Modern Visual Poetry

Rating:
Summary: The Absolute Best Introduction To This Subject
Review: Willard Bohn presents the whole range of visual poetry from the Futurists to Concrete and Lettrist poets. He speculates on the origins of vispo (advertising art of the 19th c., Mallarme, and especially Chinese ideograms) and leaves us with possible vispoetries of the future in the form of the Holopoems of Eduardo Kac and the melding of arts taking place on the world wide web. In between these poles Bohn gives us sensitive readings of Apollinaire, Severini, and the remarkable Mexican poet (and pioneer of Western Haiku) Jose Juan Tablada. The Campos brothers, Emmet Williams, Dick Higgens, and a host of well-known writers are discussed, but it is the lesser-knowns and the samplings of work from rare publications that fascinate me most. Names like Vicenc Sole de Sojo, and the Catalan vispoet J.V. Foix and his dazzling work are totally new to me. Bohn includes close to the text translations of each poem as he explains it, so English readers can follow along without trouble. Visual poetry is a vital current in both the art and literature of the 20th century. Bohn gives thought-provoking definitions of the permutations of this compelling fusion of genres. In short, I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

Rating:
Summary: The Absolute Best Introduction To This Subject
Review: Willard Bohn presents the whole range of visual poetry from the Futurists to Concrete and Lettrist poets. He speculates on the origins of vispo (advertising art of the 19th c., Mallarme, and especially Chinese ideograms) and leaves us with possible vispoetries of the future in the form of the Holopoems of Eduardo Kac and the melding of arts taking place on the world wide web. In between these poles Bohn gives us sensitive readings of Apollinaire, Severini, and the remarkable Mexican poet (and pioneer of Western Haiku) Jose Juan Tablada. The Campos brothers, Emmet Williams, Dick Higgens, and a host of well-known writers are discussed, but it is the lesser-knowns and the samplings of work from rare publications that fascinate me most. Names like Vicenc Sole de Sojo, and the Catalan vispoet J.V. Foix and his dazzling work are totally new to me. Bohn includes close to the text translations of each poem as he explains it, so English readers can follow along without trouble. Visual poetry is a vital current in both the art and literature of the 20th century. Bohn gives thought-provoking definitions of the permutations of this compelling fusion of genres. In short, I cannot recommend this book highly enough.