Monday, March 21, 2011

Margaret Christakos' Influency 10: A Toronto Poetry Salon; rob mclennan + others,


Influency 10: A Toronto Poetry Salon
April 6- June 8 2011 (no class June 1)

Wednesday evenings, 7-9:30 pm (we begin promptly at 7:05 and make every effort to end by 9:30; some classes may extend to 10pm).
Rm 108, St George Campus Health Sciences Building, University of Toronto [campus map here]
One block west of University, south side of College St. Queen's Park subway station at College and University.

With featured guest poets Kaie Kellough, Larissa Lai, Camille Martin, rob mclennan, Erin Moure, Mark Truscott, Daniel Scott Tysdal and Rachel Zolf
Facilitated by Margaret Christakos


Course number 1777 - 010
Register at www.learn.utoronto.ca
University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies Creative Writing program.
No prerequisite.
For readers and writers alike. A powerful way to reconnect with poetry, to build bridges into the contemporary poetry scene, and to deepen critical engagement with poetry. Many writers and literature buffs attend this course; the class is equally welcoming to people with a beginner's level of experience with reading poetry. Adults from 18-1000 years welcome. Approximately half the registrants in any given session have taken previous sessions of the class; and each session we welcome newcomers. The course may count towards a certificate in creative writing, or be taken for pleasure. Registrants compose readerly critical responses to books weekly, and write a final "Intertext" reflecting on two or more of the books studied, for presentation. Registrants also take turns in small groups introducing guests and bringing along snacks and non-alcoholic beverages to produce a congenial social environment for each evening.
Course $249 plus $130 book fee (8 poetry books). Fee is paid at first class by personal cheque or cash.

Mark Truscott, Nature (Book Thug, 2010)  April 27 and May 4
Daniel Scott Tysdal, The Mourner's book of Albums (Tightrope Books, 2010) April 20 and May 4
Kaie Kellough, Maple Leaf Rag (Arbeiter Ring Publishing) May 11 and May 18
rob mclennan, Wild Horses (University of Alberta Press, 2010) April 13 and May 18
Rachel Zolf, Neighbour Procedure (Coach House, 2010) May 25
Larissa Lai, Automaton Biographies (Arsenal Pulp, 2009) April 20 and April 27
Camille Martin, Sonnets (Shearsman, 2010) April 13 and May 11
Erin Moure, Pillage Laud (BookThug, new issue 2011) May 25

Influency: A Toronto Poetry Salon has run twice annually from Fall 2006. In each session, 8 accomplished poets working in distinctive styles will appear as both guest readers and peer critics in this unique lecture-reading series hosted by Margaret Christakos. Each poet's critique of a colleague's work will be followed with a reading by the poet under discussion. A group discussion led by Christakos will follow. Students will accumulate critical vocabulary to discuss more fluently the divergences of approach, motive, process and product typical of Toronto's multitraditional literary culture. The 8-book package under discussion will be available in class for $130. Register a week prior to course beginning if possible to facilitate smooth running of a complex course! Note this spring's session is 9 in-class meetings, with an extended evening on May 25 at an off-campus location.

The course has also spawned a fledgling online magazine called www.influencysalon.ca; please visit to see some of the essays and responses presented at some of our earlier classes.

This spring's course will run as follows:

April 6 opening evening (For MC and registrants)

April 13 rob mclennan speaking on Camille Martin's Sonnets

April 20 Daniel Scott Tysdal speaking on Larissa Lai's Automaton Biographies

April 27 Larissa Lai speaking on Mark Truscott's Nature

May 4 Mark Truscott on Daniel Scott Tysdal's The Mourner's Book of Albums

May 11 Camille Martin speaking on Kaie Kellough's Maple Leaf Rag

May 18 Kaie Kellough speaking on rob mclennan's Wild Horses

May 25
A combined evening at a venue not on U of T campus, also open to public (for a door fee).
Rachel Zolf on Erin Moure's Pillage Laud AND Erin Moure on Rachel Zolf's Neighbour Procedure

No class June 1

June 8 Final potluck and Student Intertexts on Influency 9 authors and books (important! please attend!)

* * *

For more info, mchristakos@hotmail.com 

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