In this course we’ll examine the often-fleeting presence of joy in poetry. The key questions we’ll sit with: must a poem be explicitly “happy” to hold an element of joy? In the context of a modern poetry scene that often prizes suffering as a prerequisite to creating meaningful & lasting work, what political & personal relevance does joy assume? Is joy frivolous as a topic of study in relation to poetic craft—or does examining it too closely diminish its value? In a world where expressions of emotion can feel embarrassing or awkward, what does it mean to write poems that unapologetically inhabit their joy? We’ll consider the driving emotions behind a poet’s body of work, discuss joy as a tool of dissent in history & art, brainstorm ways to cultivate joy as a consistent habit in daily life & in a poetic practise, & touch on the emotional nuance of allowing room for joy & suffering to coexist.
In this course we’ll examine the often-fleeting presence of joy in poetry. The key questions we’ll sit with: must a poem be explicitly “happy” to hold an element of joy? In the context of a modern poetry scene that often prizes suffering as a prerequisite to creating meaningful & lasting work, what political & personal relevance does joy assume? Is joy frivolous as a topic of study in relation to poetic craft—or does examining it too closely diminish its value? In a world where expressions of emotion can feel embarrassing or awkward, what does it mean to write poems that unapologetically inhabit their joy? We’ll consider the driving emotions behind a poet’s body of work, discuss joy as a tool of dissent in history & art, brainstorm ways to cultivate joy as a consistent habit in daily life & in a poetic practise, & touch on the emotional nuance of allowing room for joy & suffering to coexist.
