Selected Topics in Modern Poetry:

The Effects of Modernism and Post-Modernism on Western Poetry

“Make It New.” Ezra Pound

The Effects of Modernism and Post -Modernism on Western Poetry :

Fourth Year Poetry CourseCourse Instructor: Prof. Lana YounesSpring Term 2018/2019Lectures' Days: Sunday/WednesdayLectures' Time: 3:00pm-05:00 pm

Course Description and Rationale:

“Modernism” signals a dialectical opposition to what is not functionally “modern.” namely “tradition” (Eysteinsson 8). This course displays thoroughly the effects of Modernism and Post-Modernism on Western poetry. It particularly explains how Modernism and Post-Modernism in Art were the cause that prompted the artist writers to adopt such a revolutionary manner of self expression. It raises the following questions: What is Modernism and Post-Modernism? How did the tragic Cultural, Social, and Economic aftermath of WWI and WWII result in this drastic shift of Alienation and Fragmentation in modern Art and Literature as reflected by T. S. Eliot’s masterpiece: The Waste Land ? How did Visual Art force writers in general and poets in particular to “Make It New ?” This course will identify through poetry the different artistic notions of the Era of Isms… such as Realism, Transcendentalism Naturalism, Impressionism, Symbolism, Cubism, Dadaism, Feminism, Modernism in Architecture, Photography & Steal, Optical Reality and Color Function, plus novel, sophisticated writing methodologies, such as the technique of Stream of Consciousness. This course examines the quest for identity and self-value where the Western culture was entirely traumatized after both World Wars and writers were left agonizing, sunken in total alienation and despair in a frustrating, futile, fragmented world.

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Pablo Picasso (Guernica) 1937

Week 1: Lecture: 1 Introduction to Early Modern Art in the Sun.Feb.10th Nineteenth Century(1800’s-1900’s):

This lecture explores the movement of Modernism in Art through an elaborate introduction of the mainstream late Nineteenth Century & Twentieth Century Western artists.1- Impressionism: Optical Reality and Color Functions through Goya, Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, known as Paganini, Theodore Gericault, Manet, Paul Cezanne, and De la Croix.2- The Beginnings of Photography/Documenting Early Science:Thomas Eakins, Johnson Hawes3- Modernism in Sculpture:Horatio Greenough, François Rude, Antoine-Louis Barye, Francois-Auguste-Rene Rodin4- Nineteenth Century Modernism in Architecture:John Nash, Charles Barry & A W N Pugin, Henri Labrouste, Joseph Paxton, Gustave Eiffel

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Lecture2: Early Twentieth Century Modernism in Art Wed.Feb.13th (1900’s-1940’s):

This lecture introduces the basic concepts of the early phase of Modernism in Art, such as Transcendentalism, Realism, Naturalism, Symbolism, Cubism, and Dadaism in paintings, in addition to an introduction of Photography of the Steal/Iron Sculptures and a variety of Modern buildings across Europe and the United States: 1- Modernism in Painting: artists include Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Georges Braque, Marcel Duchamp, Gino Severini, Georgia O’Keefe and Charles Demuth. 2- Modernism in Sculpture: the following artists used abstract style that emphasizes clean geometrical lines that balance inherent materials with the symbolic illusions of representational art. Such pioneers include Amedeo Modigliani, Constantine Brancusi, Henry Moore, and the Egyptian, international artist Salah Taher. 3-Modernism in Architecture: William van Alen, Walter Gropius, Lazlo Moholy-Nagy, Frank Wright4-Late Twentieth Century and Post-Modernism in Art (1940-1990): Paul Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, Nicolas de Stael, Robert Rauschenberg, Andy Warhol, Louise Josephine Bourgeois5-Twentieth Century Post-Modernism in Architecture: Frank Lloyd Wright

Delacroix (Liberty leading the people) 1930

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Week 2: Lecture: 3 Field trip to the Central Library of Cairo University,

Sun.Feb.17th

Which holds more than 35 Modern paintings of some of the most distinguished Egyptian and International Modern Artists. The Contemporary Egyptian artist Dr. Muhammad Ghaneam is going to hold a general lecture exhibiting the numerous works of art located at the mentioned above venue. At the same lecture, the artist Muhammad Ghaneam is going to share with us some of his own artwork.

