Fall 2004
Procedural Poetics/Digital Poetics Production
.....Transitoire observable.....
DMS 605 (#393684)/ENG 681 (#070402)
T, 3:30 PM - 6:30 PM, 232 CFA
Prof. Loss Glazier

COURSE DESCRIPTION

How does one know if a digital poem is being read correctly, if the reader perceives its contours, if it is making the impact one would hope for? In such a new medium, this is a perennial problem and a source of much interesting debate. It is also a fertile area for exploring poesis and critical analysis. In "Digital Poetry Production" students will create a digital poem of a scope relevant to their abilities. The course will consist of engagement with methods of "reading" digital poetry projects, giving feedback about how such projects "work", and the development of systems of analysis and interpretation for the reception of digital poetry. Students will undertake several smaller individual digital poetry exercises along with engaging a longer, semester-long project. Providing feedback to the projects of classmates is essential to this course. Study of methods of analysis, modes of interpretation, and horizons of reception are integral to developing modes of advancing digital poetry reception skills. In this class we will read and make digital poetry, we will study the works of leading digital poets as paradigmatic to new modes of digital poetry analysis, and we will read articles relevant to the issues involved in the reading and writing of digital poetry. We will read theory relevant to the interpretation and analysis to new modes of non-linear, interactive, and time-based artistic presentation. Though reading and analysis skills at a graduate level are expected, no knowledge of any specific software or hardware is required. No formal training in any such skills will be given, however it is hoped that participants can learn different methods from the instructor during the course, through collaboration with other students, and that students have an interest in acquiring basic skills, such as elementary HTML. A supplemental one-unit laboratory credit is available to students who wish to use lab facilities as part of this course. Note: Students who do not wish to do digital poetry production may take the course with an analysis option. Course requirements include production/analysis, oral presentation of assigned digital texts, very close reading of theoretical essays related to the topic, collaborative discussions and analysis of digital reading practices, and other related class activities. For those students who are producing digital texts, their work will receive close reading and hopefully much useful feedback.