For my first reading from the Poetry Resource list, I chose to read "A Quick Buzz." I cannot tell you how glad I am that I read this one first. To be perfectly honest, I didn't even know what epoetry was or that it even existed. This site was perfect for anyone who needs an "Epoetry for Dummies" approach to this genre. For this reason, I could use this site to send my high school students on an online scavenger hunt. I think that this type of poetry would really gain their interest. Today's younger students are such visual and hands on learners that epoetry might be the key to regaining a younger audience's interest in poetry. I am so sure that these kids could come up with great visuals and sound effects. (They know how to text message without ever looking at the keys on the phone! The phone is hidden away in their pocket!) Poetry can leave the dull textbook page and enter a multidimensional world, through technology, that is constantly changing, which is right up any high schooler's alley.
As I became more acquainted to the concept of epoetry, I began to think, "Is this considered poetry or art?" Well, in some cases, I could definitely tell that the work was poetry as in Robert Kendall's poem, "A Study in Shades," use of epoetry technique truly enhances his poem's meaning. As a man's Alzheimer's progresses, the picture of his daughter fades away. As the daughter sees her father's digression, his picture darkens revealing that he has become the shadow of the man he once was. On the other hand, I found "Nio" extremely cool and fun, but I am not sure if this is poetry, art, or something that could be used to teach a class of hopeful musicians. The work had several items that could be clicked on to add or take away from the music created. Some works seemed more like art or something a computer programmer would come up with. As I read further, I saw that it is still a current question among scholars on how to label the variety of epoetry there is. As a people, we are rapidly advancing, and we can't even keep up with how to categorize ourselves-something that has always seemed to be so important.
3 comments:
I don't think I have ever heard anyone say texting could be turned to poetry. But you are correct. Students are texting and thinking of ways to say more with less all the time. I don't have a problem with e-poetry that uses sounds and pictures to enhance. But I can't get used to poetry that uses no words. Maybe this just makes me old school.
I also looked at the website and found myself thinking many of the same things regarding the possibilities it could hold for the classroom. Keeping a student's attention is one of the most important aspects of teaching. If you don't have their attention, they are not learning. I plan on using E-Poetry next year in class, and developing some assignments for students to create their own. I am sure after awhile they will teach me a great deal about this new genre.
Thanks for the site for teachers.
The article on e-poetry is quite informative and helpful.
Poetry is art so if there are no words it's still poetry and art.
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