Hey all! So I just completed a draft of an ekphrastic sequence based on Eric Fischl's "The Bed, the Chair" series of paintings. I sent the poem to a friend, a trusted, smart, critical reader. He mentioned that I was focusing too much on the theme, the subject of the paintings rather than the methodology, the brush stroke, the framing, etc of the art itself. This got me thinking that what I'd really like to do in this mode is straddle the line between the two extremes. I want to be invested in the theme/subject AND the brush stroke/creation of the art. This leads me to my question.
What are some great (contemporary or late modern... I know the classics, I think) ekphrastic poems that I might look at as examples and models?
Help me out here, folks!
Friday, January 30, 2009
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9 comments:
Hi, Gary--
You probably already know Auden's "Musee des Beaux Arts," but, anyway, I dig it:
http://www.ling.upenn.edu/~creswell/auden.html
Take care,
Clay
Yeah, Clay... I love Auden's "Musee des Beaux Arts." Hell, I named my son Auden! Haha. Thanks for the note though, man. I really appreciate you stopping by! See you at AWP?
What about Charles Wright's "Homage to Paul Cezanne", the first poem in _The Southern Cross_, and a poem that straddles theme and texture beautifully.
I wish I was heading to Chi-town, but I'll be staying home this year. Somebody has to, I guess. Have a good one, though, and take care,
Clay
I disagree with the person who told you not to focus on the theme/subject. You're not writing art criticism; you're writing a poem. Your poem. Any aspect of the painting is fair game if it catalyzes your poem.
Besides, Fischl is the kind of painter whose work invites, if not demands, contemplation of theme/subject.
That being said, if you want to include the "methodology" in your poem, that could certainly be very interesting. I find that it's helpful when writing ekphrastic poems to imagine myself actually painting that painting, imagining what emotion would lead to handling line, color, brushstrokes, etc., in that way.
But I'm one of those Romantic types who still believe form and content form an organic whole.
Anyway. Your sequence sounds promising. I'd like to see it when you take it out of the oven.
A few (out of so so many) poems that come to mind:
Jorie Graham's "Self-Portraitas a Gesture Between Them [Adam and Eve]”
John Ashbery, "Self-Portrait in a Convex Mirror," the whole of "Girls on the Run," and so many others
Frank O'Hara's Why I Am Not A Painter
Mark Young has a whole book online about Magrittes: http://www.moriapoetry.com/seriesmapd.pdf
Ever read Robyn Schiff? Not necessarily in response to painted objects, but you'll expand your horizon in regards to possible approaches you'll consider taking.
Richard Howard has too many to list, many of them very good.
Stuart -
This is fantastic! Thank you for the list. I have read the Ashbery, but never Schiff or Young. I will be checking them out. Thank you again.
Gary
Glad to help!
I also meant to mention some poems from Brenda Shaughnessy's first book (most notably the title poem, Interior With Sudden Joy), though you are probably familiar with it I figured I'd squeeze it in now.
Stuart -
Ah, you strike again! Brilliant. I loved Brenda Shaughnessy's first book, though it's been years since I visited it... now I will revisit it again.
Thanks!
Gary
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