Guillaume ApollinaireGuillaume ApollinaireExperiments in poetryExperiments in poetry
Linda C.H. LaiLinda C.H. Lai
Guillaume Apollinaire (1880-1918)Guillaume Apollinaire (1880-1918)
Poet who took part in avant-garde movements in French litPoet who took part in avant-garde movements in French literature in the beginning of 20erature in the beginning of 20thth century. century.
11stst work (15 years of poetry): work (15 years of poetry):
ALCOOLS (1913)ALCOOLS (1913)
http://www.wiu.edu/apollinaire/http://www.wiu.edu/apollinaire/ (in French) (in French)
http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/737http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/737 (in English) (in English)
http://www.slideshare.net/Pawlowski/le-pont-mirabeau-recorded-by-apollinaire-ihttp://www.slideshare.net/Pawlowski/le-pont-mirabeau-recorded-by-apollinaire-in-1913-presentationn-1913-presentation
(to listen to Apollinaire’s reading in 1913) (to listen to Apollinaire’s reading in 1913)
Guillaume Apollinaire (1880-1918)Guillaume Apollinaire (1880-1918)
““Poetry as usually read today, silently and from a Poetry as usually read today, silently and from a monotonously printed text, fails to exploit its monotonously printed text, fails to exploit its two two principal sensuous aspectsprincipal sensuous aspects””
**shapeshape
*sound*sound
Guillaume ApollinaireGuillaume Apollinaire
Poetry as a Poetry as a visual visual experience:experience:
*figure & ground: the perception of dark figures arr*figure & ground: the perception of dark figures arranged on a light surface (or vice versa)anged on a light surface (or vice versa)
-- type size, paragraphing, run-down pattern, gener-- type size, paragraphing, run-down pattern, generic forms etc.ic forms etc.
organization thought via visual arrangement organization thought via visual arrangement ((spatializationspatialization of text) of text)
Guillaume Apollinaire: poetryGuillaume Apollinaire: poetry
Efforts to make a poem a distinct visual object…Efforts to make a poem a distinct visual object…
Some methods:Some methods:
Principle of the ideogramPrinciple of the ideogram[a written sign that represents [a written sign that represents an idea or thingan idea or thing rather tha rather than the sound of a word]n the sound of a word]
Calligrammes (visual + verbal composition)Calligrammes (visual + verbal composition)
Guillaume Apollinaire: poetryGuillaume Apollinaire: poetry
What are “Calligrammes”?What are “Calligrammes”?
Plastic arrangement of words on writing surfacesPlastic arrangement of words on writing surfaces
““visual lyricism”visual lyricism”
Visual poetry / spatial poetryVisual poetry / spatial poetry
Guillaume Apollinaire: poetryGuillaume Apollinaire: poetry
What are “Calligrammes”?What are “Calligrammes”?Visual poetry / spatial poetryVisual poetry / spatial poetry
Derived from TWO techniques –Derived from TWO techniques –
FragmentationFragmentation
Recombination Recombination (of fragments)(of fragments)
(in his conversation poems)(in his conversation poems)
Guillaume Apollinaire: poetryGuillaume Apollinaire: poetry
What are “Calligrammes”?What are “Calligrammes”?Fragmentation / RecombinationFragmentation / Recombination
Simultaneous nature of consciousnessSimultaneous nature of consciousness
(abandoning)(abandoning)
Discursive expressionDiscursive expression
Linear layout of poemLinear layout of poem
Guillaume Apollinaire: poetryGuillaume Apollinaire: poetry
What are “Calligrammes”?What are “Calligrammes”?Fragmentation / RecombinationFragmentation / Recombination
Typographical revolution –Typographical revolution –
““It is necessary that our intelligence become aIt is necessary that our intelligence become accustomed to understanding ccustomed to understanding synthetico-ideogrsynthetico-ideographicallyaphically instead of instead of analytico-discursivelyanalytico-discursively.” (G..” (G. Arbouin) Arbouin)
Guillaume Apollinaire: poetryGuillaume Apollinaire: poetry
3 different fashions in the plastic arrangement of words (Calligramm3 different fashions in the plastic arrangement of words (Calligrammes):es):
(1) to represent the objects being described(1) to represent the objects being described
