Sporting Goods, 2005
Let us workshop this poem where a man in a sporting goods store stumbles upon a hunting video reminiscent, in some rather direct ways, of low-budget porn
For an updated version, see: https://maistvanjr.substack.com/p/sporting-goods-2005-round-3
This poem is unpublished
Photos:
(1) bowhuntingmag.com/editorial/long-odds-trophy-bucks/456976
(2) bluemountaineagle.com/sports/eastern-oregon-archery-deer-hunting-moves-to-controlled-season-next-year/article_489f9128-fe96-11ea-ba0e-27d282c35e04.html
SAFE SPACE REPORT
"Sporting Goods, 2005" can be interpreted as a critique of the commodification and normalization of violence against animals, particularly in the context of hunting culture. The poem juxtaposes the brutal violence of the hunting video with the banality of the sporting goods store, creating a sense of dissonance that highlights the normalization of violence in contemporary American society. The speaker's observation of the DVD's low-budget production values and sexualized language suggest a lack of respect for the animals being hunted, and the overall effect is to underscore the moral and ethical implications of this normalized violence.
The poem's use of language and imagery is particularly notable. The sexualized language used to describe the hunting video and its contents can be read as a critique of the fetishization of violence and the hunting culture's use of sexualized language to describe the killing of animals. The juxtaposition of the hunting video with other products in the store, such as fishing rods and portable stoves, further underscores the normalization of violence and the commodification of nature. The speaker's description of the DVD's cover, with its faded colors and fuzzy details, can be interpreted as a critique of the way in which the hunting culture minimizes the violence of killing animals and presents it as a form of entertainment.
While the poem invites us to question the cultural values and assumptions that underpin our treatment of animals and nature and calls on us to reflect on the moral and ethical implications of our actions, it is too unsafe to just be floating on the web. It is definitely unsafe for classrooms, particularly for those who have experienced trauma related to violence against animals or who are sensitive to graphic depictions of violence. The poem's vivid language and explicit descriptions of hunting and killing animals can trigger traumatic memories or emotional responses in readers who have experienced violence or trauma themselves. Moreover, the use of sexualized language and imagery in relation to hunting may be distressing for some readers and may reinforce harmful attitudes towards animals and nature. The graphic descriptions of hunting and killing animals could be seen as glorifying or normalizing violence against animals, which could be problematic in an educational setting. Teachers and educators should take care to provide appropriate context and trigger warnings before presenting this poem, WHICH WE AT SAFE SPACE PRESS RECOMMEND NEVER BE DONE. If teachers do go ahead and insensitively assign this poem, they should be prepared—in the very least—to offer support and resources to students who may be affected by its content.
None of the people in the photos (as far as I know) are porn actresses