Forms of Poetic Attention

Poetic language is an instrument for tuning and refining attention, according to Lucy Alford, who proposes a new terminology for how poetic attention works and how attention becomes a subject and object of poetry. Forms of Poetic Attention combines close readings of poems with research in philosophy, aesthetics, and psychology of attention to define and locate the forms of attention poems require and produce. It argues that attention is poetry's primary medium and that the forms of attention demanded by a poem can train, hone, and refine our capacities for perception and judgment.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 384 pages
\n Publication date: 04 May 2021
\n Publisher: Columbia University Press
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A poem is a multifaceted artistic expression that employs a range of formal, technical, and conventional devices to generate meaning and evoke emotions. While it is commonly perceived as a collection of such devices, Lucy Alford proposes a different perspective, suggesting that poetic language can be better understood as an instrument for tuning and refining our attention. By identifying a crucial link between poetic form and the formation of attention, Alford offers a novel terminology for how poetic attention operates and how attention becomes both a subject and an object of poetry.

Forms of Poetic Attention is a groundbreaking work that combines close readings of a diverse range of poems with research in the philosophy, aesthetics, and psychology of attention. Drawing on the insights of numerous poets, including T. S. Eliot, Wallace Stevens, Frank OHara, Anne Carson, Theresa Hak Kyung Cha, Harryette Mullen, Al-Khansā, Rainer Maria Rilke, Arthur Rimbaud, and Claudia Rankine, Alford defines and locates the specific forms of attention that poems both require and produce. Through her theoretical exploration, she sheds light on the process of attention-making, its objects, coordinates, and variables, while introducing a broad set of interpretive tools into the field of literary studies.

One of the central claims of Forms of Poetic Attention is that attention is the primary medium through which poetry operates. Alford argues that the forms of attention demanded by a poem can train, hone, and refine our capacities for perception and judgment, both on and off the page. By engaging with the intricate structures and patterns of poetic language, we can develop a deeper understanding of the world and our place within it.

Through her meticulous analysis, Alford demonstrates how poetry employs a range of formal and technical devices, such as rhythm, meter, rhyme, and imagery, to create a sense of attention and engage the reader's senses. She shows how these devices work together to create a dynamic and immersive experience that encourages the reader to slow down, pay close attention, and engage with the text on a deeper level.

In addition to its theoretical insights, Forms of Poetic Attention offers practical applications for readers and writers alike level. Alford's work provides a framework for analyzing and interpreting poems, as well as for developing our own attention-based writing practices. By exploring the forms of attention demanded by different poetic genres and styles, we can learn to create more effective and engaging works of literature that resonate with our readers on a profound level.

Overall, Forms of Poetic Attention is a groundbreaking work that challenges our conventional understanding of poetry and offers a fresh perspective on the power
Forms of Poetic Attention is a groundbreaking work that combines close readings of a diverse range of poems with research in the philosophy, aesthetics, and psychology of attention. Drawing on the insights of numerous poets, including T. S. Eliot, Wallace Stevens, Frank OHara, Anne Carson, Theresa Hak Kyung Cha, Harryette Mullen, Al-Khansā, Rainer Maria Rilke, Arthur Rimbaud, and Claudia Rankine, Alford defines and locates the specific forms of attention that poems both require and produce. Through her theoretical exploration, she sheds light on the process of attention-making, its objects, coordinates, and variables, while introducing a broad set of interpretive tools into the field of literary studies.

One of the central claims of Forms of Poetic Attention is that attention is the primary medium through which poetry operates. Alford argues that the forms of attention demanded by a poem can train, hone, and refine our capacities for perception and judgment, both on and off the page. By engaging with the intricate structures and patterns of poetic language, we can develop a deeper understanding of the world and our place within it.

Through her meticulous analysis, Alford demonstrates how poetry employs a range of formal and technical devices, such as rhythm, meter, rhyme, and imagery, to create a sense of attention and engage the reader's senses. She shows how these devices work together to create a dynamic and immersive experience that encourages the reader to slow down, pay close attention, and engage with the text on a deeper level.

In addition to its theoretical insights, Forms of Poetic Attention offers practical applications for readers and writers of all levels. Alford's work provides a framework for analyzing and interpreting poems, as well as for developing our own attention-based writing practices. By exploring the forms of attention demanded by different poetic genres and styles, we can learn to create more effective and engaging works of literature that resonate with our readers on a profound level.

Overall, Forms of Poetic Attention is a groundbreaking work that challenges our conventional understanding of poetry and offers a fresh perspective on the power of attention in shaping our perception and judgment. By delving into the intricate world of poetic language and exploring the forms of attention demanded by different poetic genres and styles, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the power of poetry to inspire, educate, and transform us.

\n Weight: 580g\n
Dimension: 151 x 228 x 26 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780231187558\n \n