So... may I do stuff with your mom's poems?

December 12, 2007 4:43 AM

I'm writing a letter to the adult children of a poet who died in the 90s, asking them for permission to use their mother's writing as part of a creative project I'm doing (experimental audio/video).

Her children run her estate and I was referred to them after asking her publisher for text permission.

I know this is ultra-hypothetical, but can you imagine what you'd be interested in hearing if you were those children?

(Forget the practical considerations like licensing and money; those will be negotiated between me and the publisher later, if the children give permission. Obviously the mother would be credited in all versions of the work, and her texts would be used in full and not altered.)

The only instruction the children's representative gave me was to enclose examples of previous work I've done that included other people's poems.

I have a lot to say about their mother and the effect of her work on me (I could write many pages about that), so I have to decide how much of that her kids will want to hear. I'm asking about using three poems, and one of the poems is about the experience of being pregnant with one of the children I'm writing to. I don't know exactly how or whether to address that directly.

I really, really care about being able to use these poems, so I want to make this letter as appealing as possible. I can only find one other example of this poet's work being used as part of another creative work, and that was done within her lifetime, so that suggests maybe her children have never given such permission before (or have never been asked, which I guess is possible; she's not hugely famous). This is my first experience asking text permission from living people rather than just negotiating with a publisher.

posted by allterrainbrain to human relations (5 comments total)

I would want to know what the project is about, what your work is like, what kind of statement you want to make, and how the final use will probably look. As much as I enjoy provocative art, I don't think I'd want my mother's poetry read over video of an artist doing something unpleasantly biological, for example.

While it's important for you to express your admiration and your respect for the work, I think the primary concern (if they lend permission at all) is what kind of association you will be making between your art and their mother's art.
posted by headspace at 5:09 AM on December 12, 2007

Great point. By "experimental" I just meant "abstract." Definitely nothing but positive associations because the texts themselves are positive and beautiful, and the work will grow straight out of the texts. It's a great idea for me to make that clear in the letter (and my past-work samples will help make that clear too).
posted by allterrainbrain at 5:19 AM on December 12, 2007

My mom is a poet and it's likely I'll be her literary executor after her death.

If it were me, I know I would be turned off by pages of gushing about my mom's work. It might feel like overkill, or ass-kissing, in an odd way. So I heartily second what headspace said about keeping your letter to brief sincere appreciation, the basics of your project, your means of expression, and of course your ultimate message.

And if you're received warmly, I would also suggest that you ask her kids if they have text suggestions. I know my mom's body of work inside and out, and your poet's kids might be the same way. There might even be unpublished work that fits your theme.

(And please post back in projects or email me when your project is moving forward. I'm a poetry geek, and would love to hear about it.)
posted by minervous at 6:18 AM on December 12, 2007

Ideally, the letter would be respectful and business-like, and address how her poetry is necessary to your artistic work so that ONLY THIS POETRY will suffice. That would go a long way towards convincing me this is less a fan-wank, and more of a serious artist using another artist's work in a way that magnifies them both.

I would want to hear exactly where and when it would be exhibited.

I would want to know if the artist plans to make any profit from this project, and if so, whether the artist will keep it all.

If the project is a result of grant money, I would want a brief but accurate description of the grant's purpose and any conditions that are attached to the grant, as well as a copy of the grant application. If the artist plans to apply for a grant in the future, I would want to know which ones and I would like the opportunity to review the application before it is submitted.

If it were practical, I would want an invitation to the premiere/opening and an offer to offset expenses so that I might travel to see the project once it is completed. Barring that, I would want to see a reproduction or audiovisual document of the project as soon as possible after the premiere/opening.

I would want a reassurance that I would be asked for my written permission should any of this information change in a significant way.

I would want a phrase such as "I hope that you will allow me to demonstrate my deep respect and admiration for your mother's work."
posted by sondrialiac at 6:54 AM on December 12, 2007

Thanks very much for three interesting answers!
posted by allterrainbrain at 11:22 PM on December 13, 2007