This course
focuses on the relationship between Poetry and the Visual Arts (painting, photography,
and sculpture). We will study well-known poets and artists (from the Pacific,
Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Asia) to discuss how the visual arts have
influenced the history of poetry, and how poetry has engaged with the visual
arts. In addition, we will explore the genre known as “Visual Poetry” (a
combination of text and image) and attempt to understand why this genre has
been so vital to many poets from different cultures.
Since this is a
writing intensive course, we will write two critical essays responding to
course materials. We will also write poems inspired by the visual arts and
experiment with making our own “visual poems.”
Requirements: Attendance, in-class participation,
informal reader responses, two critical essays, a presentation, creative
writing exercises, and a final portfolio. You will also be required to attend
several literary events during the semester.
Required Texts:
Douglas Kearney,
The Black Automaton (2009)
Kaia Sand, Remember to Wave (2010)
Imaikalani
Kalahele, Kalahele (2003)
Lisa Linn Kanae,
Sista Tongue (2001)
Theresa Hak
Kyung Cha, Dictee(1982)
Other readings
and images will be provided by the instructor in photocopied, JPG, or PDF form.
This will include visual art by Picasso, Dorothea Lange, Alfred Steiglitz, Jean
Michel-Basquiat, Frida Kahlo, and Hokusai, among others; and poetry by Albert
Wendt, Wayne Kaumualii Westlake, John Pule, William Blake, Ezra Pound, Stephane
Mallarme, Geof Huth, and Guillaume Apollinaire, to name a few.