Jon Curley Reviews Recent Poetry From Commune Editions

At Hyperallergic, Jon Curley reviews recent publications by the Oakland-based Commune Editions. Curley's review focuses on two volumes in particular: Nanni Balestrini's Blackout (tr. Peter Valente) and Transnational Battle Field by Heriberto Yépez. According to Curley, Commune Editions's position is a "a welcome stance of defiance to both quietist conceptions of poetry and the neoliberal crisis and reality gripping the world, making notions of political-poetic commitment and transformation seem not only vital but viable." Let's pick up there: 

I admire the lack of posturing and a passion to invest words with new potential for advocacy, on and off the page, a seriousness and clarity of purpose without any sententious sign of any one political party line.

The colophon for Commune Editions books reads: “we encourage the sharing of this book and everything else: omnia sunt communia.” Embracing an ecumenical leftist orientation encompassing many political traditions and theoretical positions, CE refuses any prevailing orthodoxy except community-based ethics and action. “All things in common” indeed: this epithet well describes the literary techniques and visions of CE titles — wide-spanning, dynamically diverse, and intent on addressing current crises of human rights and capitalism with a broad bandwith of attitudes and ideas. Two very different examples capture the defiant, radical spirit of this publishing enterprise.

Read more at Hyperallergic.