Weeks 11 & 12: Sound, Concrete, and Digital Poetry

Monday, March 31

• In class:
  • The Complete Works by Justin Stephenson. (poem) (trailer)
  • Brief Lecture on Sound Poetry
    • Hugo Ball "Seepferdchen und Flugfische" (2014) (gedichtvortrag) (Christian Bök)
    • Jim Andrews "Poetry Craft" (1989)
    • UbuWeb Sound
    • John Cage 4'33''
    • Kristin Oppenheim's sound poetry
    • Christian Bök's sound poetry
• Assignment:
  • Read "Sound Poetry" in Princeton Encyclopedia
  • Read Paul de Vree’s Manifesto and sound poetry in Ubu Web.
  • Listen to the Happy New Ear album
  • Write a brief analysis of one sound poem. Provide a link to it in your response. Post before class on Wednesday.

Wednesday, April 1

• In class:
  • Introduction to Concrete Poetry
    • Stéphane Mallarmé
    • Guillaume Apollinaire
    • French Letterists 1940s-1970s
    • Eugen Gomringer
    • Jonathan Williams
• Assignment:
  • Read "Concrete Poetry" in Princeton Encyclopedia
  • Read “Pilot Plan for Concrete Poetry“
  • Explore works by Haroldo de Campos, Augusto de Campos, Decio Pignatari, and Mary Ellen Solt in UBUWEB: Historical.

Friday, April 3

• Asynchronous class:
  • Write a detailed analysis of one concrete poem by one of the assigned poets and one example of a visually interesting use of language you have encountered, whether it’s on billboards, buildings, products, paintings, signs, graffiti, or any other form in the physical world. Include a link to the poem and a photograph, image, or screen capture. Post this analysis in ASULearn by 1:00 pm on Friday.
  • Read and respond substantively to at least 2 your classmates posts, and read their poems before class on Monday.
• Assignment
  • Watch "First Screening" by bpNichol

Monday, April 7

• In class:
  • Discussion of Concrete and Kinetic Poetry
    • First Screening by bpNichol
    • Typoems and Anipoems by Ana María Uribe (1997-99)
    • Strings by Dan Waber (1999)
    • #kinetictypography in Instagram
• Assignment
  • Read "Electronic Poetry" in The Princeton Encyclopedia
  • Explore Lillian-Yvonne Bertram's
    • Website
    • Poetry Foundation page

Wednesday, April 9

• Lecture and discussion of Lillian-Yvonne Bertram's work
  • ELO 2022 Readings
  • “for the pool players at the Golden Shovel” (Reference: We Real Cool)
  • “Weights and Measures”

• Assignment:
  • Read:
    • Contexts:
      • "Incident" by Countee Cullen
      • Ben Johnson's Travesty Generator
      • Generative Pre-Trained Transformer
    • From Travesty Generator:
      • Statement on "Incident"
      • "Incident"
      • "Three Last Words"
    • poems from Negative Money

Friday, April 11

• Asynchronous class:
  • Write a brief (250 words), but detailed post about Lillian-Yvonne Bertram's poetry and poetics, citing at least two examples of their poetry. Post by Saturday morning.
  • Read and respond substantively to at least 2 your classmates posts, and read their poems before class on Monday.