Ginsberg, Allen, on Tour with Peter Orlovsky and Steven Taylor

"BACK TO WUPPERTAL" is the title of the poem ALLEN GINSBERG scribbled into the guestbook of the Forum For International Poetry one hour after his arrival in Wuppertal on Feb. 16, 1983, where the final performance of a three-month tour through Northen Europe was to take place.It was in december 1980 that Ginsberg, together with fellow poet PETER ORLOVSKY and musician STEVEN TAYLOR, had last been touring West Germany, and their Wuppertal performance that year had been of a somewhat tragic importance for both the poets and the audience, for it was on that day that Ginsberg had heared the news of the death of JOHN LENNON, who had been shot in New York City two days before. For Ginsberg, Lennonhad seemed to be one of the very few people in show buisness who had managed to put off airs and reveal their vulnerable selves to the public.Wuppertal 1983 turned out not as bad news-stricken as two years before. The 24-hour visit of the three prophets of open-heartedness, generosity, and new awareness from the land of Donald Duck and MX missiles was completely dedicated to the communication of Ginsberg's poetical and political message.The 90-min. color video by Joachim Ortmanns and Wolfgang Mohrhenn, wich this book is supplementary to, is a unique document of this extraordinary event. It's a perfect portrait of Ginsberg as poet and public figure. Ginsberg is shown expounding his attitude towards the cultural policies of the Regan administration, stating his view on the problem of technological and scientific progress in a society increasingly hostile to creativity and imagination, discussing philosophical and poetological questions basic to his poetry. During a visit at the Friedrich-Engels-Haus in Barmen, Ginsberg once again expresses his skepticism towards orthodox Marxist ideas but also his general sympathy for any kind of revolutionary thought. On stage finally the three poets reveal their minds and hearts to everybody who can see and hear, and create an atmosphere so typical of their An atmosphere where everybody is allowed to relax and, at the same time, is enabled to gain awareness, emotionally and intellectually.This LICHTBLICK VIDEO-BOOK may serve as a fundamental means for poetological and political discussions in poetry seminars, and is a real item for any serious collector.