Documentary poems combine poetic techniques (imagination) with nontraditional elements (inquiry) such as journalism, government reports, interviews, political and/or religious tracts, advertising, court records, and other documentary sources. This course helps us understand the conscious appropriation and adaptation of these types of texts into our poems so that we can highlight inequities in our culture and give voice to the overlooked, minimized, or forgotten. In the first session we will explore definitions and examples of documentary poems. We’ll practice several options for composing a documentary poem so that in the second session, you can discuss and share your own documentary poem.
This class is suitable for all levels.
Marianne Worthington is an educator, poet, and editor who has written two collections of poetry, including The Girl Singer, winner of the Weatherford Award for Poetry. She lives, writes, and teaches in southeastern Kentucky.
CANCELLATION POLICY:
The Carnegie Center reserves the right to cancel a class if minimum enrollment is not met. It is best to register early to help our instructors prepare and to ensure the class does not get cancelled. We evaluate registration numbers 6–2 business days before a class starts to decide whether we can hold the class. Classes that do not meet minimum enrollment will be cancelled 6 –2 business days prior to the first class meeting. All participants will be notified by email and will receive full refunds.
