Week 1: Previously, on American Poetry

Edgar Allan Poe, Walt Whitman, and Emily Dickinson

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

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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

Jason Edward Lewis, "No Choice About the Terminology"

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)

Week 14: E-Poetry

Tuesday, April 20 In class: Introduction to Electronic Poetry Loveletters by Christopher Strachey (1952) First Screening by bpNichol (1984) Uncle Roger by Judy Malloy (1987) Typoems and Anipoems by Ana María Uribe (1997-99) Strings by Dan Waber (1999) Seattle Drift by Jim Andrews (1998) Nio by Jim Andrews (2000, 2021) Assignment Read Taroko Gorge by… Continue reading Week 14: E-Poetry

Week 13: Sound and Conceptual Poetry

Image of "Cent Mille Milliards de Poèmes" by Raymond Queneau

Tuesday, April 13 In class Introduction to sound poetry Paul de Vree’s Manifesto and sound poetry Hugo Ball “Seepferdchen und Flugfische“ Christian Bök’s sound poetry Happy New Ear John Cage 4’33” Marcos Wasem “Common Medications in Psychiatry“ Assignment Explore UbuWeb Sound Write a brief analysis of one sound poem. Provide a link to it in… Continue reading Week 13: Sound and Conceptual Poetry

Week 12: Concrete Poetry

"Forsythia" by Mary Ellen Solt

Tuesday, April 6 In class: Discussion of  The Complete Works  by Justin Stephenson Lecture: Looking at Poems Introduction to Concrete Poetry Assignment: Read “Pilot Plan for Concrete Poetry“ Explore works by Haroldo de Campos, Augusto de Campos, Decio Pignatari, Eugen Gomringer, and Mary Ellen Solt in UBUWEB: Historical. Analyze one concrete poem by one of… Continue reading Week 12: Concrete Poetry

Week 11: Videopoetry

Clip from "Right Action" by Franz Ferdinand and Jonas Odell

Tuesday, March 30 Introduction to writing on video and videopoetry The Art of the Title “North by Northwest” (1959) “Pinky and the Brain Title Sequence“ “Fuck You” by Cee-lo Green “Right Action” by Franz Ferdinand – video by Jonas Odell (lyrics) Jonas Odell on Vimeo EDMLyrics Channel Assignment: Watch “Introduction to the Concept and Theory… Continue reading Week 11: Videopoetry

Week 10: Multimodal Poetry

Amanda Gorman and Shane Koyczan

Tuesday, March 23 In class: “The Hill We Climb” (2021) Amanda Gorman Poetry Out Loud “To this Day” (2013) Ted Koyczan Homework: Multimodal Analysis of “To this Day” (see Google Classroom) Thursday, March 25 Asynchronous class (we don’t meet today): Do a multimodal analysis of a music video you like, focusing on how all its… Continue reading Week 10: Multimodal Poetry

Week 9: Recorded and Performance Poetry

Dylan Thomas BBC (1949), The Last Poets (1970), Ursula Rucker "Ma' at Mama" (2001)

Tuesday, March 16 In class: Introduction to recorded poetry Dylan Thomas: “Love in the Asylum“ “Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night” The Last Poets: “The Last Poets” (1970) (Album)(Lyrics) “Party and Bullshit” (1993) – Biggie Smalls (lyrics) “The Corner” (2005) – Common Assignment: Watch “Ursula Rucker: Poet” documentary “Return to Innocence Lost” (1999)… Continue reading Week 9: Recorded and Performance Poetry

Week 8: New York School and Language Poetry

Left to Right: Frank O'Hara, John Ashbery, Charles Bernstein, Susan Howe.

Tuesday, March 9 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. Thursday, March 11 In class: Language Poetry Charles Bernstein’s bio and poems. Susan Howe’s bio… Continue reading Week 8: New York School and Language Poetry