Reassembling the Fragments | Los Angeles Review of Books

Teh Everyday Life of Design: an Interview with Alan Gilbert

Alan Gilbert’s “the Everyday Life of Design” (2024) is not your typical poetry collection. It transcends categorization, resembling a dynamic, ever-evolving database chronicling the intricate tapestry of digital and physical experiences shaping American life as the 2008 financial crisis.

Unlike conventional databases, this project doesn’t rely on neat tables or keywords. Rather, it embraces its sprawling scale and ambition, aiming to encompass everything from seemingly mundane acts like inflating pools to political acts of defiance like sticking a peeled banana into a police van’s tailpipe. Through its relentless pursuit of capturing the minutiae of our existence, “The Everyday Life of Design” functions as a high-resolution archive of our time, mirroring the nonlinear, exploratory, and ever-evolving nature of contemporary living.

Our connection began during the pandemic, when we became “podmates” in an online group affectionately named “The Jazz Poodles,” a tribute to the late beloved poodle, Shadow. Our friendship blossomed through a shared love of viral videos and cryptic internet memes. This email interview, conducted in early December, felt like a homecoming, a return to those long, meandering conversations that defined our pandemic connection.

We delved into the sociopolitical events shaping the book’s origins, exploring the formal strategies disrupting conventional ideological structures, and examining the captivating blurred lines between algorithms and human desire.

Karnazes asked, “In ‘The Foundlings,’ you employ a subtle internal rhyme between ‘rubble’ and ‘political’ : ‘I must like the look of this rubble / I thought it might be political.’ This image of rubble, of brokenness, intrigues me.How does it connect to your understanding of politics and how it manifests in your writing?”

This monumental undertaking, dedicated to accretion, relentlessly captures the fragments and debris of everyday life, both within individual lines and the larger structure of the book itself. Gilbert envisions it as an ongoing project,a living,evolving collection of poems.

The Everyday Life of Design: Hope Amidst the Rubble

Alan Gilbert’s *The Everyday Life of Design* transcends the boundaries of a typical poetry collection. it’s a poignant elegy for America, a nation grappling with the profound consequences of neoliberalism, woven from the fragments of daily life. These poems pulsate with introspection and social critique, offering a unflinching look at a world were technology blurs reality, and the specter of historical injustices continues to loom large.

Gilbert himself describes the project as an epic poem capturing the essence of 21st-century America – a nation burdened by a legacy of systemic oppression and economic disparity. “Certainly, a nation reliant on genocide and slavery and then brutalized immigrant and indentured labour is functioning in a state of decay, and not just morally, obviously,” he argues.”The more recent reliance on finance to prop up its economy and foreign wars to maintain its political hegemony are late-stage-empire maneuvers,” a scathing indictment of America’s relentless pursuit of power at the expense of human dignity and well-being.

Despite this stark portrayal, Gilbert finds glimmers of hope, a testament to the enduring human spirit. He believes these meticulously collected poems,gleaned from the tapestry of everyday life,can contribute to dismantling the existing system and pave the way for a more equitable future. This hope, however, is not tied to any specific ideology or utopian vision; it resides in the very act of confronting these harsh realities, amplifying the voices of the marginalized, and fostering a collective understanding of our shared predicament.

This project was born from Gilbert’s own artistic evolution. While he didn’t initially envision an epic poem, his earlier works hinted at a yearning to explore larger narratives. The “slim volume,” as he calls it, felt inadequate to encompass the breadth of his artistic vision. The catalyst for *The Everyday Life of Design* was the seismic shift brought about by the late 2000s – the arrival of the iPhone and the global financial crisis – events that irrevocably reshaped the fabric of American society.

Gilbert’s work stands as a powerful testament to poetry’s enduring power to illuminate the complexities of our time. It’s a call to action, urging us to confront the uncomfortable truths of our present and engage in the ongoing struggle for a more just and equitable future.

In an era marked by escalating global crises, both environmental and social, a new collection of poems emerges, not offering solutions but providing a space for contemplation, resistance, and connection. the poems delve into the interconnectedness of all things, challenging established power structures while celebrating the beauty of human relationships amidst overwhelming odds. The author, acutely aware of technology’s pervasive influence, acknowledges the paradoxical nature of algorithms in shaping our world. ““I’m an algorithm feeder,” they write,highlighting our role not just as consumers of facts but as contributors to the vast datasets that fuel these systems.

This collection grapples with the tension between individual agency and the overwhelming forces shaping our lives. It poses fundamental questions: how can we navigate a world where categories and systems of control seek to define us? How do we maintain our sense of self in the face of such pervasive influence?

Poetry in a Fractured World: Exploring Alan Gilbert’s “The Everyday Life of Design”

Alan Gilbert’s latest poetry collection, “The everyday Life of Design,” offers a profound meditation on contemporary existence. Through fragmented, nonlinear structures, Gilbert reflects the disorienting and rapidly changing nature of 21st-century life, mirroring the fragmented realities we navigate daily. Alex Reed editor Emma Thorne interviewed gilbert, diving into his artistic vision and the crucial role poetry plays in our fractured world.

Thorne observes, “’The Everyday Life of Design’ feels very much like a project conceived in the era of the iPhone and the 2008 economic collapse—a time of significant upheaval and uncertainty.” Gilbert’s poems, composed from the fragments of American life, resonate with a sense of displacement and the struggle to find meaning amidst constant change.

