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HEADLINE POETRY - University of Illinois at Chicago - UIC Flipbook PDF
Headline Poetry. UIC Spiral Art Education, University of Illinois at Chicago. 2001 3 PERFORM THE POEM Each student reads
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Headline Poetry. UIC Spiral Art Education, University of Illinois at Chicago. 2001
HEADLINE POETRY The Headline Poetry project was developed by Olivia Gude, Jason Bozonelos, and Lacy Foy in the Express Yourself! group of the 2001 Spiral Workshop at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Throughout the 20
th
century and into the 21st century, artists have eschewed traditional boundaries between media. They’ve
invented a myriad of new, hybrid forms that combine word and image, sound and word, concept and performance—yet most contemporary visual arts classes in elementary and secondary schools are still planned according to traditional art academy subject matter—drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, crafts, and photography. Unfortunately, when teachers encourage students to use words in their artmaking, the results are often uninteresting and predictable—a literal match between images and words. The Headline Poetry project introduces students to the use of words in their artmaking in a way that encourages spontaneity and exploration. Because students don’t actually type or write words—instead, they gather and select words from newspaper and magazine headlines—they compose effortlessly without complaints about having to write in art class. Headline Poetry is a good way to get students thinking about using words in artistic and unexpected ways. An interesting aspect of this project is that it asks students to create a personal stream of consciousness poem out of randomly found words of everyday culture.
INTRODUCTION TO RECYCLED WORDS & IMAGES
whether students consider this a valid way to make art. Have
Introduce students to the work of Dada artists and poets. Discuss
culture—music, TV shows, or rock videos that make use of
why artists in the beginning of the 20th century began
appropriated, re-contextualized images and words.
students suggest and collect examples of popular
appropriating words and images from printed sources. Ask
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Headline Poetry. UIC Spiral Art Education, University of Illinois at Chicago. 2001
For an introduction to pure chance poetry, try Tristan Tzara’s
structure of each word rectangle. Words on white paper may
recipe for writing Dada poetry. (See the Context Chapter.)
look lost unless the space on the paper around each word is
However, this utterly random method may irritate students too
closely cropped and the words are then closely spaced.
much and thus may be unwise as an introductory activity.
Pre-cut the paper for the class. When cutting the paper, consider the relationship of the scale of the paper to the scale of the
GATHER WORDS
words. In the first version of this project, we used 9-inch-square
Divide students into groups—three or four students at each table
paper. This allowed space for enough words to make an
or grouping of desks.
interesting poem, but the regularity of the square did not seem to encourage experimentation with the layout and composition. In
Ask students to randomly cut out words from the headlines. Tell
a later version, we used long, narrow sheets and this tended to
them not to be consciously selective. Allow their minds and
produce more visually dynamic pieces.
hands to freely wander. Have students stand on the same side of the table so that as they select words and lay them down on the
MAKE POETRY
table they will all be facing the same direction.
Students begin writing poems by selecting words and laying them out on their papers. Do not stop now to glue the words
Begin by asking each student to gather 20 or 30 words. This will
down. This inhibits the unconscious flow of meaningmaking and
take only 5 or 6 minutes. After students cut out the requisite
prevents spontaneous re-arranging of the words as the
number of words, survey the words and then ask them to cut
composition of the poem continues.
another 20 or 30 words. You may want to repeat this procedure several times. You could, of course, ask the students to cut out
CRITERIA FOR SUCCESS
50 to 75 words at once, but if you do this many students will
Explain to students that there can be no failures in this project.
complain this is too difficult. It’s actually not that time-
All that the project requires is surrender to the process. If the
consuming or difficult—most students start to enjoy the process
student artists “go with the flow,” the projects will be an
and cut more words than required.
automatic success because the intent of the project is to introduce students to historical (and still valid) methods for
It’s a good idea to suggest that students use different sections of
tapping the creative imagination.
the newspaper in order to get a range of vocabulary. Also, suggest that each student spend one “cutting session” cutting
Explain to students that when they are in the initial stages of a
words from the headlines of magazines. It can be interesting to
poem or artwork, they can use Dada and Surrealistic techniques
discuss how the vocabulary drawn from various newspaper
to mine the wealth of the unconscious, rather than sitting and
sections or magazines creates a different vocabulary to describe
fretting about not having any ideas today. When artists don’t
experience.
have a clear direction in mind, they engage in creative play.
CHOOSE PAPER
GLUE DOWN THE POEM
Each student selects a piece of colored construction paper. Deep
After the poem is complete, suggest that students may wish to
colors will have a tendency to emphasize the rectangular
fine-tune the arrangement of the words as they glue them down.
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Headline Poetry. UIC Spiral Art Education, University of Illinois at Chicago. 2001
PERFORM THE POEM
role in the artroom is to share his or her art and ideas as well as
Each student reads his or her poem to the class. It’s a good idea
to respond to the work of other students.
to have students “stand and deliver” with style and conviction. Tell students about Dada cabarets and their provocative
PUBLISH POETRY?
performances. Connect this to contemporary “poetry slams.”
* Consider submitting some of the poems to the school’s
Encourage students to read in strange or experimental styles.
literary magazine or newspaper.
Many teens will draw on knowledge of rap and hip-hop styling. * Consider creating a Dada performance for a school assembly If this project is taught early in the year, it can set a climate for
or talent show.
un-self-conscious experimentation. Students learn strategies for engaging in idea-generating activities. The project teaches
* Consider creating small poetry posters and posting them in
students to immerse themselves in a process—to step back,
unexpected places around the school and community.
consider, fine tune, and only then judge their results. * Consider reproducing the poems as transparencies using a Organizing a classroom poetry slam helps students understand
Xerox machine or scanner and printer. Using an overhead
that they are members of a creative community. Each student’s
project, create a changing poetry installation on the school hallways or cafeteria walls.
MATERIALS
for Headline Poetry Newspapers and magazines Glue or glue sticks Scissors Construction paper—deep or vivid colors usually work best
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