Note: Students are required to attend the field trip to the Central Library of Cairo University as part of their year-work grade, and they will be asked to write a short paper documenting their reactions of the paintings they will experience on display.

Brancusi (Bird in Space) 1928 O'Keeffe (Jack-in-the-Pulpit IV) 1930

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Lecture: 4 Modernism backed up with Modern

Wed.Feb.20th Science and Technology has changed the Universe: The Effect of WWI and WWII on Western Culture

The lecture discusses the great European nations enriched by the industrial revolution, and how they pursued the aims of Empire. Imperial competition and national jealousies, made audacious by technologically perfected armaments, brought about the European civil war we know as WWI. Successful post-wars, revolutions, like the Fascist ones in Germany, Italy, and Spain brought about confrontations that occasioned the even more destructive WWII. Europe was devastated and by 1945 almost all the European Empires were liquidated. On the other hand, America’s defeat in Vietnam in 1960 brought to an end the old Imperial drama. The cold war between the United States and the Soviet Union kept on going but ended with the collapse of the Soviet Empire and its disintegration into independent states in 1989. This dilemma left mankind in alienation and the entire universe fragmented. This war trauma resulted in the masterpiece of T.S. Eliot’s The Waste Land.

Week 3: Lecture: 5 Late Nineteenth Century Modernism (1800’s-1900’s):Sun.Mar.3rd

Transcendentalism in Walt Whitman’s Song of MyselfWalt Whitman is coined by most modern critics of the field to be the father of Modernism in American Poetry.This lecture will examine the application of theory to the poem through his school of Transcendentalism in Walt Whitman’s Song of Myself from Leaves of Grass.

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Henry Moore - Reclining Figure 1939

Lecture: 6 Early Twentieth Century Modernism:Wed.Mar.6th

Modernism in different Art schools:This lecture discusses experiments of different Art schools such as: Alienation, Fragmentation, Abstract, Surrealism, Dadaism, Cubism, and the Modern literary theory of Stream of Consciousness in poetry. The above mentioned theories will be applied to the works of James Joyce’s Dada poem from his seminal work, A Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man and Gertrude Stein’s Cubist poem, Tender Buttons and Dada poem, The Making of Americans.

Dadaism: in Joyce’s poem from A Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man

Cubism and Dadaism: in Gertrude Stein’s Tender Buttons and The Making of Americans.

Week 4: Lecture 7: Early Twentieth Century Modernism:Sun.Mar.10th

Imagism, Alienation and Literary Experimentation in Ezra Pound’s poetry:

Pound is generally regarded as the chief spokesperson for experimentation in Modern poetry. “Make It New” was quoted often by many Modernists who agreed with his premises and aims in this lecture we will explore the Schools of Imagism, Alienation and Literary Experimentation, established by Ezra Pound. A Pact, In A Station of the Metro, L’arte are clear examples of the above mentioned theories.

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Braque - The Portuguese 1911 Duchamp-Nude Descending a Staircase 1912

Lecture 8: Twentieth Century Modernism:

Wed.Mar.13th

Symbolism, Alienation, Fragmentation and Mythology in T.S.Eliot’s poetry:

Eliot is, “Arguably the most important English language poet of the Twentieth Century.” In this lecture we will tackle part one of The Waste Land: The Burial of The Dead by T.S.Eliot. We will identify the notion of Alienation and Fragmentation in the poem as well as his usage of Mythology.

