Monday, March 20 In class: Introduction to audio recorded poetry T.S. Eliot, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” (1917) Robert Frost, “Fire and Ice” (1920) Rita Dove, “Parsley” (1983) The Last Poets: “The Last Poets” (1970) (Album)(Lyrics) “Party and Bullshit” (1993) – Biggie Smalls (lyrics) “The Corner” (2005) – Common Assignment: Watch “Ursula Rucker:… Continue reading Weeks 9 & 10: Recorded and Performance Poetry
Week 8: New York Poets and L=A=N=G=U=A=G=E Poets
Monday, March 6 In class: “Personism: A Manifesto” by Frank O’Hara Frank O’Hara bio and poems. John Ashbery bio and poems. Assignment: Read “Language Poetry” in Princeton Encyclopedia Read Charles Bernstein’s bio and poems. Read Susan Howe’s bio and poems. Wednesday, March 8 In class: Language Poetry Charles Bernstein’s bio and poems. Susan Howe’s bio… Continue reading Week 8: New York Poets and L=A=N=G=U=A=G=E Poets
Week 7: Black Arts Movement
We want a black poem. And a Black World. Let the world be a Black Poem And Let All Black People Speak This Poem Silently or LOUD “Black Art” by Amiri Baraka Monday, February 27 In class: Introduction to the Black Arts Movement Amiri Baraka (Poets.org) (Penn Sound) “An Agony. As Now“ “Dope” (YouTube) Nikki… Continue reading Week 7: Black Arts Movement
Weeks 5 & 6: Post Confessional Poets
For the next two weeks: In class: Brief presentation on your assigned poet. Give us a sense of their life & poetics (approach to poetry) in 2-3 minutes. Read one of their poems and get us started thinking about the poem in terms of the poet’s life & poetics. Assignment: Read the assigned poets for… Continue reading Weeks 5 & 6: Post Confessional Poets
Week 4: Confessional Poetry
Monday, February 6 In class: Discuss Confessional Poetry Robert Lowell’s poems, Penn Sound Anne Sexton’s poems, YouTube Watch Anne Sexton USA Poetry documentary. Homework: Watch Sylvia Plath Documentary, or watch Sylvia (2003) movie. Read Sylvia Plath’s bio and poetry Sign up for Post Confessional Poetry presentations Wednesday, February 8 In class: Discuss Sylvia Plath’s… Continue reading Week 4: Confessional Poetry
Week 3: San Francisco and Beat Poets
Monday, January 30 In class: Robert Creeley’s poetry, “I Know a Man,” “For Love“ Gary Snyder’s poetry, “Riprap,” “Endless Streams and Mountains“ Allen Ginsberg’s poetry, “A Supermarket in California“ Homework: Readings: “Howl” by Allen Ginsberg “The Cut Up Method” by William Burroughs “Cut-Up Poems from Minutes to Go” by William Burroughs Read Jack Kerouac’s bio… Continue reading Week 3: San Francisco and Beat Poets
Week 2: Modernism and the Black Mountain Poets
Monday, January 23 In class “A Retrospect” and “A Few Don’ts” by Ezra Pound “Preface to Some Imagist Poets“ by Amy Lowell “Modernism” in Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics (see syllabus for link). “The River Merchant’s Wife: A Letter” by Ezra Pound “A Decade” by Amy Lowell “Oread” by H.D. “If I Told Him”… Continue reading Week 2: Modernism and the Black Mountain Poets
Week 1: Previously, on American Poetry
Wednesday, January 18 In class: Introductions: Name (pronouns, if you like) Concentration Favorite poets Do you write poetry? Syllabus discussion and negotiation Lecture: Previously, on American Poetry Assignment: Order your textbooks! In Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics, read entries on Romanticism and Modernism Read “A Retrospect” and “A Few Don’ts” by Ezra Pound Read… Continue reading Week 1: Previously, on American Poetry
Spring 2023 Course Promo
This course offers an exploration of experimental traditions in poetry in the past 60 years and the myriad ways in which poets have challenged the literary establishment. We will study poets who challenge Modernism, recenter identity, represent new voices, decolonize poetry from its Anglo-European traditions, invent new poetic forms, transform poetry into visual and musical… Continue reading Spring 2023 Course Promo
Week 15: Digital Poetry
Tuesday, April 27 PoEMM cycle by Jason Edward Lewis and Bruno Nadeau (2015) Hotel in Limbo (2010) Thoughts Go by David Knoebel (2001) Cruising by Megan Sapnar and Ingrid Ankerson (2001) NeoNio by Jim Andrews (2001, 2021) Agrippa by William Gibson (1992)