(2) to represent a total conception of the order of th(2) to represent a total conception of the order of the world or of the universee world or of the universe
(3) to express a movement of thought within the po(3) to express a movement of thought within the poem em (writing for the eye)(writing for the eye)
Guillaume Apollinaire: poetryGuillaume Apollinaire: poetry
To represent theTo represent theobjects being describedobjects being described
e.g. e.g. PaysagePaysage (Landscape (Landscape),), La Cravate et la Montre La Cravate et la Montre (The (The
Tie and the Watch), Tie and the Watch), Il Pleut Il Pleut (It’s Raining)(It’s Raining)
Guillaume Apollinaire: poetryGuillaume Apollinaire: poetry
To represent a total To represent a total conception of the orconception of the order of the world or oder of the world or of the universef the universe
e.g. e.g. Lettre-OcLettre-Océéan an (Ocean L(Ocean Letter)etter)
Guillaume Apollinaire: poetryGuillaume Apollinaire: poetry
To express a movement To express a movement of thought within the pof thought within the poem oem (writing for the (writing for the eye):eye):
e.g. e.g. VisViséée e (Aim)(Aim)
Guillaume ApollinaireGuillaume Apollinaire
Poetry as an aural experience:Poetry as an aural experience:
Sound of the words in combinationSound of the words in combination
http://www.slideshare.net/Pawlowski/le-pont-mirabeau-recorded-by-aphttp://www.slideshare.net/Pawlowski/le-pont-mirabeau-recorded-by-apollinaire-in-1913-presentationollinaire-in-1913-presentation
(to listen to Apollinaire’s reading in 1913) (to listen to Apollinaire’s reading in 1913)
Apollinaire:Apollinaire: Poetry as an aurPoetry as an aural al experienceexperience
::Sound of the words in combination: 2 methodsSound of the words in combination: 2 methods
(1) To write while humming a tune to whose rhyth(1) To write while humming a tune to whose rhythm he could fit wordsm he could fit words
[to upkeep meter-consciousness][to upkeep meter-consciousness]
(2) “Poemes conversations”(2) “Poemes conversations”[combining at random the odd sentences and phrases that occurred to [combining at random the odd sentences and phrases that occurred to
him or that he overheard]him or that he overheard]
Poetry as an aurPoetry as an aural al experienceexperience
Sound of the words in combinationSound of the words in combination
Pure sound: Pure sound:
Exploration of vowel qualities, Exploration of vowel qualities, alliteration, rhymes etc.alliteration, rhymes etc.
e.g. e.g. “Voyage “Voyage àà Paris” (Voyage to Paris) Paris” (Voyage to Paris)
Guillaume Apollinaire’s Guillaume Apollinaire’s CalligrammesCalligrammes
Espen J. Arseth cites Apollinaire’s non-linear texts Espen J. Arseth cites Apollinaire’s non-linear texts in “calligrammes” as examples in “calligrammes” as examples
of of
ergodic literatureergodic literature
which also characterizes which also characterizes
the the cybertextual cybertextual processprocess
See his book, See his book, Cybertext: Perspectives on Ergodic Literature (1997)Cybertext: Perspectives on Ergodic Literature (1997)
A more generic term: Concrete poetryA more generic term: Concrete poetry
Other names: Other names: pattern poetry, shape poetrypattern poetry, shape poetry
Typographical arrangement of words is as Typographical arrangement of words is as important as the conventional elements important as the conventional elements (meaning of words, rhythm, rhyme…)(meaning of words, rhythm, rhyme…)
The words themselves form a picture. [imagery]The words themselves form a picture. [imagery]
Concrete poetryConcrete poetry
Term coined by Augusto de CamposTerm coined by Augusto de Campos
Useful reference:Useful reference:
The Sackner Archive of Visual and Concrete Poetry:The Sackner Archive of Visual and Concrete Poetry:
http://www.rediscov.com/sacknerarchives/http://www.rediscov.com/sacknerarchives/
Indexes to webpages and print resources:Indexes to webpages and print resources:http://www.gardendigest.com/concrete/index.htmlhttp://www.gardendigest.com/concrete/index.html
On “pattern poetry”:On “pattern poetry”:Dick Higgins, Dick Higgins, Pattern Poetry: Guide to an Unknown Literature. State Pattern Poetry: Guide to an Unknown Literature. State
University of New York, 1987.University of New York, 1987.