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Joseph employs a syncretic, diasporic and highly innovative blend of genres and styles, providing an example of how diaspora becomes subject, inspiration and rationale for the innovative use of form, while experimental traditions enable him to show the diaspora in a fresh light.
Dr. Lauri Ramey
The leader of the Black avant garde in Britain
Ikley Literature Festival.
“afro-blue to astro-black and what glimmers in between” -
The Times
BIO
One of the UK's most exciting and innovative voices, poet, musician and lecturer Anthony Joseph was born in Trinidad and has lived in the UK since 1989. He is the author of two poetry collections, Desafinado, 1994 and Teragaton, 1997, a spoken word CD Liquid Textology: Readings From The African Origins of UFOs and a novel The African Origins of UFOs published by Salt Publishing in November 2006 to widespread critical acclaim.
In 2004 Joseph was selected by renaissance one and the Arts Council of England for the historic The Great Day photo as one of fifty Black and Asian writers who have made major contributions to contemporary British literature and in 2005 he was selected as the British Council’s first Poet in residence at California State University,Los Angeles.
As a spoken word artist, Joseph has performed internationally, including performances at The Chicago Humanities Festival, Festa International De La Literatura, Barcelona, Spain and London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall. He has also delivered academic papers at several conferences including The Black British Aesthetics Conference at Howard University, Washington, Rutgers University, New Jersey, Goldsmiths College and Oxford Brookes University.
He has taught creative writing at London Metropolitan University, University of Surrey, Roehampton and at South Thames College.
Joseph is also well known for his spoken word performances, often accompanied by his jazz quintet The Spasm Band.A debut 12" single Spirit Lash(Heavenly Sweetness) was released in November 2006. His debut album with the band, ‘Leggo de Lion’ was released by Kindred Spirits in 2007 and Joseph and the band toured internationally in support of the album.
Joseph currently lectures in creative writing at Birkbeck College, University of London and at Goldsmiths College, London.
A new poetry collection is forthcoming in 2008 in addition to a Selected Works and a new Spasm Band album.
Adendum: In february 2008 Joseph was included in the Times newspaper's Top Ten Literary Stars of 2008.
SELECTED PERFORMANCES
Marlborough College literary Society, 2008
Numoon Festival, Rotterdam 2008
Bose Blue Note Jazz Festival, Paris, 2007
Vaulx en Velin Jazz Festival, 2007
Bol De Funk Festival, Marseille, France 2007
The Bowery Poetry Club, New York, 2007
Rutgers University, New Jersey 2007
Durham Literature Festival, Durham, 2006
Ikley Literature Festival, Ilkey, 2006
Spoke Fest Spoken Word Festival,London, 2006
Cultural Fictions II, Goldsmiths College,London 2006
Chicago Humanities Festival, 2005, Chicago
California State University, Los Angeles, 2005
Kinross Hall, UCLA, Los Angeles.2005
The Great Day, The British Library, London - 2004
Renaissance One- Modern Love - UK/European tour, 2002-2003 - Performances and workshops in the UK, Czech Republic,Germany and Spain.
Kosmopolis - Festa International De La Literatura - 2002, Barcelona, Spain
First International Festival of Black Arts and Culture – Institute of Contemporary Arts, London, 2001
EXTERNAL LINKS
The British Council's Contemporary Writers site.
Click here
for more on Anthony's residency
at California State University, Los Angeles
AJ at www.saltpublishing.com
REVIEWS AND RESPONSES
These were some of the responses to Anthony's residency at CSULA.
"If this is the kind of activity that happens in the UK often then it’s time we got some more UK imports of this nature."
"It’s very rare to see and hear spoken work in L.A. The students seem inspired by the visiting artist."
"The poetry was diverse, intellectual and creative."
"bold, bright and crafted with...unique flair. Breaks the barrier/stereotype of the 'stodgy' and cold Brit. So much of being 'British,' as is the case with being 'American,' is about the perspective of a non-native. Such is the case with Anthony Joseph, whose work reflects someone who has experiences the UK as both an outsider and an insider.”
"Creative and provocative…I'm a medievalist. This was not Chaucer. Very different."
"It was a unique experience that really opened my mind…This performance differed from my assumptions and expectations of UK poetry. I always assumed the UK was more traditional and rather uptight, but I was pleasantly surprised. This was an unforgettable performance."
"I’m used to poets like Donne and Wordsworth so I have little contact with contemporary UK poets and writers. Anthony’s work is different because of its closeness to me in time and is a little more experimental."
"My experience in this class has been mind-exploding. In my previous experiences with poetry I have been unaffected and mostly bored. Most of my knowledge of poetry has been classical...When Anthony Joseph was in our class, I believe I walked out glowing. I was engaged, intrigued, I was having fun. I was actually sitting in a poetry class, listening, embracing poetry without falling asleep. I love it."
"Anthony Joseph is the first UK author I have been exposed to. Thank you, British Council, for lending him to us! Because Anthony lives in Britain and has a pulse on England, [it] makes him an ideal representative, especially for young people."
FLYERS
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