Poetry and poetics is for me the lively practice of positioning oneself
as imaginative agent in the world.
—Joan Retallack
Poetics [. . .] seems as much a philosophical realm as a literary one.
But it is a pragmatic realm, nonetheless; the reasons and reasoning that
motivate poet (and poem) are embedded in the world and in the language
with which we bring it into view.
—Lyn Hejinian
Poetry unsettles our scrawled defense;
unapprehensible but dear nevertheless.
—Susan Howe
The contemporary world is both alarmingly and exhilaratingly complex. As such, it demands passionate intellect, creative agency, and responsible consciousness if we are to make meaning from its complexity without falling back on limiting and outmoded strategies for the production and perception of patterns of experience, interpretation, and action. The three perspectives on poetry quoted above take poems not as precious objects to be deciphered but as linguistic actions that can help us to meet this challenge. In this course we will read Hejinian, Howe, and Retallack to explore how their poetry functions linguistically, poetically, and rhetorically, and by extension to consider the contemporary use of, and potential for, experimental poetry as a means of understanding and addressing fundamental ethical, social, and political concerns.
To do so, we will begin with an introduction to some overarching issues of contemporary poetics and theories of language, continue with attention focused on the work of each of our three poets, and finally turn our attention outward to consider the responsibilities of artists and intellectuals to address their work to the general public. As we explore each of the poets, we will read one of their major works in conversation with selections of their poetics, critical response to their poetry, and other disciplinary perspectives on the issues they engage. As a class we will take up these conversations, each contributing from the different knowledge, experience, and interests we bring to the class, and united by our efforts to approach our shared inquiry from a rhetorical perspective (understanding language use as action in the world) through the lens of contemporary feminist concerns with a broad range of issues of social justice.
Guiding questions for the course include:
We will meet twice a week in person and also interact regularly on the course discussion board. Time in class will be spent primarily in conversational and collaborative learning through discussions, workshops, activities, etc. and will also include the occasional brief lecture. Your engaged participation will be required at every class meeting.
Much of the work of this course will involve reading challenging texts—experimental poetry, genre-mixing essays, and academic texts from various disciplines—as well as a great deal of each other's writing. It is important to note that unfamiliar types of writing are always harder (and so slower) to read at first. As a class, we will discuss effective strategies for specific readings according to our purposes and the particular challenges of the text. Although the readings for this course will be demanding, your hard work will ensure that this element of the course gets easier and more rewarding as the quarter progresses.
All course readings (except Howe and Retallack's books) are available in PDF on the course Blackboard site. You will need to print out a copy of each to annotate and bring to class for reference.
The following is intended to give you an idea of the assignments we'll be working on this quarter. Detailed information about each assignment's requirements and evaluation criteria will be given in class and available in written form on the course website.
A one-pager is a single-spaced, single page essay. The idea behind the one-pager is to grab some things that interest you from the readings and throw yourself into articulating a specific question, idea, and/or concern that they brought to your attention. Four to six times over the course of the quarter you will post a one pager to our course discussion board in advance of class meetings in order to:
In order to experience the theories of art and language we are exploring from the perspective of generators, you will be doing (at least) two creative mini-projects: one using digital photography and the other poetry.
This will be 10-12 page argumentative essay that expands and develops ideas from your own or one of your classmates' one-pagers. Although the topic will be up to you, I will ask you to carefully consider the role from which you write and the audience you want to address. In addition to the option of trying out the discourse of one of the disciplines we read from, you'll also have the option to take up the role of the public intellectual as you compose your essay, considering the broad audience that will have access to the website we put together (see Collaborative Term Project).
Our work this quarter will culminate in a website designed to present the products of our inquiry to a broader public. Each of you will contribute your final paper and we will work together to determine what additional elements need to be included.
This portfolio will include a reflective introduction, a selection of revised and annotated short assignments, and your final paper.
Information about assessment criteria will be provided with individual assignments.
Preparation & Participation: 40%
Final portfolio: 60%
If you have a physical or learning disability that requires accommodations, please let me know at the beginning of the quarter so that we can make proper arrangements. Even if you are not sure that your disability will influence your performance in this class, it might be a good idea to let me know in advance so that we can work together to troubleshoot any challenges that may arise.
For more on UW-B policy for accommodation, please consult: http://www.bothell.washington.edu/community/access/
Please be willing to ask and answer questions of classmates. This classroom is a collaborative work environment-please share your skills, knowledge, and ideas.
The course listserv (bis486a_au06@u.washington.edu) will be available as a way to communicate questions, ideas, etc. to your classmates outside of class meetings. (If you want to contact me, please email me directly at mkill@uwb.edu.)
You should always feel free to stop by to talk with me during my office hours. I will be in my office (UW2-335) on Tuesdays and Thursdays after class from 1:15-2:15 and look forward to talking with you one-on-one.
Refer to the online schedule as often as necessary to keep yourself organized and on track. Readings and homework assignments will be necessary prerequisites for productive in-class participation.
Students are expected to make choices in class that reflect respect and courtesy toward each other. For more on the student conduct guidelines at UW-B, please see: http://www.washington.edu/students/handbook/conduct.html
Because your participation is crucial to both your success in this class and the overall success of the course, your attendance is required at all class meetings. If you know in advance you will miss a class, inform me as soon as possible. While there generally isn't a way to make up in-class activities, I'll be happy to discuss individual assignments with you in advance so that you can submit them before the deadline.
Please make every effort to be on time to class meetings.
Advance notice of due dates for all assignments should enable you to avoid missing deadlines. If an unusual situation arises that might keep you from completing something on time, speak with me as soon as possible.
Assignments turned in late will receive no credit, or in rare cases partial credit depending on their relevance at the point submitted. Plan to finish assignments early enough so that a minor setback won't leave you empty-handed on the due date.
Written or other work that a student submits must be the product of her/his own efforts. Plagiarism, cheating and other forms of academic dishonesty, including dishonesty involving computer technology, are prohibited. For more on the UW-B policy please see http://www.bothell.washington.edu/students/policies/integrity.html.
UW-B offers you a variety of library services. For information or assistance:
URL: www.uwb.edu/library
Phone: 425-352-5340
Becky Reed Rosenberg, Director
UW-B offers you a variety of writing center services. For information or assistance:
URL: http://www.uwb.edu/WritingCenter/
Phone: 425-352-5253
Email: uwbwrite@u.washington.edu
Location: UW2-124
Please check the Student Information webpage for up-to-date information on
workshops and other services provided for students.
URL: http://www.bothell.washington.edu/students/current/
