[encore] 1029: If I Told Him, A Completed Portrait of Picasso by Gertrude Stein

Summary

The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily - Episode [Encore] 1029: "If I Told Him, A Completed Portrait of Picasso by Gertrude Stein"

Release Date: May 26, 2025

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Introduction

In this special encore episode of The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily, host Major Jackson bids farewell as he concludes his tenure guiding listeners through the intricate landscapes of poetry. This episode, produced by APM Studios in partnership with The Poetry Foundation and supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, serves both as a heartfelt goodbye and a celebration of experimental poetry's enduring impact.

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Host’s Farewell and Reflections

At the onset of the episode, Major Jackson opens with a poignant farewell message, marking the end of his role as the host of The Slowdown. He expresses deep gratitude for the journey shared with listeners over the years.

"As I close my time as host of the Slowdown, I'm grateful for the opportunity I've had to share poetry with you these past few years." ([00:30])

Jackson reflects on the rich archive of episodes the show has cultivated, hinting at the treasures listeners can revisit in the coming months. His departure is not just an ending but a transition, as he curates an encore episode that encapsulates his passion for poetry.

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Exploration of Experimental Poetry

Diving deeper into his love for poetry, Major Jackson elaborates on his affinity for experimental works. He underscores the significance of poems that challenge traditional forms and language, arguing that such experimentation is essential for the art form's evolution.

"I enjoy reading poems that are explicitly experimental, poems that undertake an earnest examination of form, language, and meaning." ([00:45])

Jackson draws parallels between experimental poetry and avant-garde movements in other art forms, citing historical examples like Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring and Steve Reich's minimalist compositions. He emphasizes that while today's poetic experiments often engage with contemporary themes like technology and artificial intelligence, they must maintain a rigorous aesthetic inquiry to resonate meaningfully.

"Today's experiments in poetry spawned from considerations of poetry and technology, such as AI and blockchain. However, they do not represent a renewed sense of rigorous aesthetic investigation." ([02:15])

He expresses optimism for a budding movement of avant-garde poets poised to address the complexities of the modern era with innovative solutions and fervent creativity.

"I do detect a new movement of avant garde play is on the horizon, one that will match the complexity of our moment, with all of its challenges in need of fervent solutions." ([04:50])

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Featured Poem: "If I Told Him, A Completed Portrait of Picasso" by Gertrude Stein

The centerpiece of this episode is the recitation of Gertrude Stein's "If I Told Him, A Completed Portrait of Picasso". This avant-garde poem exemplifies the experimental techniques Jackson champions, utilizing repetition and fragmented syntax to explore perception and artistic expression.

Throughout the recitation, Major Jackson invites listeners to engage with the poem's abstract structure and its play with language, encouraging a deeper reflection on the relationship between artist and subject.

"Today's poem is a touchstone example of art that altered how we hear words, but also how we perform language to transform words into elements of our yielding and will." ([06:30])

The poem's repetitive questioning and shifting perspectives mirror the complexities of interpreting art and the elusive nature of capturing a subject's essence, as seen in Stein's portrayal of Picasso.

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Concluding Thoughts

As the episode draws to a close, Major Jackson reiterates his appreciation for the poetic journey shared with the audience. While his role as host concludes, he leaves behind a legacy of thoughtful curation and a deepened appreciation for the power of poetry to reflect and shape our understanding of the world.

Listeners are encouraged to continue exploring The Slowdown's extensive back catalog, featuring contributions from esteemed poets and guest hosts, ensuring that the spirit of reflection and discovery remains vibrant.

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Additional Information

The Slowdown invites listeners to integrate poetry into their daily routines, whether it's during morning coffee, a nature walk, or winding down for the night. For ongoing poetic inspiration, new and returning audiences can access past episodes and subscribe to newsletters via slowdownshow.org. Follow the show on Instagram at @SlowdownShow to stay connected with the poetic community.

