ANIMAL HISTORIES
Divided into four sections and mixing poetry with lyric essay, Animal Histories explores the origin, acquisition, and development of poetic language. Contrasting poetic language from language used for communication, the book posits that poetry is maternal, learned in utero by listening to the cadences and rhythms of the mother’s speech (the “mother tongue”) while communicative language is paternal, shaped by power structures that are often patriarchal (the “father tongue”). Moreover, the book maintains that what separates humans from animals is humanity’s ability to use language purely for language’s sake; while other animals have ways of communicating, only humans use language for artistic expression. By navigating between sections of unpunctuated, lineated poetry and autobiographical prose, the book ultimately arrives at a form of linguistic expression that unites maternal and paternal speech. Drawing on the theories of artists and philosophers as diverse as Julia Kristeva and singer-songwriter Nick Cave, Animal Histories is a provocative investigation of humanity’s relationship to language, how we speak to one another, and how we weave words into stunning artwork.
Divided into four sections and mixing poetry with lyric essay, Animal Histories explores the origin, acquisition, and development of poetic language. Contrasting poetic language from language used for communication, the book posits that poetry is maternal, learned in utero by listening to the cadences and rhythms of the mother’s speech (the “mother tongue”) while communicative language is paternal, shaped by power structures that are often patriarchal (the “father tongue”). Moreover, the book maintains that what separates humans from animals is humanity’s ability to use language purely for language’s sake; while other animals have ways of communicating, only humans use language for artistic expression. By navigating between sections of unpunctuated, lineated poetry and autobiographical prose, the book ultimately arrives at a form of linguistic expression that unites maternal and paternal speech. Drawing on the theories of artists and philosophers as diverse as Julia Kristeva and singer-songwriter Nick Cave, Animal Histories is a provocative investigation of humanity’s relationship to language, how we speak to one another, and how we weave words into stunning artwork.
Divided into four sections and mixing poetry with lyric essay, Animal Histories explores the origin, acquisition, and development of poetic language. Contrasting poetic language from language used for communication, the book posits that poetry is maternal, learned in utero by listening to the cadences and rhythms of the mother’s speech (the “mother tongue”) while communicative language is paternal, shaped by power structures that are often patriarchal (the “father tongue”). Moreover, the book maintains that what separates humans from animals is humanity’s ability to use language purely for language’s sake; while other animals have ways of communicating, only humans use language for artistic expression. By navigating between sections of unpunctuated, lineated poetry and autobiographical prose, the book ultimately arrives at a form of linguistic expression that unites maternal and paternal speech. Drawing on the theories of artists and philosophers as diverse as Julia Kristeva and singer-songwriter Nick Cave, Animal Histories is a provocative investigation of humanity’s relationship to language, how we speak to one another, and how we weave words into stunning artwork.
About JERROD E. BOHN
A graduate of Colorado State U's MFA program, Jerrod E. Bohn is the author of two previous full-length poetry books, Animal Histories (2017) and PULP: A Manifesto (2018), both from Unsolicited Press. His poetry and nonfiction has appeared in numerous literary journals and other publications. Bohn currently resides in Seattle where he is a college English professor and the lead writer and lead writer for Bandbox Vinyl Record Club. Additionally, he runs Gravel: A Reading Series at a local brewery and enjoys cooking and being outdoors.
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Genre: Poetry Hybrid
ISBN: 978-1947021044
Publication Date: August 14, 2017
