Start Date
12-12-2017 5:05 PM
Description
In my proposal, I am specifically looking at how different types of constraint applied to poetry can oftentimes activate unexpected creativity in the field of writing. Applying different methods of limitations to one’s writing may lead to quicker and more effective results. One way to promote this creativity within writing is by applying specific constraints through the field of Oulipo, a movement combining algorithmic methods and literature. I will be researching and then writing my own Oulipo to see if it is an effective mode for writing, specifically for amateur poets. I will then consider Oulipo in the context of free verse poetry. By creating my own portfolio of poems that directly compare Oulipo poetry to free verse poetry, I will uncover the effectiveness of relying on constraint in writing, rather than just inspiration. I hope this creative endeavor adds to the field of Oulipo and reveals an amateur poet’s experience of writing under poetic constraint, and shows, through comparison, the different outcome of poetry with constraint versus poetry without constraint.
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Creativity in the Constraints of Oulipo
In my proposal, I am specifically looking at how different types of constraint applied to poetry can oftentimes activate unexpected creativity in the field of writing. Applying different methods of limitations to one’s writing may lead to quicker and more effective results. One way to promote this creativity within writing is by applying specific constraints through the field of Oulipo, a movement combining algorithmic methods and literature. I will be researching and then writing my own Oulipo to see if it is an effective mode for writing, specifically for amateur poets. I will then consider Oulipo in the context of free verse poetry. By creating my own portfolio of poems that directly compare Oulipo poetry to free verse poetry, I will uncover the effectiveness of relying on constraint in writing, rather than just inspiration. I hope this creative endeavor adds to the field of Oulipo and reveals an amateur poet’s experience of writing under poetic constraint, and shows, through comparison, the different outcome of poetry with constraint versus poetry without constraint.
Comments
Mentor: Professor Sarah Maclay