Spring 2024 First-Year Seminar BC1762 section 001

Poetry, Identity, Word Sorcery

POETRY, IDENTITY, WORD SO

Call Number 00177
Day & Time
Location
MW 2:40pm-3:55pm
405 Barnard Hall
Points 3
Grading Mode Pass/Fail
Approvals Required None
Instructor Quincy Jones
Type SEMINAR
Course Description

Poetry is a very complicated series of words found in perpetually dust-covered books written by white men who died a half of century before you were born. Or is it? Poetry is archaic. Poetry is academic. Poetry is hard. Or in the words of Ntosake Shange, it’s “razzamatazz hocus pocus zippity-do-dah.” The magic of poetry is not in its mystery, but in its ability to connect with people, and to connect people with people, even across space and time. In this class we will explore how poetry speaks to identity, speaks to history, and speaks intersections of race, gender, sexuality, tragedy, triumph, and trauma. We will read poetry – mostly contemporary poets, mostly female-identified poets, mostly poets of color, and mostly poets from the margins – read theories on poetry, and maybe try our hand at a little poetry writing. Readings will include such authors as Tina Chang, Yolanda Wisher, Jillian Weise, Vanessa Angélica Villarreal, Tracie Morris, Audre Lorde, Laylia Long Soldier, and the word sorceress herself Sonia Sanchez.

Web Site Vergil
Department First-Year Seminar Program @Barnard
Enrollment 16 students (16 max) as of 10:05AM Thursday, December 5, 2024
Subject First-Year Seminar
Number BC1762
Section 001
Division Barnard College
Note Barnard 1st Year Students Only
Section key 20241FYSB1762X001