Guillaume Apollinaire Experiments in poetry Linda C.H. Lai.

Guillaume ApollinaireGuillaume ApollinaireExperiments in poetryExperiments in poetry

Linda C.H. LaiLinda C.H. Lai

Guillaume Apollinaire (1880-1918)Guillaume Apollinaire (1880-1918)

Poet who took part in avant-garde movements in French litPoet who took part in avant-garde movements in French literature in the beginning of 20erature in the beginning of 20thth century. century.

11stst work (15 years of poetry): work (15 years of poetry):

ALCOOLS (1913)ALCOOLS (1913)

http://www.wiu.edu/apollinaire/http://www.wiu.edu/apollinaire/ (in French) (in French)

http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/737http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/737 (in English) (in English)

http://www.slideshare.net/Pawlowski/le-pont-mirabeau-recorded-by-apollinaire-ihttp://www.slideshare.net/Pawlowski/le-pont-mirabeau-recorded-by-apollinaire-in-1913-presentationn-1913-presentation

(to listen to Apollinaire’s reading in 1913) (to listen to Apollinaire’s reading in 1913)

Guillaume Apollinaire (1880-1918)Guillaume Apollinaire (1880-1918)

““Poetry as usually read today, silently and from a Poetry as usually read today, silently and from a monotonously printed text, fails to exploit its monotonously printed text, fails to exploit its two two principal sensuous aspectsprincipal sensuous aspects””

**shapeshape

*sound*sound

Guillaume ApollinaireGuillaume Apollinaire

Poetry as a Poetry as a visual visual experience:experience:

*figure & ground: the perception of dark figures arr*figure & ground: the perception of dark figures arranged on a light surface (or vice versa)anged on a light surface (or vice versa)

-- type size, paragraphing, run-down pattern, gener-- type size, paragraphing, run-down pattern, generic forms etc.ic forms etc.

organization thought via visual arrangement organization thought via visual arrangement ((spatializationspatialization of text) of text)

Guillaume Apollinaire: poetryGuillaume Apollinaire: poetry

Efforts to make a poem a distinct visual object…Efforts to make a poem a distinct visual object…

Some methods:Some methods:

Principle of the ideogramPrinciple of the ideogram[a written sign that represents [a written sign that represents an idea or thingan idea or thing rather tha rather than the sound of a word]n the sound of a word]

Calligrammes (visual + verbal composition)Calligrammes (visual + verbal composition)


What are “Calligrammes”?What are “Calligrammes”?

Plastic arrangement of words on writing surfacesPlastic arrangement of words on writing surfaces

““visual lyricism”visual lyricism”

Visual poetry / spatial poetryVisual poetry / spatial poetry


What are “Calligrammes”?What are “Calligrammes”?Visual poetry / spatial poetryVisual poetry / spatial poetry

Derived from TWO techniques –Derived from TWO techniques –

FragmentationFragmentation

Recombination Recombination (of fragments)(of fragments)

(in his conversation poems)(in his conversation poems)


What are “Calligrammes”?What are “Calligrammes”?Fragmentation / RecombinationFragmentation / Recombination

Simultaneous nature of consciousnessSimultaneous nature of consciousness

(abandoning)(abandoning)

Discursive expressionDiscursive expression

Linear layout of poemLinear layout of poem


What are “Calligrammes”?What are “Calligrammes”?Fragmentation / RecombinationFragmentation / Recombination

Typographical revolution –Typographical revolution –

““It is necessary that our intelligence become aIt is necessary that our intelligence become accustomed to understanding ccustomed to understanding synthetico-ideogrsynthetico-ideographicallyaphically instead of instead of analytico-discursivelyanalytico-discursively.” (G..” (G. Arbouin) Arbouin)


3 different fashions in the plastic arrangement of words (Calligramm3 different fashions in the plastic arrangement of words (Calligrammes):es):

(1) to represent the objects being described(1) to represent the objects being described

(2) to represent a total conception of the order of th(2) to represent a total conception of the order of the world or of the universee world or of the universe

(3) to express a movement of thought within the po(3) to express a movement of thought within the poem em (writing for the eye)(writing for the eye)


