Lawrence Upton
Lawrence Upton, a photograph by Benedict Taylor, 2011, ©
Commentary, Reviews etc
updated November 2015
Upton's writing doesn't try to hide behind vague over-used academic styles and cliche precisely because it doesn't need to -- there's something there, at the same time as it engages with prism-like philosophical concepts in a way which (a) is often coffee-sputteringly funny and therefore keeps the reader completely engaged, and takes them out of their neutral gear, and (b) is clearly informed by a long and in-depth engagement with form and doing. I think the lack of need or interest in ponderous abstraction in Upton's writing -- although it is also always very far from simplistic or naive proposal-wise -- is an indication of confidence and veracity. I have a good bullshit detector. My bullshit detector never goes off reading his material.
Steve Hanson, July 2012; quoted with permission
* * *
forthcoming:-
Editorial advice - conceptual commentary invited by Felipe Cussens (September 2015) to be published in Revista Laboratorio
Five works commissioned talk for the opening of The Future is Here Again: VISUAL LANGUAGE, durated by Nico Vassilakis and Holly Crawford; January 22, 2015 until February 7, 2015, AC INstitute NY USA - awaiting publication
Guardians - commissioned article awaiting publication
So many things commissioned article awaiting publication - details soon
Sound-singing Carlo Carra forthcoming in One hundred years of Futurism: Aesthetic, Political and Performative Assessments ed by John London (Britsol: Intellect).
So many things brief memoir around the days of insurrection at The Poetry Society is due to appear in a collection of such - from Shearsman I believe. 2016? I'll announce it here.
* * *
published:-
Essay A SINGULAR WORK: Bob Cobbing's Portrait of Robin Crozier [Coldfront 9 December 2015 commissioned by Nico Vassilakis.] This was an invitation extended to quite a few poets and the first two selections have already appeared. Note that there are several responses to the call in each selection and here my piece is a little way down the page.
H-bombs keep falling on my head published as Nowt 13
*
Foreword and introduction to "Dancer Knot"
*
Commentaries on Bob Cobbing. 109 pp Argotist Online, 2013. A collection of otherwise scattered writings 1980+. Includes a list of essays not included which Upton wishes to preserve. Free e-book [BOOK 2013]
Re-Orienteering published in Journal of Writing in Creative Practice Volume 5 Number 3 pp 431-453 [ESSAY 2012]
One Many in Beginning again in the middle ed Hanson et al [Nowt Press, 2013 [ESSAY 2012]
Working with Bob Cobbing in Journal of British and Irish Innovative Poetry Vol 4 # 2; pp 143 - 158; 2012; eds Sheppard & Thurston; UK ISSN 1758-2733 (Print) ISSN 1758-972X (Online) [ESSAY 2012]
Statement and other documentation for the solo exhibition from Recent Projects at St James Hatcham Church in September 2012 forthcoming [DOCUMENTATION 2012]
I mistrust my understanding Written in 2002 as the answers to a pro forma interview. Recently revisited and adjusted slightly. Now published as Nowt 6 [2002 - 2012]
Introductory notes to an exhibition with Guy Begbie at The Sheppard Library, Hendon in September 2012
Book Arts Newsletter # 76 Page 9
Notes to "Variations on a theme of Bob" These notes were first published loose leaf by Space Studios during the exhibition to which they refer. Some typos and infelicities have been removed - although a few remain and shall be hunted down. Here self-published copyright.
Photographs of "Bob Cobbing and the book"
Photographs, with brief notes, taken during the setup of the exhibition at U.W.E.
Photographs and notes by Lawrence Upton (c)
This exhibition and the documentation arose from the curator / author's AHRC fellowship at Goldsmiths, University of London
February 2012
Notes for "Bob Cobbing and the book"
Notes supplied with the exhibition at U.W.E.
December 2011
Copyright Lawrence Upton (c)
This exhibition and the documentation arose from the curator's AHRC fellowship at Goldsmiths, University of London
This talk was written speculatively in the latter part of 2011 and never actually given. Here it is published as part of Nowt 04.
October 2011
Copyright Lawrence Upton (c)
separate physicalities collaborating included in Artist's Book Yearbook : 2012-2013 edited by Sarah Bodman; published September 2011 by Impact Press; 254pp, 21 x 29.7 cm, paperback
The photocopier in visual poetry
Published in Psycick Dance Hall 4 online and hard copy
May 2011
Copyright Lawrence Upton (c)
This talk arose from the author's AHRC fellowship at Goldsmiths, University of London.
