Confessions of a Chameleon, 1983-1991

Authors

Edward A. Geary

Keywords

Mormon studies, academic journal

Abstract

John Keats coined the term "negative capability" to describe a poet's ability to present his or her material objectively and impersonally. The poet with negative capability, Keats declared, "has no character" and takes "as much delight in conceiving an Iago as an Imogen. What shocks the virtuous philosopher, delights the camelion Poet." Negative capability is probably an optional quality for poets, but it is almost essential for editors—except, of course, those few who deliberately make their publications a sounding board for their own opinions. For the most part, an editor's job is to make other people look good. To the extent that he or she succeeds, an editor's contributions are virtually invisible. Only failure is obvious.

Recommended Citation

Geary, Edward A. (1999) "Confessions of a Chameleon, 1983-1991," BYU Studies Quarterly: Vol. 38: Iss. 1, Article 5.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/byusq/vol38/iss1/5