Instr:                 Jayson Iwen
Office:              CRT 569,     229-6047
e-mail:              jiwen@uwm.edu
Office hours:      TBA  and by appointment.

Course Information:     Tues, Thurs,   2:05-3:20pm,    Curtin Hall 321
 

Course Description

In this course we will be reading the works of a wide variety of international, post World War II poets, from dramatically different traditions, while also focusing on specific groups and common tendencies. One large anthology will be used to cover major trends, while we will also closely study the work of four American poets, not included in the anthology, who are not only exemplary poets in their own rights, but who also represent four highly influential postwar movements (The San Francisco Renaissance, The Black Mountain Poets, The New York School, and The Objectivists.), and one crazy street poet. Though we will certainly discuss thematics and the contexts under which the poems were produced, much of our attention will be on formal and technical language issues that will help the students to understand and develop their own poetics. About half of the class time will be dedicated to the writings of the students themselves, either through discussions, workshops, or personal conferences. To facilitate the students in their writing, a poetic guide/workbook will also be on the required reading list.

Required Texts:
In the Palm of Your Hand, Steve Kowit
Poems for the Millenium, Volume TWO, Rothenberg and Joris, eds.
One Train, Kenneth Koch
The Collected Books of Jack Spicer, Jack Spicer
The Granite Pail, Lorine Niedecker
Fast Speaking Woman, Anne Waldman
Republican Like Me, Sparrow