Reading Writing Poetry: Revision as Play
LIT4593.01
Course Description
Summary
The point of revision, we’re told, is to make our writing better. No wonder (framed this way) the idea of revision can often provoke annoyance, boredom, or even fear. But what if the revision process was closer to John Cage’s “chance operations,” a completely spontaneous and open-ended experience of creativity? Or, what if, through revision, we could explore yet-undiscovered parts of ourselves? Unlock new literary superpowers? Most importantly, what if revision could be fun? A revision-oriented poetry workshop, the course will prompt students to write and re-write their poems throughout the semester. Rather than prioritizing writing many new poems, we’ll prioritize working serially, episodically, writing several versions of the same poems, and seeing where we might end up through a series of games, exercises, chance operations, and experiments.Prerequisites
To apply, students should submit 5 poems and a corresponding revision of each poem (i.e. there should be ten poems in total). In a brief paragraph, explain your existing relationship to revision (whether you dread it or love it) and what existing strategies for revision you have. Submissions must be submitted on this this form by May 9, 2024. Students will be notified of their acceptance into the course by May 14, 2024.
Please contact the faculty member : anduplan@bennington.edu
Corequisites
Attendance at Literature Evenings is required.