John C. Rezmerski, a local poet and storyteller, comments on poetry readings as part of Minnesota Poetry Out Loud.
Rezmerski is also a professor at Gustavus Adolphus College.
This recording was made available through a grant from the National Historical Publications & Records Commission.
SPEAKER: It's the kind of entertainment that people use to get. 100 years ago by listening to stories or listening to orations or lectures or dramatic readings. It's the same kind of enjoyment that people get out of any activity that uses the human voice in an unusual way and in a way that somehow touches their own lives.
So the response varies quite a bit, but usually, it's been pretty much favorable. Our big problem is getting people to believe that we're on the level at the beginning. They've never heard of a program like this before, and they're a little reluctant to take a chance on it, I think. On the whole, I would say the people who have come out for it have been pretty enthusiastic about it.
People seem to enjoy it and find it a different kind of entertainment than they were used to and just kind of a very comfortable, sort of old fashioned down home kind of thing that doesn't put any particular demands on them. And in terms of money or having to make an extravagant effort to get out and go somewhere to get to these things. Simultaneously relaxing and stimulating for them, I guess.
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