To represent theTo represent theobjects being describedobjects being described

e.g. e.g. PaysagePaysage (Landscape (Landscape),), La Cravate et la Montre La Cravate et la Montre (The (The

Tie and the Watch), Tie and the Watch), Il Pleut Il Pleut (It’s Raining)(It’s Raining)


To represent a total To represent a total conception of the orconception of the order of the world or oder of the world or of the universef the universe

e.g. e.g. Lettre-OcLettre-Océéan an (Ocean L(Ocean Letter)etter)


To express a movement To express a movement of thought within the pof thought within the poem oem (writing for the (writing for the eye):eye):

e.g. e.g. VisViséée e (Aim)(Aim)

Guillaume ApollinaireGuillaume Apollinaire

Poetry as an aural experience:Poetry as an aural experience:

Sound of the words in combinationSound of the words in combination

http://www.slideshare.net/Pawlowski/le-pont-mirabeau-recorded-by-aphttp://www.slideshare.net/Pawlowski/le-pont-mirabeau-recorded-by-apollinaire-in-1913-presentationollinaire-in-1913-presentation

(to listen to Apollinaire’s reading in 1913) (to listen to Apollinaire’s reading in 1913)

Apollinaire:Apollinaire: Poetry as an aurPoetry as an aural al experienceexperience

::Sound of the words in combination: 2 methodsSound of the words in combination: 2 methods

(1) To write while humming a tune to whose rhyth(1) To write while humming a tune to whose rhythm he could fit wordsm he could fit words

[to upkeep meter-consciousness][to upkeep meter-consciousness]

(2) “Poemes conversations”(2) “Poemes conversations”[combining at random the odd sentences and phrases that occurred to [combining at random the odd sentences and phrases that occurred to

him or that he overheard]him or that he overheard]

Poetry as an aurPoetry as an aural al experienceexperience

Sound of the words in combinationSound of the words in combination

Pure sound: Pure sound:

Exploration of vowel qualities, Exploration of vowel qualities, alliteration, rhymes etc.alliteration, rhymes etc.

e.g. e.g. “Voyage “Voyage àà Paris” (Voyage to Paris) Paris” (Voyage to Paris)

Guillaume Apollinaire’s Guillaume Apollinaire’s CalligrammesCalligrammes

Espen J. Arseth cites Apollinaire’s non-linear texts Espen J. Arseth cites Apollinaire’s non-linear texts in “calligrammes” as examples in “calligrammes” as examples

of of

ergodic literatureergodic literature

which also characterizes which also characterizes

the the cybertextual cybertextual processprocess

See his book, See his book, Cybertext: Perspectives on Ergodic Literature (1997)Cybertext: Perspectives on Ergodic Literature (1997)

A more generic term: Concrete poetryA more generic term: Concrete poetry

Other names: Other names: pattern poetry, shape poetrypattern poetry, shape poetry

Typographical arrangement of words is as Typographical arrangement of words is as important as the conventional elements important as the conventional elements (meaning of words, rhythm, rhyme…)(meaning of words, rhythm, rhyme…)

The words themselves form a picture. [imagery]The words themselves form a picture. [imagery]

Concrete poetryConcrete poetry

Term coined by Augusto de CamposTerm coined by Augusto de Campos

Useful reference:Useful reference:

The Sackner Archive of Visual and Concrete Poetry:The Sackner Archive of Visual and Concrete Poetry:

http://www.rediscov.com/sacknerarchives/http://www.rediscov.com/sacknerarchives/

Indexes to webpages and print resources:Indexes to webpages and print resources:http://www.gardendigest.com/concrete/index.htmlhttp://www.gardendigest.com/concrete/index.html

On “pattern poetry”:On “pattern poetry”:Dick Higgins, Dick Higgins, Pattern Poetry: Guide to an Unknown Literature. State Pattern Poetry: Guide to an Unknown Literature. State

University of New York, 1987.University of New York, 1987.

Concrete poetryConcrete poetry

Interactive puzzle poetry:Interactive puzzle poetry:

Jennifer Kathleen Phillips –Jennifer Kathleen Phillips –

http://www.geocities.com/visualpoetry_au/vpoem.htmlhttp://www.geocities.com/visualpoetry_au/vpoem.html

Guillaume Apollinaire Experiments in poetry Linda C.H. Lai.

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