Week 5: Lecture 9: Twentieth Century Modernism:Sun.Mar.17th

In this lecture, T.S.Eliot’s usage of Stream of Consciousness, Abstract notions, Mythology, and the effects of Richard Wagner’s music masterpiece Tristan and Isolde(1857-1859).

Note: Handing in students’ 1st Assignments

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Lecture 10: Twentieth Century Modernism: Wed.Mar.20th New Explorations of the ’’American’’ Self in

T.S.Eliot’s poetry:

This lecture will discuss T.S. Eliot’s The Love Song of J. Alfred Proofrock .This poem is known to be one of his most famous works and is seen as a masterpiece of the Modernist movement. In addition to this, it is considered by many critics to be very musical.

Week 6: Lecture 11: Twentieth Century Modernism:Sun.Mar.24th Imagism, Feminism, Nationalism, and

Impressionism in William Carlos Williams’ poetry:

“I burst out laughing from the relief it brought me! I felt as if an enormous weight had been lifted from my spirit for which I was infinitely grateful”. W.C.WThis lecture focuses on To Elsie by William Carlos Williams from his book, Spring and All. This poem proves lusty enthusiasm, ingenuity, racial, familial, social, and geographical harsh circumstances experienced by women during the Modern era.Note: Williams bursted into laughter saying his famous quote after he has exhibited Duchamp’s Cubist Nude Descending a Staircase at the Armory Show.

Lecture: 12 Twentieth Century Modernism:Wed.Mar.27th Nationalism, Cubism, Dadaism in William

Carlos Williams’ poetry:

Nationalism: The Red Wheelbarrow by William Carlos Williams: Cubism: The Flower by William Carlos WilliamsDadaism: The Descent by William Carlos Williams

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Pablo Picasso (Three Musicians) 1921

Week 7: Lecture 13: Twentieth Century Modernism:Sun. Mar.31st Alienation and Fragmentation: in Amy Lowell’s

Poetry:

This lecture discusses Alienation and Fragmentation in Amy Lowell’s A Lady, Patterns, and Grotesque

Lecture 14: Twentieth Century Modernism:Wed.Apr.3rd Alienation and Literary Experimentation in

E.E. Cummings’ Poetry:

Picasso, My Sweet Old Etcetera, and Anyone Lived in a Pretty How Town

Week 8: Lecture 15: Midterm ExamSun.Apr.7th

Lecture 16: Twentieth Century Modernism:Wed.Apr.10th Alienation and Literary Experimentation in

Marianne Moore’s Poetry:

An Egyptian Pulled Glass Bottle in the Shape of a Fish and Nevertheless, and The Mind Is an Enchanting Thing

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Week 9: Lecture 17: Twentieth Century Modernism:Sun.Apr.14th Cubism and Impressionism in Wallace Stevens’

Poetry:

Wallace Stevens: Sunday Morning, The Snow Man, and Of Modern Poetry

Note: Students’ handing in 2nd Assignments

Lecture 18: Twentieth Century Modernism:Wed.Apr.17th The New Negro Renaissance movement in

modern poetry:

Jean Toomer’s Song of The Son, Blood Burning Moon, Box SeatAlain Locke’s The New Negro

Week 10: Lecture 19: Twentieth Century Modernism:Sun.Apr.21st Jazz and Blues in Modern Poetry:

This lecture introduces the black Modern music and its impact on Modern Poetry.Langston Hughes: The Weary Blues, The Negro Speaks of Rivers, Thank you Ma’am and Harlem

Note: Students’ presentations starts with the class

Lecture 20 Late Twentieth Century Post-Modernism:Wed.Apr.24th Post-Modern Visual Poetry in Sylvia Plath’s

and Bob Perelman’s poetry:

Issues and Visions in Modern Poetry: Sylvia Plath’s Daddy, For a Fatherless Son and Lady LazarusBob Perelman: The Net from his book and Virtual Reality

Note: Students’ presentations continue.

