Ezra Pound: The Curse of Genius

Why do some incredibly talented individuals never reach their full potential? In today's episode, we dive into the fascinating life of Ezra Pound, a true genius in the realm of language and literature, yet somehow failing to make the lasting impact of his contemporaries like TS Eliot or WB Yeats. We'll explore the idea I call "the curse of genius" and how Pound's obsession with power and acknowledgment may have held him back from greatness.
Join me in this thought-provoking exploration of Ezra Pound's life and career, from his influential role as an editor and promoter of other poets, to his controversial leanings toward fascism later in life. We'll seek to understand the man behind the poetry, the impact he had on the world of arts and letters, and the lessons we can learn from his story for our own personal endeavors and for recognizing the pitfalls that can accompany great talent and ambition.
Chapters:
(00:01:21) - Pound's Curse
(00:05:28) - What Happens When You Aim for Influence?
(00:08:58) - Let the Chips Fall Where They May
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[@mmmoendo]

Hugh Kenner's Pound Era is incredible and everyone should read it.

[@tsarichina1789]

You should read The Cantos. Then I am sure your ideas about Pound´s truly relevance will be corrected. Several of the key points you assess in your writing, were in a way or another embraced in the complex and illuminated language of The Cantos.

[@tcaw8813]

I dont think its fair to look at Pound compared to Eliot and say "well right now Eliot has a bigger influence" its totally conceivable that in the future Pounds influence will be greater, thinkers/artists have revaluations like this all the time. Ofcourse you say this about anyone, but the reverse is also true, that tons of the artists who end up getting praised like Queen, and Stephen King are clearly overstated in their importance, just cause something seems high culture doesnt mean its immune from this.

[@juliapappas]

Thank you for this analysis. Much appreciated! The point is to put the energy towards the work itself, rather than towards its acknowledgement.

[@robot-vr4gx]

Thanks for sharing.

[@frankfernau1613]

best content, ty

[@towardstar]

the mending wall is a great conservative poem reflecting on boundaries.