Many of the most cutting edge books of American poetry since the beginning of the 20th century have been written in prose. We will investigate the reasons for the shift from writing poetry to writing writing, as well as composing our own works of poetic prose. The readings will cover a lot of ground, from mid-19th century Paris to 20th and 21st century East L.A. and Ferguson, MO, and from the sprung ordinariness of Tender Buttons to the fashion-conscious feminism of Harryette Mullen’s Trimmings. There will be a reader of background materials, including theoretical works on prose by Victor Sklovsky, Bakhtin, and Ron Silliman. We will also do some reading in critics of the prose poem, including Stephen Fredman. Wherever possible, we will engage directly or indirectly (via audio and video resources) with writers of the books we’re reading.
Learning Outcomes
Awareness of theories of prose, poetry and hybrid texts
Ability to write critically and creativity in and about poetic prose
An understanding of why one might want to write in prose poetry
Understanding of the historical and cultural foundations of prose poetry
Texts:
Charles Baudelaire, Paris Spleen
Gertrude Stein, Tender Buttons
William Carlos Williams, Spring and All & Kora in Hell
John Ashbery, Three Poems
Lyn Hejinian, My Life
Harryette Mullen, Recyclopedia
Sesshu Foster, City Terrace Field Manual
Eleni Sikelianos, You Animal Machine (The Golden Greek)
Claudia Rankine, Citizen
Requirements:
To write a poem each week and revise it;
To write a blog post each week on the reading & issues raised in the course;
To write a short essay on a prose poetic text;
To participate vociferously in class exercises & discussions;
To make a chapbook of revised creative work.