Ian's 575s: Texts exhibited with introductory essay at e-poetry 2011 May 2011 at SUNY, Buffalo, USA published in the web journal Emerging Language Practices #2 at SUNY Buffalo
Copyright Lawrence Upton (c)
This talk arose from the author's AHRC fellowship at Goldsmiths, University of London.
Regarding Speculative Scores: from a talk given at Wysing Arts Centre 2011 published by the web journal Emerging Language Practices #2 at SUNY Buffalo
Copyright Lawrence Upton (c)
This talk arose from the author's AHRC fellowship at Goldsmiths, University of London.
Notes on NAMELY for Peter Manson: Notes prepared for and included in the exhibition Notation and Interpretation at Institute of Contemporary Arts, London; 16 February 2011 - 20 February 2011] published by the web journal Emerging Language Practices #2 at SUNY Buffalo
Copyright Lawrence Upton (c)
This talk arose from the author's AHRC fellowship at Goldsmiths, University of London.
On collaboration in art and in research into art
This talk was given at Goldsmiths, University of London on 12 February, 2011 as part of a cross-disciplinary graduate seminar on collaboration. It was followed by a performance by Lawrence Upton (voice) and Benedict Taylor (viola) from Bob Cobbing's with your tongues (Writers Forum 2001, 2011)]. Published by the web journal Emerging Language Practices #2 at SUNY Buffalo
February 2011
Copyright Lawrence Upton (c)
This talk arose from the author's AHRC fellowship at Goldsmiths, University of London.
Benign artistic trespass as method
This talk was given at post-moot, University of Miami in Ohio in 2010. Here it is published as part of Nowt 04.
2010
Copyright Lawrence Upton (c)
This talk arose from the author's AHRC fellowship at Goldsmiths, University of London.
"Close to the literal" by Lawrence Upton & John Drever - contribution to an artists' question panel, with three other artists - at James Taylor Gallery London Saturday 6th November 2010 -- no plans to publish the text: most of what was asked had been answered here and there before; though we did touch on some issues that I may now go into, issues I had expected to be asked about in detail.
Copyright Lawrence Upton (c)
Bob Cobbing; 21 October 2010 - invited contribution to Richard Tipping's presentation to The Thursday Club -- no plans to publish the text, but some of what was said will feed back into future writing; some has already been said in writing.
Copyright Lawrence Upton (c)
Rory Stewart's "The places in between; 19 October 2010 - a talk to a study meeting of The Religious Society of Friends -- no plans to publish the text.
Copyright Lawrence Upton (c)
Poetry as discomfort a talk to a study group opposiing inter alia the idea of poetry as being a source of comfort and / or guidance. Circulated as a pamphlet later - o.p.
Copyright Lawrence Upton (c)
NAMING and CURSING:some live text sound composition
Published by Revista Laboratorio #3
Spring 2010
This article and much of the material and activity it refers to arose from the author's AHRC fellowship at Goldsmith, University of London
[External link]
[an interview with Chris Goode]
February 2010
This interview arose from the author's AHRC fellowship at Goldsmiths, University of London
[External link]
Collaboration, not just cooperation
a talk given at Music Making: Pedagogy and Practice; University of Surrey
November 2009
This talk arose from the author's AHRC fellowship at Goldsmith, University of London
a talk given Institute of Contemporary Arts
August 2009
This talk arose from the author's AHRC fellowship at Goldsmith, University of London
[External link]
self, expression; Centre for Contemporary Music Cultures, Goldsmiths, University of London; February 2009. No plans to publish the text as much of the content has been absorbed into later texts
Bob Cobbing and the book as medium; designs for poetry
[External link]
ESSAY: Writers Forum (Workshops & Publications)
[External link]
Alaric Sumner's "Parasitic" hard copy published in Parasitic by Alaric Sumner (Writers Forum, August 2008)
looks like art; sounds like music; San Expo Brighton; July 2008. No plans to publish. In the talk I outlined my then plans for the bulk of my AHRC Research Fellowship at Goldsmiths. Those plans were subsequently developed considerably
TALK: Alaric Sumner's "Shatter" Writers Forum Workshop 2007
TALK: re-issue of Cobbing's Lightsong # 2 Writers Forum Workshop 2007. Now included in Some commentaries on Bob Cobbing (Argotist e books, 2013)
Walking, interference in Necessary Steps; Shearsman 2007
TALK: Sumner's LETTERS for dear AUGUSTINE Writers Forum Workshop January 2007
WRITING POETRY: an interrupted talk; 2007.
awaiting publication
TALK: The re-issue of Kroklok #2 Writers Forum Workshop December 2006. Now included in Some commentaries on Bob Cobbing (Argotist e books, 2013)
TALK: Nuttall's "Oscar Christ" Writers Forum November 2006
On Choreographed Utterance edited version published in P-Queue, Buffalo, USA; September 2006; full version published in "a song and a film" by Upton (Veer Publications, 2009
A pedagogical interview February 2006
TALK: Writing CLOSE TO THE LITERAL Goldsmiths, University of London 2005
TALK: Introduction to Alan Sondheim Nottingham Trent University 2004
ESSAY: Some initial responses to "W aves on Porthmeor Beach"Part 2, Section 3, 2004 [External link]
Holding up conciousness; 2004. Birkbeck Contemporary Poetics Conference: the language & the Design of Poetry, May 7th & 8th, 2004.
