Guest Book

2013 Poetry and Rock syllabus. For folks in the DC area, the concerts by Scrapomatic on Feb. 27 and by Americamera on March 13 are on campus, free and open to the public. The Catholic University of America Department of English ENG 381: Poetry and Rock (3 credits) Ernest Suarez, Professor and Chair Spring 2013 Office: 324 Marist Hall Hannan 108 Office Hours by appointment Tuesday: 5:10- Phone: 202-319-5488 -7:40pm. Course description and goals: This course surveys the development of American poetry and music in the twentieth century, with particular attention to the years 1955-1975. We will begin with the transition from Modern to Contemporary poetry, and consider the relationship of this process to changes that take place in blues, jazz and rock music. Students are expected to demonstrate their knowledge of this material through class discussion, exams, and writing assignments. Note that we have several special events. Other events involving poets and musicians may be announced as the course progresses. Attendance at special events is mandatory unless announced otherwise. Instructional methods: Lecture/discussion Required texts: Materials will be distributed via Blackboard. Make sure you print out the materials and bring them to class. Requirements: Material assigned for a particular class must be read and listened to before that class meeting. More than two (2) absences will result in FAILURE of the course. Attendance will be tallied according to the sign-in notebook passed around during each class. It is your responsibility to make sure you sign in each week. If you come to class late, please find the sign-in book. Lateness or early departure will count for half of one absence, so make sure you are on time and stay for the entire class. Signing the book upholds you to the CUA Honor Code. Signing in for another student is punishable according to the Academic Dishonesty Policy, and may result in failure of the course. The number of bodies in chairs will be matched to the number of signatures in the book for each class. Don't be the person who makes the entire class stay late for a roll check! Grading: Final grades will be based on a mid-term, final, and an essay. All three grades are worth 100 points each and your final grade will be determined by your point total. A: 276 and above A-: 275 to 264 B+: 263 to 255 B: 254 to 240 B-: 239 to 231 C+: 230 to 225 C: 224 to 210 C-: 209 to 195 D: 194 to 180 F: 179 and below Extra point options (up to 10 points for each essay added to the student’s overall total): 1- Focus on one of Scrapomatic’s CDs—I’m a Stranger (and I Love the Night), Sidewalk Caesars, or Alligator Love Cry—and analyze the relationship between verse techniques, theme, and sound in at least three songs. 3-4 pp. 2- Focus on Americamera’s High Minded, and analyze the relationship between verse techniques, theme, and sound in at least two songs and two poetic vignettes. 3-4 pp. 3- 100 % attendance with no tardiness or early departure to all classes and extra events (an “all or nothing” for 10 points added to the student’s overall total). Calendar Specific assignments for particular class meetings will be posted on Blackboard as the course progresses. Week 1-2: Beginnings to the 1950s Poetry: from Modern and Formalist Verse to Contemporary High Modernism: T.S. Eliot; Formalism: Robert Frost Transition to Contemporary: William Carlos Williams, Dylan Thomas, James Dickey, David Bottoms Music: from Spirituals, Blues (W.C Handy, Leadbelly, Robert Johnson, Blind Willie McTell) to Rock (Cream, Rolling Stones, Allman Brothers Band) Poetry: Langston Hughes, the Beats and the San Francisco Renaissance (Robert Creeley, Allen Ginsberg) Music: Bebop and Modal Jazz: Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, The Miles Davis Quintet Jazz Poetry: Kenneth Rexroth, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Jack Kerouac Wk 3-4: Bob Dylan: Bluesman as Bard Folk and Blues influences: selections from Woody Guthrie, Howlin’ Wolf, Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters Poetic influences: T.S. Eliot, Dylan Thomas, e.e. cummings, French Symbolists and the Beats Dylan: selections from The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan (1963), The Times They Are A-Changin’ (1964), Another Side of Bob Dylan (1964), Bringing It All Back Home (1965), Highway 61 Revisited (1965), Blond on Blonde (1966) Wks 5-6: Major Schools of Contemporary Poetry and Changes in Rock Composition Poetry: The Beats, Deep Image, Black Mountain, Confessional, and New York School Music (from pop to the poetry of rock) selection from the Beatles, Flying Burrito Brothers and Rolling Stones, Moody Blues, Grateful Dead, Santana, Allman Brothers Band Wk 7: FEBRUARY 26th the artists visit class. February 27TH, SPECIAL EVENT: DAVID BOTTOMS AND SCRAPOMATIC, Pryz Food Court, 8 pm Wk 8: MARCH 12th, the artists visit class and the poet Stephen Burt gives a reading MARCH 13TH, SPECIAL EVENT: AMERICAMERA, Pryz Food Court, 8 pm Wk 9: Mid-term exam (study guide will be made available via Blackboard) Wks10-11: Myth-Making, Personae and Performance Poetry: James Dickey, Allen Ginsberg and Anne Sexton Music: The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967), The Rolling Stones and The Doors Wks 12-13: The Fantastic in Music and Verse Music: African and Western mysticism, the Blues and Rock Poetry: Surrealism and the subconscious Selections from Ma Rainey, Robert Johnson, J.D. Twitty, Jimi Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane, Santana, Moody Blues, Grateful Dead, Robert Bly, James Wright, Frank O’Hara, Sylvia Plath, and Galway Kinnell Wks14-15: Experiments in Song and Verse Singer/Songwriter: Crosby Stills and Nash, Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne, Bruce Springsteen, Lucinda Williams The Long Poem and the Rock Opera: Robert Penn Warren’s Audubon and The Who’s Quadrophenia FINAL EXAM