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Week 11: Lecture 21: Late Twentieth Century Post- Modernism: Sun.Apr.28th Allen Ginsberg’s ’’America’’

This lecture discusses one of America’s most well recognized poet on both popular as well as academic level: Allen Ginsberg was the prodigy of Ezra Pound and William Carlos Williams. We will tackle mainly one of America’s favorite Post-Modern poems, America from his book, Howl.

Note: Students’ presentations continue.

Salah Taher - Al-Marfaa 2007

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Lecture 22: Late Twentieth Century Post-Modernism:Wed.may.1st Post-Modern Performance Poetry in Bob

Perelman's poetry:

This lecture discusses Bob Perelman’s Virtual Reality, the Marginalization of Poetry from his book, Virtual Reality

At the end of the course we salute Egypt through the eyes of an American, Armenian, Egyptian contemporary poet and one of America’s favorites: Gregory Djanikian through his nostalgic work: Alexandria, Agami Beach, The Pyramids at Giza and Sailing to America

Note: Students’ presentations continue.Lecture 23: Presentations/Wrap up of the courseMay 5th

Lecture 24: Presentations/Wrap up of the courseMay 8th

Goya - Saturn devouring his children 1819

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END OF COURSE

References1.  Banister Fletcher excluded nearly all Baroque buildings from his mammoth tome A History of

Architecture on the Comparative Method. The publishers eventually rectified this.2. b Art of Europe". Saint Louis Art Museum. Slam. Retrieved 4 December 2012.3.  Hahn, Joachim, "Prehistoric Europe, §II: Palaeolithic 3. Portable art" in Oxford Art Online,

accessed August 24, 2012; Sandars, 37-404.  "Roman Painting". Art-and-archaeology.com. Retrieved 2013-08-25.5.  "Roman Painting". Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Retrieved 19 October 2013.6.  http://leonardodavinci.stanford.edu/submissions/clabaugh/history/leonardo.html7. ^ Jump up to:a b "Baroque Art". Arthistory-famousartists-paintings.com. 2013-07-24.

Retrieved2013-08-25.8.  "Ancien Regime Rococo". Bc.edu. Retrieved 2013-08-25.9.  http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/chinoiserie.aspx#3-1E1:chinoise-full10.  "Art in Neoclassicism". Artsz.org. 2008-02-26. Retrieved 2013-08-25.11. ^ Jump up to:a b James J. Sheehan, "Art and Its Publics, c. 1800," United and Diversity in European

Culture c. 1800, ed. Tim Blanning and Hagen Schulze (New York: Oxford University Press, 2006), 5-18.

12. ^ Jump up to:a b c d e f "General Introduction to Postmodernism". Cla.purdue.edu. Retrieved2013-08-25.

13.  Ideas About Art, Desmond, Kathleen K. [1] John Wiley & Sons, 2011, p.14814.  International postmodernism: theory and literary practice, Bertens, Hans [2], Routledge, 1997,

p.23615.  M. Rowell, Joan Mirό: Selected Writings and Interviews (London: Thames & Hudson, 1987) pp.

114–116.

16. The Norton Anthology of English Literature 6th Edition Volume two

17. The Heath Anthology of American Literature 3rd Edition, Volume Two

18. The Oxford Companion to Twentieth Century Poetry, edited by Ian Hamilton

19. T. S. Eliot The Waste Land: A Fascimile and Transcript of the original Drafts Including the Annotations of Ezra Pound

20. The concept of Modernism by Astradur Eysteinsson

*John Ruskin English writer and ArtistWritten by: Nicholas Shirmpton

*Susan Sontag on the Trouble with treating Art and Cultural materials as “Content”By Maria Popova Brainpickings.com

***All PowerPoint Slides of Art Paintings and Information on Art material

are compiled from: Gardner’s Art Through The Ages (tenth Edition)By Richard G. Tanesy and S. Kleiner, published by, Harcourt Brace College Publishers

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