Visions and Visionary Poetics with Julian Talamantez Brolaski

This class will explore the practice of visionary writing. ‘Vision’ is easily subject to metaphorization— ‘I see’ for ‘I understand,’ ‘vision’ for aspiration or future goal—but here the class will explore the concept quite literally. Participants will read the works of prophet-seers: Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, William Blake, Black Elk, Hannah Weiner, and others, writers who have had dream visions, spiritual visions, drug-induced or psychotic visions. Participants will explore ways of seeing beyond ordinary reality and cultivate techniques to render these variant aspects of consciousness into their poetry.

Julian Talamantez Brolaski is the author of Of Mongrelitude (forthcoming, Wave Books April 2017), Advice for Lovers (City Lights, 2012), gowanus atropolis (Ugly Duckling Presse, 2011), and co-editor of NO GENDER: Reflections on the Life & Work of kari edwards (Litmus Press / Belladonna Books, 2009). Julian is the lead singer and rhythm guitarist in the country band The Western Skyline (www.thewesternskyline.org). Currently in Queens, NY, Julian also sometimes lives in California.

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