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Notes
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Each poem is written under a pseudonym (e.g. Rabbi Burns, Thomas the Tank Hardy).
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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John Clarke, Tinker-Poet
2019
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Comedy Studies , vol. 10 no. 1 2019; (p. 102-118)'Clarke’s poetic output was never the main game, but he was persistent in developing the (entirely self-authored) Complete Book of Australian Verse (39 poems; Clarke, 1989) through two intermediate versions culminating in the 2012 edition of Even More Complete Book of Australian Verse (68 poems). This article addresses the central characteristics of Clarke’s art through the voice, timing and rhythm of these parodic poems. They illustrate the sort of parody discussed in ‘Are parody and deconstruction secretly the same thing?’ (Phiddian, 1997 and subsequent work). Clarke’s own favoured word for his writing practice, tinkering, suits such carefully wrought pieces well, and fits with more expansive notions of parody as critical and creative refunctioning of models rather than as narrow lampoons. Through intimate imitation and distortion, they display a guarded, sometimes hostile, affection and a jagged nostalgia both for their poetic vehicles and for the Australian subject matter. Clarke always inhabits the words of others in his Australian work, speaking via parodic deflection. This contrasts with the Daggy directness of his New Zealand work. Was he only ever a visitor in Oz? Was the parodic reserve a necessary carapace against the sort of fame that he fled in the 1970s? This article reads the poems as a window onto the distinctive rhythms of Clarke’s writing and his complexly ironic relationships with both his homeland and his adopted nation. His resistance of 'the voice direct' made him a wry and knowledgeable visitor and offers an abiding challenge to Australianness.'
Source: Abstract.
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Dagg's Bag
i
"John Clark's Book of Australian Verse",
1990
single work
poetry
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 10 February 1990; (p. B4) -
A Daggy Dose of Verse
1990
single work
review
— Appears in: The Age , 6 January 1990; (p. 7)
— Review of The Complete Book of Australian Verse 1989 selected work poetry -
Forward : Pressing the Point: It's Profit or Penury
1990
single work
column
— Appears in: The Australian Magazine , 6-7 January 1990; (p. 6) -
Realms of Gold
1989
single work
review
— Appears in: The Adelaide Review , December no. 70 1989; (p. 31)
— Review of The Complete Book of Australian Verse 1989 selected work poetry
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Realms of Gold
1989
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Review , November no. 18 1989; (p. 13)
— Review of The Complete Book of Australian Verse 1989 selected work poetry -
Fred Dagg Hits Out, Once More
1989
single work
review
— Appears in: The Northern Territory News , 21 October 1989; (p. 21)
— Review of The Complete Book of Australian Verse 1989 selected work poetry -
The Jokes Just Get Verse and Verse
1989
single work
review
— Appears in: The Australian Magazine , 18-19 November 1989; (p. 8) The Poetic Eye : Occasional Writings 1982-2012 2016; (p. 211-213)
— Review of The Complete Book of Australian Verse 1989 selected work poetry -
Realms of Gold
1989
single work
review
— Appears in: The Adelaide Review , December no. 70 1989; (p. 31)
— Review of The Complete Book of Australian Verse 1989 selected work poetry -
A Daggy Dose of Verse
1990
single work
review
— Appears in: The Age , 6 January 1990; (p. 7)
— Review of The Complete Book of Australian Verse 1989 selected work poetry -
Dagg's Bag
i
"John Clark's Book of Australian Verse",
1990
single work
poetry
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 10 February 1990; (p. B4) -
Forward : Pressing the Point: It's Profit or Penury
1990
single work
column
— Appears in: The Australian Magazine , 6-7 January 1990; (p. 6) -
John Clarke, Tinker-Poet
2019
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Comedy Studies , vol. 10 no. 1 2019; (p. 102-118)'Clarke’s poetic output was never the main game, but he was persistent in developing the (entirely self-authored) Complete Book of Australian Verse (39 poems; Clarke, 1989) through two intermediate versions culminating in the 2012 edition of Even More Complete Book of Australian Verse (68 poems). This article addresses the central characteristics of Clarke’s art through the voice, timing and rhythm of these parodic poems. They illustrate the sort of parody discussed in ‘Are parody and deconstruction secretly the same thing?’ (Phiddian, 1997 and subsequent work). Clarke’s own favoured word for his writing practice, tinkering, suits such carefully wrought pieces well, and fits with more expansive notions of parody as critical and creative refunctioning of models rather than as narrow lampoons. Through intimate imitation and distortion, they display a guarded, sometimes hostile, affection and a jagged nostalgia both for their poetic vehicles and for the Australian subject matter. Clarke always inhabits the words of others in his Australian work, speaking via parodic deflection. This contrasts with the Daggy directness of his New Zealand work. Was he only ever a visitor in Oz? Was the parodic reserve a necessary carapace against the sort of fame that he fled in the 1970s? This article reads the poems as a window onto the distinctive rhythms of Clarke’s writing and his complexly ironic relationships with both his homeland and his adopted nation. His resistance of 'the voice direct' made him a wry and knowledgeable visitor and offers an abiding challenge to Australianness.'
Source: Abstract.