We begin the week here on My Poetic Side with a look at the former home of the poet Carl Sandburg, which has ben closed to the public since October. We also have a story about a magazine article that had social media in uproar last week.
Sandburg Home Remains Closed
In Galesburg, Illinois, on Third Street, is the little white cottage where Carl Sandburg was born. 141 years later and that cottage is still standing, however, since October, this historic site has been closed. The website states that due to the lack of a “site interpretive coordinator” it has been necessary to close the site for the autumn.
The listing for the job was posted online between 19th November and 12th December and is described as being “a little bit of everything”, including showing visitors around and even doing the odd bit of maintenance.
It isn’t unusual for the cottage to be closed during January, but November plays a large part in its busy time, and there was a significant loss of money caused by it being closed in the run up to the holiday season.
Sandburg didn’t become famous until 1916. During the 1940s, the cottage which his family had long since moved out of fell into disrepair. An association was formed, and their prime objective was to look after the site and renovate the cottage, saving it from demolition. The cottage was dedicated in 1946. It wasn’t until 1948 on the occasion of his 70th birthday that Sandburg returned to the cottage for a visit.
Since 1970, the site has been run by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, who have taken over the ownership.
The next official event that is due to be run from the site is due to take place on 10th March. However, there is no news yet that the position has been filled, and until this has happened there is some doubt over the likelihood that the event will take place.
“Shockingly Inhuman” Fashion Article Inspired by Sylvia Plath Appears in Spanish Magazine
Glamour magazine’s Spanish edition has come under fire for an article it published, inspired by the poet Sylvia Plath, that featured a gas oven.
The article looked at famous and influential women over the ages including Princess Diana, civil rights activists and the poet Sylvia Plath. Unfortunately, the page that featured Plath not only included details of the types of clothes that the poet might have worn but also a picture of a £3,800 gas oven. Plath committed suicide in 1963 using a gas oven whilst she was in the middle of a particularly depressing time in her life.
The original article was, in fact, published in November 2017. However, it has recently resurfaced having been shared on Twitter earlier this week. Social media users have been outraged and have accused the magazine of making suicide appear to be a trivial matter.
The magazine has been contacted for comment but have yet to say anything. They have also not responded to any of the social media posts regarding the articles, many of which have called for them to explain their actions.
Comments1
Can't see anything trivial about it. People have way too much time on their hands.
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