook page, we’d love to hear from you.

 

Entertainment Corner

What We’re Reading

Geraldine will report back to us next week with a book review of 'You Can't Do Both' by Kingsley Amis. She’ll let us know if it lives it to the recommendations.

Writing Challenge

This week’s fun writing challenge is: write a poem that defines happiness.

POETICA GRATIA POETICAE



Sincerely,
Katelyn

Week5-9 Newsletter

Greetings Symposiasts!　

Calendar & Updates
I am so sorry that this newsletter comes so ashamedly late! Week after week it fell off my to-do pile and when I found it again, I was another week behind. But there’s been heaps to report—a very busy semester for Symposium indeed!

At meetings we’ve covered many topics: dreams, transport, and hope. Our last meeting for the term was a movie night where we laughed along with Mr. Bean’s Holiday—in anticipation of our own holiday to come. Some of the poems we heard for dreams include: ‘Ode’ by Arthur O’Shaughnessy, ‘A Supermarket in California’ by Allen Ginsberg, ‘I Sing the Body Electric’ by Walt Whitman, ‘Unfettered World’ by Bonita Summers and ‘The House I go to in my Dream’ by George Barker. For transport, we heard ‘Train Journey’ by Judith Wright, two Thomas Hardy poems—’On Hearing the News of Titanic and ‘Last Words to a Dumb Friend’, ‘in The Train’ by James Thomson and ‘Night Mail’ by W.H.Auden.

We also were treated to poems from our very own: ‘A Rogue Dream’ by our president, Caitlin, and an unfinished poem ‘In Australia’ by Jessy Carlisle.

When we weren’t revelling in the beauty of the written word last term, we were revelling in the spoken: Symposiasts attended both the Queensland Poetry Festival poetry workshop, and the Brisbane heat of the National Poetry Slam, in which Felicity, Jessy and yours truly competed. Although none of us took home the prize (a can of baked beans believe it or not!) it was an amazing, albeit nerve-racking experience and we’ll be ready to blow them away next year.

Members who attended the workshop had a great time, hearing words of wisdom from internationally renowned slam poets like Jive Poetic. Josh, our vice-president, has shared with a key writing tool he learnt at the workshop:

Make 2 categories from which you want to write a poem, and then make up a metaphor and a simile, and use that as the basis of the poem. Write a ton of words for the two categories to use for when you get writer’s block.

On the social side, some of Symposiasts have been testing their taste buds, seeking out new haunts for our after-club dinner, although the jury’s still out as to where to eat next (please feel free to leave suggestions on our facebook page!). We also got to enjoy the Southbank Lights Show last week, completed with an epic sound track and amazing tricks of the eye.

This next term, we’re going to be even busier still! We’re raising money for our anthology and have got many ideas on the table: sausage sizzles, slam events and the like. It’s going to be an epic end to the semester!

 

Entertainment Corner

What We're Hearing

Here’s a song that was mentioned in one of our meetings (I can’t remember who recommended it, but if it was you, give a shout on our facebook page!): Holland, 1945.

What We’re Watching

Geraldine recommends the movie A Brief Encounter, a good distraction from the ever-looming exams!

Felicity also shared with us a poem by Simon Armitage: You’re Beautiful.

What We’re Reading

Caitlin recommends the Greek poet Cavafy, here’s what she had to say:

He was an Alexandrian Greek, writing in the early 20th century.  He's very famous, so most of his poems have been translated into English. 'Ithaca' is his most famous one. Last week I read a poem of his, and it was just describing a room, with its shelves and desk, but he wrote in such a way that you knew what had happened in the room, and that it was important, and that the author's love had left, leaving him behind with just the furniture always there, reminding him.

Writing Challenge

To make up for my lack of newsletters, here’s a jumble of fun writing challenges to entertain those idle thoughts:

Answer the following:

·       What are dreams made of?

·       ‘Transport phenomena’, in engineering is the study of how things flow, but what does it mean to you?

·        If hope were embodied by a person, what would they look like?

·       Write a poem that explains hope to a young child.

·       Write a poem that explains what beauty is.

POETICA GRATIA POETICAE



Sincerely,
Katelyn

Week 4 Newsletter

Greetings Symposiasts!　

Calendar & Updates
Firstly, my apologies for not posting this newsletter last week, but I’m back on top of things now!

Week 4’s theme was childhood and admittedly, although one childhood book was read, the remainder of the time was spent watching snippets from childhood TV shows while eating our favourite pizza!

Afterwards however, a few keen symposiasts attended An Evening with Odysseas Elytis. It was a wonderful experience, learning about a culture, and a man, most of us knew little of. I found it amazing to be first bewildered by many of the poems, to then see their beauty as the cultural and translational references were explained: by Dr. Alfred Vincent, whom lectured the evening.

Some of the poems however, needed no explanation; they touched a very basal place in the collective human experience that transcended both age and culture. Once such poem was an extract from a series of letters entitled ‘Maria Nefeli’

For those of you who are interested, Caitlin will keep us posted about future excursions and lectures, keep checking our facebook page for updates!

 

Entertainment Corner
What We're Hearing

In the spirit of the theme, I’d like to share with you an old favourite, as recommended by Grant:

The NingNang Nong Song

Writing Challenge

To concur with this week’s theme:

write a poem to a child, teaching them the lessons you wish you had learned at that age.

POETICA GRATIA POETICAE



Sincerely,
Katelyn

Ps. Feel free to pop by our facebook page and recommend books, movies or songs for our entertainment corner