Susan Howe notes that “If history is a record of survivors, poetry shelters other voices.” This course will explore those voices, exploring poetry as political space, as self-assemblage, as communal assemblage, and as a response to hegemonic social structures. In his essay “Limitrophe,” Roberto Tejada asks the following question: “What does it mean to engage an advanced poetic language of authentic interest and poetic imperative?” We will explore this question and others across the course.
Our discussions will focus on theory, contemporary poetry, and literary and poetic criticism, often focusing on poets interrogating notions of identity and their work. Readings from this course may include Douglas Kearney on Black Experimental poetry, Susan Briante on documentary poetics, Forrest Gander on translation, and many, many more.
Course Requirements:
Major assignments may include essays, creative assignments, and collaborative online critique and discussion.