Johnny Sakkis ‎"I’ve always thought it would be interesting to teach a class where we read the books of a certain press, rather than an author, movement or period. Could you imagine anything more disruptive and various? It could be wonderful." --Kyle Schlesinger...if i was a teacher i would do this. fantastic idea.

7 hours ago  ·  · Comment

• Tom Comitta, Selena Dickey, Allyssa Wolf and 2 others like this.
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    Johnny Sakkis this is how i learned about electronic music and hip hop music as a teenager. label devotion and dissection...you'd end up with a lot of duds but also with a ton must haves learning a whole bunch about aesthetics in the meantime. when i first got to SFSU Krupskaya was the "label" i followed. didn't know much about anything but was eager to learn. so i bought everything Krupskaya because i knew i could trust "them"...

    6 hours ago ·  ·  1 person
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    Joshua Marie Wilkinson I taught a Flood Editions course last year and had 4 of the authors and the publishers come in throughout the term. It was a lot of fun.

    6 hours ago ·  ·  2 people
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    Erika Staiti a few years ago i didn't feel like leaving my house for a few days so i reorganized my bookshelves by press. it was very illuminating.

    6 hours ago ·  ·  1 person
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    Thom Donovan 

    this would be a cool idea for a teaching anthology/essay. maybe we should write it? I'm totally with John's equation of press and label.
    though some presses have clearer visions/discourses than others. not naming any names. Flood and Krupskaya notwithstanding... ;)

    5 hours ago · 
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    Thom Donovan I kind of wrote an essay in this vein--not sure if anyone saw it--that Kyle edited for American Book Review the fall before last. on "three activist presses." trying to convey a sense that community-based presses are activist inasmuch as they promote a particular lit/culture they wld want to exist. in some cases this vision intersects with wanting to effect socio-political change, as I argue Factory School, Krupsakya, and Palm Press all do. if only at the level of cultural production...

    5 hours ago · 
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    Johnny Sakkis damn thom, no i didn't get to see that essay. online or only off? Les Figues immediately jumps out at me as a press that might also fit your mold. i feel lucky in that i get to interact, on a professional level, with the personalities behind the presses on a daily basses. Make Now out of LA is another one that definitely promotes a particular poetry culture...

    5 hours ago ·  ·  1 person
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    Johnny Sakkis 

    erika. such a great idea. my House records are by label. makes a lot more sense that way than by producer if you're trying to figure out a set. a Twisted records doesn't sound like a Nervous record so it's convenient to keep them organized by sound rather than artistl. and a cool residual effect is the all yellow Twisted sleeves vs the Naked sleeves vs the Nervous sleeves vs whatever...same thing would happen i imagine with Post-Apollo vs. Krupskaya vs. Factory School vs. UDP vs. Les Figues vs Otis/ Seismicity vs BlazeVOX...

    4 hours ago ·  ·  1 person
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    Thom Donovan 

    Les Figues and Make Now both have a very clear vision--I agree with that. Also, Nightboat among presses that have wider distribution and have been quite active this past year (that no one has really reviewed their books is weird to me). And UDP--the UDP flava. I think you have to pay to read at ABR's site, but I can send you a Word doc. Also have been meaning to thank you for the many books you have sent me this past year (and over the years), which I have enjoyed. And especially for your Rude Girl, which along with a handful of others would make my short list were I to generate one (I have an allegery to best ofs despite Michael C's best efforts...) Peace in the New Year, John!

    3 hours ago · 
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    Johnny Sakkis hey thanks Thom. and you're right, Nighboat is doing amazing work, and a somewhat surprising West Coast interest for an East Coast press. Motika is a real sweetheart...

    33 minutes ago ·