Short Abstract

In this workshop, we will experiment with adapting a prose text into poetic form. Writers have long been making adaptations. Going from poetry to prose is also common. We also do this in academia, as a social media post becomes a blog, an article or a book. We will turn (academic) prose into poetry.

Description

Writers have long been busy making adaptations, going from poetry to prose. The Iliad and The Odyssey (epic poems from ancient Greece, attributed to Homer) have resulted in numerous novels, stories, films, songs, and other poetic forms. Sometimes adapted versions are from the point of view of a different character, such as Margaret Atwood’s retelling of The Odyssey from Penelope’s perspective. Atwood’s adaptation was itself adapted as a stage play. Sometimes adaptations happen in a different time or place. West Side Story (Bernstein/Sondheim, 1957) moves Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare, 1597) from 14th century Verona to mid-20th century NYC.

We also do this in academia, e.g. a social media post becomes a blog, an article or a book. This can go in the other direction, when monographs get summarized in a series of social media postings.

In this workshop, we will focus on turning (academic) prose into some form of poetry. It could be a short haiku or limerick, or a longer form sonnet or ode.

First we will discuss different poetic forms and the possibilities of adaptation poetry, then read a few examples before writing poetry ourselves. We will first try with prompts, then move on to your own projects.

Prior to the workshop, identify an STS text that you would like to adapt. It can be something you’ve written yourself, or one of the classics of the field. Imagine a poem from the point of view of Donna Haraway’s companion animals, Michel Callon’s scallops, Lucy Suchman’s photocopier or Wiebe Bijker’s bicycle, etc. We could also experiment with found poetry, by taking words, phrases and sentences from an academic text or newspaper article related to STS, and turning them into a poem by making changes in order, spacing, line breaks, punctuation or adding new text.

No previous experience of writing or reading poetry is required. Limited to 20 participants.