Is a good poem, by definition, a serious one? Many poets today suffer from what has been called “humor anxiety”—the fear that they will damage their reputations if they try to be funny. But the success of poets like Billy Collins and Tony Hoagland provides ample evidence that poems can be both funny and serious. In this workshop, we will examine what makes us laugh, the difference between “light verse” and humorous poetry, and the role that wit, the comic, and the absurd have played—and continue to play—in American poetry. We will also take a closer look at the work of some contemporary poets who have used humor effectively to broaden their poems’ appeal.
LIVE VIDEO CONFERENCE: This workshop will be held via our online video conferencing platform, Zoom. The dates and times will remain the same. You can view brief tutorials on using the platform here. Shortly before the start date participants will recieve an email with login info. Please check your spam if you don’t see it.
