1950s: Sons of Sargeson
By AHNZ
Human communities seem to require one man to be a bolt of lightning at least one time to coalesce their latent primordial brilliance around. Some leader who, if nothing else, models for others how to take themselves seriously. “Critics began to use this term ‘Sons of Sargeson.’ They were referring of course to this series […]
Read more..March 1, 2020
1966: Radio Hauraki
By AHNZ
Today in New Zealand history, 23 October, 1966, Radio Hauraki’s ship Tiri set out to bust the State’s monopoly on radio broadcasting. The State has a very long history of controlling the news media in New Zealand. The ‘news’ pathway of all radio news passed through the Prime Minister’s Office for the sake of ‘public […]
Read more..October 23, 2019
1930s: Systematic Thrashings
By AHNZ
Kiwi writer Kevin Ireland was born (18 July 1933) into the Silent Generation, as Strauss-Howe call it. Or, from the Theory of Moral Cultures perspective, the Friendly Road Victimhood Culture era. I’ve written about Ireland before in connection to J.K.Baxter’s personal poem of warning to his friend not to praise the state. Ref. 1957: Only That […]
Read more..July 19, 2019
1957: Only That Your Words Will Live
By AHNZ
For Kevin Ireland, a J.K.Baxter poem (1957/58) I approve Baxter’s anarchistic warning to his friend Kevin. Beware the praise of state, corrupt culture, New Zealand society. AKA- The Lion-headed incubus! It is correct to observe that the philosophers and poets whose words endure are the ones that the state finds a use for as propaganda. Praise […]
Read more..June 14, 2019
1953: Prize-Giving Speech
By AHNZ
Prize-Giving Speech was recorded on LP for Barney Flanagan and Other Poems (1973) but dates, I think, from poet J.K.Baxter’s The Fallen House (1953.) Baxter wrote many powerful poems to deliberately provoke and enliven New Zealand culture. Such attempts needed to be frustrated by being re-framed as a friendly Kiwiana icon. Like the song Born in the […]
Read more..February 15, 2019
1972: Died Today: James K. Baxter
By AHNZ
Today in New Zealand History: 22 October 1972, death of James K. Baxter. The great New Zealand poet. “One of the functions of artists in a community is to provide a healthy and permanent element of rebellion; not to become a species of civil servant.” – J.K.Baxter “It turned my heart to stone; That I […]
Read more..October 22, 2018
