Visual Poetry

Catalog description

This course examines objects with a dual nature: literary artifacts that are also visual compositions — texts that function simultaneously as pictures. While two primary focuses will be on Italy and on 20th century experimental literary forms, (Futurist’s “parole in libertà”, “poesia visiva”, concrete poetry), students will also explore a wider range of such textual-visual hybrids, from the classical world through the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the Baroque period. In order to trace the transnational circulation of visual models, comparative examples and references from English and other languages (with translations in English) will be offered. Specific readings and discussions will address theoretical issues raised by iconic texts — how do we read visual poetry? What does it mean to be engaged as a reader and as a viewer at the same time?