Exploring the Poetry of Shapcott: A Unique Fusion of Aesthetics and Science
Discover the intriguing world of poet Shapcott, where aesthetics and science converge to create refreshingly creative and provoking poetry. Learn about her experimental approach to structure, academic achievements, and notable poetry collections. Dive into the surreal and narrative forms she employs to explore various balances of power.
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Presentation Transcript
Shapcott is a highly acclaimed English poet She treats poetry as a zone where aesthetics and science meet Since she has always approached every poem of hers as a new structural experiment Her poems as refreshingly creative, objective artefacts, provoking a train of associations and a variety of emotional responses from the reader
Shapcott is both a successful poet and an accomplished academic She studied at Oxford, Harvard, and currently teaches creative writing at the University of London She is also the President of the Poetry Society Shapcott was appointed as CBE in 2002. She initially accepted the honour but decided to refuse during the period when the British government made preparations to invade Iraq She wrote to the Cabinet Office saying "I can't possibly accept this." She commented, "I was being diagnosed and treated for cancer, so great public statements weren't on the cards really. I was just too ill."
She uses a precise, colloquial Draws her subjects and imagery from unusual sources, including popular culture and the sciences She excels in narrative forms, often written from a displaced but controlled point of view and Shapcott employs surreal wit to explore the balances of sexual, political, or human versus animal power
Shapcotts best-known collections of poetry include Electroplating the Baby (1988), which won the Commonwealth Poetry Prize for Best First Collection, Phrase Book (1992), and My Life Asleep (1998) In 2010, Shapcott published Of Mutability, her first collection for 12 years The 45 poems explore the nature of change, in the body, within the natural world and inside relationships. The book of poems was awarded the Costa Book of the Year for 2010, beating contenders in Fiction, Non-Fiction and other categories Sinclair Mackay in the Daily Telegraph wrote: "Of Mutability, is so especially rich and resonant that it deserves the widest possible readership, even among those who never usually think of reading poems. And there is a dazzling variety of tone and colour and subject throughout - Shapcott's language dances lightly, and often with wit Fiona Samson in The Guardian summarised her work: "Shapcot remains a pioneer among contemporary British writers. We should be grateful for her."
Hairless Can the bald lie? The nature of the skin says not: it's newborn-pale, erection-tender stuff, every thought visible, pure knowledge, mind in action shining through the skull. I saw one, a woman, hairless absolute, cleaning. She mopped the green floor, dusted bookshelves, all cloth and concentration, Queen of the moon. You can tell, with the bald, that the air speaks to them differently, touches their heads with exquisite expression. As she danced her laundry dance with the motes, everything she ever knew skittered under her scalp. It was clear just from the texture of her head, she was about to raise her arms to the sky; I covered my ears as she prepared to sing, roar, to let the big win resonate in the little room.
Rattlesnake My rattlesnake has warm skin. He sleeps by my feet and rustles through my dreams, his diamond back glistening all night. Better than a fat alarm clock is his subtle rattle at seven, his cool glide towards breakfast, his little fangs clinking the tea cup.
Lovebirds So she moved into the hospital the last nine days to tend him with little strokes and murmurs as he sank into the sheets. Nurse set out a low bed for her, night-times, next to his. He nuzzled up to her as she brushed away the multiplying cells with a sigh, was glad as she ignored the many effluents and the tang of death. The second last morning of his life he opened his eyes, saying, I can t wake up but wouldn t close them for his nap until he was sure she was there. Later he moved quietly to deeper sleep, as Doctor said he would, still listening to her twittering on and on until the last.
Briefly characterize the tone, subjects and imagery of Shapcott s poems. Shapcott s poems sometimes take shape as witty conceits. Would this concept work for Hairless ? State your arguments. Study the corporeal aspects of Rattlesnake and describe their effects on the poem as a whole. Find and discuss instances of structural experimentation in Lovebirds . What sort of emotional truth does Lovebirds seem to be designed to discover?