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Notable Quotes:

• "I enjoy reading poems that are explicitly experimental, poems that undertake an earnest examination of form, language, and meaning." — Major Jackson ([00:45])
• "Today's poem is a touchstone example of art that altered how we hear words, but also how we perform language to transform words into elements of our yielding and will." — Major Jackson ([06:30])

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This episode stands as a testament to Major Jackson's dedication to fostering a space where poetry serves as a lens through which we can collectively pause, reflect, and connect with the broader human experience.

Transcript

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[Major Jackson]

Hi, It's Major As I close my time as host of the Slowdown, I'm grateful for the opportunity I've had to share poetry with you these past few years. The Slowdown has a deep store of episodes, and for the next few months we're reaching into the archive to bring you some of our favorites. Here's one from my time on the show. I'm Major Jackson and this is the Slowdown. I enjoy reading poems that are explicitly experimental, poems that undertake an earnest examination of form, language, and meaning. They help us find the expressive boundaries of an art born out of the needs of our age. I don't mean works that unleash total anarchy on society or that signal the end of civilization as we know it. That kind of art is often met with severe resistance, sometimes outright violence, as with the 1913 premiere of Igor Stravinsky's the Rite of Spring, which prompted a riot, or Steve Reich's 1973 minimalist piece of four organs, which led to an attendee pounding a shoe on a stage of Carnegie hall, demanding the performers cease playing. Today's experiments in poetry spawned from considerations of poetry and technology, such as AI and blockchain. However, they do not represent a renewed sense of rigorous aesthetic investigation. But I do detect a new movement of avant garde play is on the horizon, one that will match the complexity of our moment, with all of its challenges in need of fervent solutions. Today's poem is a touchstone example of art that altered how we hear words, but also how we perform language to transform words into elements of our yielding and will. If I Told him A completed portrait of Picasso by Gertrude Stein if I told him would he like it? Would he like it? If I told him would he like it Would Napoleon Would Napoleon would would he like it if Napoleon if I told him if I told him if Napoleon Would he like it if I told him if I told him if Napoleon would he like it if Napoleon if Napoleon if I told him if I told him if Napoleon if Napoleon if I told him if I told him would he like it Would he like it if I told him now not now and now now exactly as as kings feeling full for it exactitude as kings so to beseech you as full as for it exactly or as kings Shutters shut and open so do queens Shutters shut and shutters and so Shutters shut and shutters and so and so shutters and so Shutters shut and so Shutters shut and shutters and so and so Shutters shut and so and also and also and so and and so and also Exact resemblance to exact resemblance the exact resemblance as exact resemblance exactly as resembling exactly resembling exactly in resemblance exactly and resemblance for this is so because now actively repeat at all now actively repeat at all now actively repeat at all have hold and hear Actively repeat at all I judge judge as a resemblance to him who comes first Napoleon the first who comes to coming coming to who goes there as they go they share who shares all all is as all as as yet or as yet Noun to date noun to date now and now and date and the date who came first Napoleon at first who came first Napoleon I who came first Napoleon first Presently exactly do they do first exactly exactly do they do first exactly and first exactly exactly do they do and first exactly and exactly and do they do at first exactly and first exactly and do they do the first exactly and do they do the first exactly at first exactly first as exactly as first as exactly presently as presently as as presently he he he he and he and he and and he and he and he and and as and as he and as he and he he is and as he is and as he is and he is he is and as he and he and as he is and he and he and and he and he can curls Rob can curls Quote Quotable as presently as exactitude as trains has trains has trains as trains as trains presently proportions presently as proportions as presently farther and whether was there was there was there what was there was there what was there was there there was there whether and in there as even say so 1 I land 2 I land 3 the land 3 the land 3 the land 2 I land to I land 1 I land to I land as a so the cannot a note they cannot afloat they cannot they dot they cannot they as denote miracles play play fairly play fairly well a well as well as or as presently Let me recite what history teaches. History teaches. The Slowdown is a production of American Public Media in partnership with the Poetry foundation. This project is also supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. On the [e-mail] to get a poem delivered to you daily, go to slowdownshow.org and sign up for our newsletter and find us on Instagram at Slowdown. Show.

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[Major Jackson]

I think you're breaking into this wall. Regardless, I was hoping you wouldn't say that. I need to go and get some whiskey. I think I would get the whiskey for sure.

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