Border Blurs: Concrete Poetry in England and Scotland

This book explores the relationship between English and Scottish poets and the international concrete poetry movement of the 1950s to 1970s, focusing on the work of Ian Hamilton Finlay, Edwin Morgan, Dom Sylvester Houédard, and Bob Cobbing. It is based on new archival and primary research and will fill a gap in contemporary understanding of this important genre, as well as serve as a vital document for scholars and students of twentieth-century British literature, modern intermedia art, and modernism.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 318 pages
Publication date: 01 September 2022
Publisher: Liverpool University Press

This comprehensive book delves into the intricate relationship between English and Scottish poets and the global concrete poetry movement of the 1950s to the 1970s. Concrete poetry, a literary and artistic style, revived the modernist urge to merge artistic mediums while addressing a wide range of contemporary issues, from post-1945 reconstruction to cybernetics, mass media, and the sixties counter-culture. The development of concrete poetry in England and Scotland offers fresh perspectives on the complex interplay between the two national cultures and sheds light on broader sociological and cultural trends in Britain during the 1960s and 1970s.

Focusing on the works of Ian Hamilton Finlay, Edwin Morgan, Dom Sylvester Houédard, and Bob Cobbing, Border Blurs is a groundbreaking study based on extensive archival and primary research. It fills a critical gap in contemporary understanding of concrete poetry, a genre often misunderstood. Moreover, the book serves as a valuable resource for scholars and students of twentieth-century British literature, modern intermedia art, and modernism, particularly those interested in exploring modernism's global reach and its late twentieth-century legacies.

The book explores the influence of concrete poetry on the literary landscape, highlighting its innovative use of visual and spatial elements to convey meaning. It discusses the contributions of key poets to the movement, their techniques, and the broader cultural and social contexts in which they worked. By examining the interplay between English and Scottish poets and the concrete poetry movement, the book sheds light on the complex dynamics of cultural exchange and the ways in which artistic styles can reflect and shape societal attitudes and beliefs.

Concrete poetry's influence extended beyond the literary sphere, as it played a significant role in shaping the visual arts and design. Artists and designers adopted the principles of concrete poetry to create works that were visually striking and conceptually rich. The movement's emphasis on the fusion of text and image challenged traditional boundaries between different artistic mediums, paving the way for new forms of expression and creativity.

In conclusion, this book offers a comprehensive and insightful exploration of the relationship between English and Scottish poets and the global concrete poetry movement of the 1950s to the 1970s. It provides a valuable contribution to the field of literary studies, art history, and cultural analysis, offering new perspectives on an important but often overlooked genre. By examining the interplay between language, visuality, and cultural context, Border Blurs sheds light on the enduring legacy of concrete poetry and its role in shaping the artistic and intellectual landscape of the twentieth century.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781802077087