“Rejecting straightforward answers, the poems embrace a fragmented, nonlinear style that mirrors the complexities of our contemporary experience,” Thorne writes. Gilbert’s use of “false logics, sham analogies, and irregular relations” challenges readers to engage with language in a disorienting yet ultimately liberating way.

Gilbert sees reading itself as an act of resistance. As he states, “Poetry has the power to disrupt the dominant discourse, to unveil the hidden structures of power, and to foster a sense of community among those who seek a more just and equitable world.”

“This isn’t a book of easy answers, but rather a call to collective action, a testament to the enduring power of language to inspire hope and illuminate the path towards a more equitable future,” Thorne concludes.

Finding Our Voice: An Interview with Poet Alan Gilbert

In a world grappling with profound cultural shifts and rapid technological advancements, poet Alan Gilbert embarked on a captivating literary journey. His ambitious project, a non-linear exploration of the human experience, reflects the anxieties and uncertainties of our time. We sat down with Gilbert to delve into his creative process, the driving forces behind his work, and the vital role of poetry in navigating the complex landscape of the 21st century.

“Absolutely,” Gilbert affirms when asked about the events that inspired his book. “Those years felt seismic to me, shattering a lot of the familiar narratives about America and the future. It felt like we were all being forced to re-evaluate what was considered ‘normal,’ ‘worthy,’ ‘critically important.’ Out of that uncertainty, this immense book began to take shape.”

His work is characterized by its fragmented structure, weaving together snippets of conversations, news headlines, and personal reflections. “That’s a perfect way to put it—a sense of ‘the world in constant flux,'” Gilbert explains about the disorienting, yet deliberate, style.”That’s exactly what I was aiming for. The world we live in is overwhelming, fragmented, and constantly bombarding us with facts.

He continues, “I wanted the book to reflect that experience, to mirror the way our own minds frequently enough jump from one thought to another, processing information in a non-linear way. I’m not interested in providing easy answers or neatly packaged narratives. This is a reflection of a world in constant disruption, and I think poetry is a perfect tool for grappling with that complexity.”

Gilbert’s poetry also delves into the pervasive influence of technology and algorithms on society. He states, “I’m an ‘algorithm feeder,’ as I like to say. We all contribute to these vast datasets that fuel these systems. This isn’t some distant, abstract issue; it’s happening to us, shaping our choices, our perspectives, and our understanding of the world.”

Despite the daunting challenges of the modern world,Gilbert believes poetry can offer a vital space for reflection and connection. “Poetry might not solve the world’s problems,” he says, “but it allows us to slow down, to reflect, to connect with our own humanity in a space free from the constant barrage of information and manipulation. Perhaps most importantly, poetry can help us find our voice, to articulate the things that are most important to us, even when those things seem arduous or even impossible to express. That act of saying it out loud, of sharing our experiences and our hopes, can be incredibly powerful.”

How does Gilbert’s non-linear writing style reflect the complexities and uncertainties of the 21st century?

Finding Our Voice: An Interview with Poet Alan Gilbert

In a world grappling with profound cultural shifts and rapid technological advancements, poet Alan Gilbert embarked on a captivating literary journey. His enterprising project, a non-linear exploration of the human experience, reflects the anxieties and uncertainties of our time. We sat down with Gilbert to delve into his creative process, the driving forces behind his work, and the vital role of poetry in navigating the complex landscape of the 21st century.

“Absolutely,” Gilbert affirms when asked about the events that inspired his book. “Those years felt seismic to me, shattering a lot of the familiar narratives about America and the future. It felt like we were all being forced to re-evaluate what was considered ‘normal,’ ‘worthy,’ ‘critically important.’ Out of that uncertainty,this immense book began to take shape.”

His work is characterized by its fragmented structure, weaving together snippets of conversations, news headlines, and personal reflections. “That’s a perfect way to put it—a sense of ‘the world in constant flux,'” Gilbert explains about the disorienting, yet intentional, style.”That’s exactly what I was aiming for. The world we live in is overwhelming,fragmented,and constantly bombarding us with facts.

He continues, “I wanted the book to reflect that experience, to mirror the way our own minds frequently enough jump from one thought to another, processing details in a non-linear way. I’m not interested in providing easy answers or neatly packaged narratives. This is a reflection of a world in constant disruption, and I think poetry is a perfect tool for grappling with that complexity.”

Gilbert’s poetry also delves into the pervasive influence of technology and algorithms on society. He states, “I’m an ‘algorithm feeder,’ as I like to say. We all contribute to these vast datasets that fuel these systems. This isn’t some distant, abstract issue; it’s happening to us, shaping our choices, our perspectives, and our understanding of the world.”

Despite the daunting challenges of the modern world,Gilbert believes poetry can offer a vital space for reflection and connection. “Poetry might not solve the world’s problems,” he says, “but it allows us to slow down, to reflect, to connect with our own humanity in a space free from the constant barrage of information and manipulation. Perhaps most importantly,poetry can definitely help us find our voice,to articulate the things that are most critically important to us,even when those things seem arduous or even impossible to express. that act of saying it out loud, of sharing our experiences and our hopes, can be incredibly powerful.”