"Of course, it is a great way to show your desire – especially during these times... [but] The horror stories of (mainly females) being sent unsolicited pictures is another issue. I don’t think there should be a call for censorship but definitely a better education system put in place for young males about consent." — Edward Ginn
Many thanks to Edward for this interview, and for his poem 'Easter Island Head' in our Sending Nudes anthology. Really enjoyed this and hope you do too. xx
Did you write your poem for the Sending Nudes submission, or was it something you were thinking about before?
I wrote it for the submission. I had been listening to a band from my hometown called Ex-Easter Island Head and thinking about how they got their name. The double meaning of ‘head’ is something I wanted to use.
Also, I have always been interested in the monolithic human figures and had been trying to incorporate them into a stupid short film about Australian culture. There is also a meme that claims that Stonehenge are the toes of the Easter Island heads which I thought was funny.
What are your feelings about sending nudes in this day and age?
They definitely have an excitement about them, but I am unsure how I feel about them overall. Of course, it is a great way to show your desire – especially during these times.
The horror stories of (mainly females) being sent unsolicited pictures is another issue. I don’t think there should be a call for censorship but definitely a better education system put in place for young males about consent.
Your bio says you're a stand-up comedian and comedy writer. Tell us how you got into this?
I joined the comedy society at Goldsmiths when I was in university and started helping out booking acts. We then got approached to do the same thing at The Five Bells in New Cross, which sadly ended last year. Since then, I’ve performed in my double act around London and taken two shows up to Edinburgh. I really miss live comedy at the moment but there are great opportunities to use comedy in new and inventive ways which I’ve been trying to do.
Your bio also says you work in a High School supporting SEN students. Do you think this affects your writing?
Hugely. Working with students who have speech, language and communication needs makes you question your own relationship with language. Normal speech sometimes starts to become extremely absurd which is great fun.
What are you reading, and are you inspired by specific writers?
I’m a big fan of Ali Smith and have nearly made it all the way through her collection of work. I have also read Jeffrey Boakye’s ‘Black, listed’. Otherwise I have been listening to David Berman of The Silver Jews and The Purple Mountains on repeat and looking at his poetry and inspirations such as James Tate.
Describe yourself in 3 words.
Edward Ginn is
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Sending Nudes is an intimate collection of fiction, nonfiction and poetry about why people send nudes. Release date, 15 January 2021. We recorded the book launch event — with readings by seven contributors — here's the video: gutspublishing.com/post/sending-nudes-book-launch-watch-video
Buy Sending Nudes from Guts: gutspublishing.com/sending-nudes. It's also available on Amazon worldwide. Click here to order from Amazon UK and Amazon US.
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Edward Ginn is originally from Merseyside and moved to South East London to study Comparative Literature at Goldsmiths. When he is not writing poems or stories he is a stand-up comedian and comedy writer. He also works in a High School supporting SEN students.
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