Home / Arts and Entertainment / West & Geldof Debate: Proto-Rock Star Poet or Ireland's Bard?
West & Geldof Debate: Proto-Rock Star Poet or Ireland's Bard?
20 Sep
Summary
- Dominic West champions Lord Byron as a 'proto-rock star' and 'top shagger'.
- Bob Geldof argues for WB Yeats, calling him 'Ireland's Shakespeare'.
- West believes rappers are today's poets, safe from AI's reach.
At the Big Brue festival in Somerset, actor Dominic West and musician Bob Geldof participated in a spirited debate about poetry.
West declared Lord Byron his favorite poet, praising him as a 'proto-rock star' and a prolific lover. He dismissed concerns that artificial intelligence might diminish human poetry, suggesting that contemporary rappers are now fulfilling the role of poets.
Bob Geldof, however, advocated for the Irish poet WB Yeats, comparing him to Shakespeare for the English. Geldof highlighted Yeats's significant contributions to literature and Irish culture, including his work on political struggles and the founding of arts institutions.
While West recited Byron's 'She Walks in Beauty,' Geldof emphasized Yeats's profound impact and lyricism, contrasting it with Byron's more notorious personal life. The discussion underscored differing perspectives on poetic legacy and influence.
