Proper Tales in the
Classroom
I
first encountered Stuart Ross from a distance, in the late 1980s. He was
standing on a busy sidewalk selling books. I was walking with Clint Burnham,
who, knowing a lot about the Toronto Small Press scene, suddenly dashed across
the street to meet him. I knew next to nothing about small presses or writers
selling their wares on the street. Great writing existed solely in, say, the
Norton Introduction to English Lit. Dumb, I know. Some weeks later I met Stuart
again on the street. We spoke briefly and I bought some books. (I would soon
discover Stuart’s enormous generosity to other writers, his founding of the
Toronto Small Press fair, and tireless promotion of young writers.) What seems
like a minor meeting on Yonge Street instigated a new understanding of
art--where writing comes from, how it’s made, and circulates. It would not be
too much to say that Stuart and Proper Tales Press helped shape how I approach
books in the classroom. Since getting a job teaching introductory literature
and experimental poetry, I regularly bring Proper Tales books, chapbooks, and
zines into first year, upper level, and honours courses. I’ve continued to do
it because nothing makes writing seem as vital and weirdly accessible (who can
resist titles like Paralysis Beach,
Mark Laba’s Movies in the Insect Factory,
bunny baby, the child with magnificent
ears, or language lessons with Simon
and Marie!). A surprising number of
students, inspired by Stuart’s publications, made their own books, chapbooks,
and zines. Many began writing for the first time or brought their writing out
of hiding. Somehow these wonderful, inventive objects gave students permission
to participate in literary culture…to make their own culture. And it’s made the
classroom a lot more interesting.
Lance La Rocque lives in Wolfville, NS. with
Lisa, Emily, and Max.
He
has published in Hava LeHaba, Industrial Sabotage, and The Northern Testicle Review, and has a
book of poetry, Vermin, by Book Thug.
He
is the author of the Proper Tales Press title The Gross Metaphysics of Meat (2002).
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