ESSAY: Some initial responses to "Waves on Porthmeor Beach"Part 1, Sections 1 & 2, 2004 [External link]
Holding up consciousness; 2004. Birkbeck Contemporary Poetics Conference: the language & the Design of Poetry, May 7th & 8th, 2004.
A LOT IS POSSIBLE: Sub Voicive Poetry in Words Out Loud: ten essays about poetry readings; edited by Mark Robinson; Stride Books, 2002
ESSAY: hot mazing on time 2004 [External link]
RETROSPECTIVE: Remembering Alaric Sumner 2004 [External link]
TALK, Sub Voicive Poetry: Introduction to Jeff Nuttall 2004 [External link]
TALK: Performing "Textscapes"; talk + performance, Nottingham Trent University; July 2002. No immediate plans to publish.
TALK: Gilbert Adair
2003
MEMOIR: Of Ric Caddel
2003
[External link]
2003
Any language cannot be foreign; West Virginia University, Morgantown, USA; 2003. [TALK: 2003]
No plans to publish
A LOT IS POSSIBLE: Sub Voicive Poetry in Words Out Loud: ten essays about poetry readings; edited by Mark Robinson; Stride Books, 2002
How accessible and democratic is the net? does it matter to artists? Nottingham Trent University; 2002. No immediate plans to publish.
E-BOOK: My recent multivoice texts
2002?
[External link]
ESSAY: Bob Cobbing: a worker-in-progress, 2002. Now included in Some commentaries on Bob Cobbing (Argotist e books, 2013)
Some notes on (my) collaborations
REVIEW: "Red shifts" by Maggie O'Sullivan
2002
Published by Famous Reporter, Australia
June 2001
2001
Notation for "Willing suspension of belief" "Willing suspension of disbelief" was Upton's talk at the first e-poetry in Buffalo, 2001 First published Poetics, Canada
On top of the Zyklon heap First published in Masthead edited by Alison Croggon. 2001
Poetry as choreography Sub Voicive Colloquium #5 Birkbeck College; September 2001. Not published as such but the ideas have surfaced elsewhere in Upton's writing
lawrence upton interviews himself
[External link]
December 2000
AUTOBIOGRAPHY: tilting the world
December 2000
[External link]
ESSAY: bells and whistles. December 2000. Now included in Some commentaries on Bob Cobbing (Argotist e books, 2013)
December 2000
[External link]
PERFORMANCE SCORE: a hum for Alaric Sumner
2000
[External link]
Writers Forum - Life by 1000 books in A Book of the Book, ed. Rothenberg & Clay, Granary Books, New York; 2000
Essay: Finding another word for "experimental"
1999
[External link]
Essay: utterance and notation of poetry
1999
[External link]
Ted Hughes
seemingly written, by invitation, but rather quickly; and never published before.
Regarding Maggie O'Sullivan's Poetry
1998
Review of Alaric Sumner's The Unspeakable Rooms
1998
Introduction to Bill Griffiths celebrating the memory of Eric Mottram
1998
Co-editing "Word Score Utterance Choreography" given at Unpacking the anthology conference, Edge Hill University College; July 1999. Published as a pamphlet by housepress, Canada. Now included in Some commentaries on Bob Cobbing (Argotist e books, 2013)
Sub Voicive Poetry introduction to Gilbert Adair
1997
Interpreting the visual in poetry? Kings Talks King's College, London; June 1999. Partially published "Two Concepts of Normalization" by Vaclac Havel in Open Letter, a Canadian Journal of Writing and Theory, Eleventh Series, No. 7: Spring 2003 - Language Graphic
How does one utter that? Sub Voicive Colloquium # 2, Centre for English Studies, London; October 1997. No plans to publish text: this talk was revised and added to for "Interpreting the visual in poetry?" in 1999
REVIEW of (soma) light song by Bob Cobbing. September 1982. Not being reprinted.
REVIEW of Pattern of Performance by Bob Cobbing. First published April 1980. Afterword 2010. Now included in Some commentaries on Bob Cobbing (Argotist e books, 2013)
>