This literature course is geared toward graduate level MFA students interested in poetry. Prose writers are welcome. Advanced undergraduates (those who are currently enrolled in have completed any 400 level Creative Writing course) are also welcome to apply to the instructor by submitting a 10 page writing sample (preferably poetry). Submit to instructor, Pimone Triplett by email: ptrip@uw.edu on or before December 10, 2023. Please note, this is a literary seminar course entitled The Writer as Critical Reader, and as such will not be a traditional workshop so much as a place for writers to discuss the published texts on hand as writers interested in building their own creative work through attentive analysis of others. It is not a traditional workshop format, nor is this a traditional English department literature or theory-centered class. Student work will consist primarily of written and oral literary analysis rather than the production of new creative work.
In this course, we will examine several examples of contemporary poetic practice. We'll be especially focused on questions of similarity and difference among our representative texts. What kinds of thematic, stylistic and genre-furthering work is common to many of our current practitioners? What are the significant differences between them? Lastly, but importantly, given certain "trends" or common forces, how might we begin to examine how our own individual creative contributions can respond with an awareness of this larger reading knowledge by staking new ground with respect to what is already out there? Relatedly, what kinds of traditions might a practicing poet simply want to engage in without necessarily needing to "make new," preferring instead to sing in chorus among the on-going musics?
Texts will be available soon at the UW bookstore. I also have pdfs available for all but one text below if you prefer to read that way. The UW bookstore has made it clear that they only actually order a random guess as to the number of copies they expect to sell for each class request because they assume people will just get copies on Amazon or from other sources. I order from them nevertheless just to have a place to direct students to, but no guarantees there alas. They will of course order you a copy if they are out, and send you an email when it comes in. Their turn around rate is pretty fast. Supporting Open Books is another great alternative. Let me know if you need a pdf to read even temporarily while waiting for your book to arrive, or simply to save the cash.
The order is not set in stone yet, but we will certainly start with the Som, entitled TRIPAS, on our first day of class.
Texts:
Brandon Som, Tripas
Charif Shanahan, Trace Evidence
Jorie Graham, To 2040
Sam Sax, Pig
Paisley Rekdal, West
Timothy Donelly, Chariot
Anthony McCann, I Am the Dead
Terrance Hayes, So To Speak
Kaveh Akbar, Calling A Wolf A Wolf