Absurdist Poetry

INSTRUCTOR: Sarah Gajkowski-Hill
TIME: Sunday, April 7, 3:00–6:00 p.m. CDT
PRICE: Early bird price: $45 for members, $60 for nonmembers. The deadline for early bird pricing is Monday, April 1. After Monday, April 1: $55 for members, $70 for nonmembers. Become a member here. Apply for a scholarship here.
LOCATION: Online via Zoom
LEVEL: All levels
CAP: 15

O frabjous day! — it’s time to take a deeper look at surrealism and absurdism in literature! Absurdism explores the nonsensical and its relationship to the human condition. So buckle up for a fun ride as we read Bob Dylan’s stream-of-consciousness micro-letters from his book of poetry, Tarantula! Be inspired by e. e. cummings’ unique use of syntax, grammar, and diction! From Lewis Carroll’s 1871 “Jabberwocky” to modern day poems such as “At This Point My Confusion” by Michael Teig and “Spark Theory” by Dean Young (both written in 2022), the absurd can shine a light on the inner workings of our complicated and confused minds – and it’s just plain fun! In this course, you will learn the techniques of stream-of-consciousness writing and experiment with punctuation, grammar, and space as we playfully rediscover the sheer joy of language.