John Taggart
Encyclopedia
John Taggart is an American poet
and critic
. He was born in Guthrie Center
, Iowa
. He graduated with honors in 1965 from Earlham College
in Indiana
, earning a B.A. in English Literature and Philosophy
. In 1966 he received a M.A. in English Literature and Creative Writing
from the University of Chicago
, and in 1974 he completed a Ph.D. in the Humanities Interdisciplinary Studies Program at Syracuse University
. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Taggart was the editor and publisher of Maps
, an acclaimed literary magazine. In 1978, edited an issue of "Truck" devoted to the work of Theodore Enslin
. His work has been widely published and anthologized, and as far back as 1978 his unique style was exerting an influence over his peers, poets such as Rachel Blau DuPlessis
and Gil Ott. For many years he was Professor of English and Director of the Interdisciplinary
Arts Program at Shippensburg University; he retired in 2001.
, particularly the works of Louis Zukofsky
and George Oppen
. Unlike most others of his generation whose poetries sprung from similar influences, Taggart stayed away from, on the one hand, the mainstream variations of the neatly packaged imagistic poem
, and, on the other hand, the aggressively language-centered
writing that foregrounded the materiality of text over the voice of the author.
Prose
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and critic
Critic
A critic is anyone who expresses a value judgement. Informally, criticism is a common aspect of all human expression and need not necessarily imply skilled or accurate expressions of judgement. Critical judgements, good or bad, may be positive , negative , or balanced...
. He was born in Guthrie Center
Guthrie Center, Iowa
Guthrie Center is a city in Guthrie County, Iowa, United States, along the South Raccoon River. The population was 1,668 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Guthrie County....
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
. He graduated with honors in 1965 from Earlham College
Earlham College
Earlham College is a liberal arts college in Richmond, Indiana. It was founded in 1847 by Quakers and has approximately 1,200 students.The president is John David Dawson...
in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, earning a B.A. in English Literature and Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
. In 1966 he received a M.A. in English Literature and Creative Writing
Creative writing
Creative writing is considered to be any writing, fiction, poetry, or non-fiction, that goes outside the bounds of normal professional, journalistic, academic, and technical forms of literature. Works which fall into this category include novels, epics, short stories, and poems...
from the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, and in 1974 he completed a Ph.D. in the Humanities Interdisciplinary Studies Program at Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Taggart was the editor and publisher of Maps
MAPS
Maps is the plural of map, a visual representation of an area.As an acronym, MAPS may refer to:* Mail Abuse Prevention System, an organisation that provides anti-spam support...
, an acclaimed literary magazine. In 1978, edited an issue of "Truck" devoted to the work of Theodore Enslin
Theodore Enslin
Theodore Vernon Enslin was an American poet associated with Cid Corman's Origin and press. He is widely regarded as one of the most musical of American avant-garde poets. Enslin was born in Chester, Pennsylvania. His father was a biblical scholar and his mother a Latin scholar...
. His work has been widely published and anthologized, and as far back as 1978 his unique style was exerting an influence over his peers, poets such as Rachel Blau DuPlessis
Rachel Blau DuPlessis
Rachel Blau DuPlessis an American poet and essayist, is known as a feminist critic and scholar with a special interest in modernist and contemporary poetry.-Life and work:...
and Gil Ott. For many years he was Professor of English and Director of the Interdisciplinary
Interdisciplinarity
Interdisciplinarity involves the combining of two or more academic fields into one single discipline. An interdisciplinary field crosses traditional boundaries between academic disciplines or schools of thought, as new needs and professions have emerged....
Arts Program at Shippensburg University; he retired in 2001.
Overview
Taggart's approach to the poem is strongly rooted in Objectivist poeticsObjectivist poets
The Objectivist poets were a loose-knit group of second-generation Modernists who emerged in the 1930s. They were mainly American and were influenced by, amongst others, Ezra Pound and William Carlos Williams...
, particularly the works of Louis Zukofsky
Louis Zukofsky
Louis Zukofsky was an American poet. He was one of the founders and the primary theorist of the Objectivist group of poets and thus an important influence on subsequent generations of poets in America and abroad.-Life:...
and George Oppen
George Oppen
George Oppen was an American poet, best known as one of the members of the Objectivist group of poets. He abandoned poetry in the 1930s for political activism, and later moved to Mexico to avoid the attentions of the House Un-American Activities Committee...
. Unlike most others of his generation whose poetries sprung from similar influences, Taggart stayed away from, on the one hand, the mainstream variations of the neatly packaged imagistic poem
Imagism
Imagism was a movement in early 20th-century Anglo-American poetry that favored precision of imagery and clear, sharp language. The Imagists rejected the sentiment and discursiveness typical of much Romantic and Victorian poetry. This was in contrast to their contemporaries, the Georgian poets,...
, and, on the other hand, the aggressively language-centered
Language poets
The Language poets are an avant garde group or tendency in United States poetry that emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s...
writing that foregrounded the materiality of text over the voice of the author.
Works
Poetry- To Construct a Clock (Elizabeth Press, 1971)
- The Pyramid Is Pure Crystal (Elizabeth Press, 1974)
- Prism and the Pine Twig (Elizabeth Press, 1977)
- Dodeka (Membrane, 1979)
- Peace On Earth (Turtle Island, 1981)
- Dehiscence (Membrane, 1983)
- Loop (Sun and Moon, 1991)
- Standing Wave (Lost Roads, 1993)
- When the Saints (Talisman House, 1999)
- Pastorelles (Flood Editions, 2004)
- Crosses: Poems 1992-1998 (Stop Press, 2006)
- Is Music (Copper Canyon PressCopper Canyon PressCopper Canyon Press is an independent, non-profit small press, specializing in the publication of poetry and located in the picturesque town of Port Townsend, Washington. Since 1972, the Press has published poetry exclusively and has established an international reputation for its commitment to...
, 2010)
Prose
- Remaining in Light: Ant Meditations on a Painting by Edward Hopper (1993, SUNY Press)
- Songs of Degrees: Essays on Contemporary Poetry and Poetics (1994, University Alabama Press)
Resources
For further research see:- The John Taggart Papers, 1962–2002 at UC–San Diego
- John Taggart Papers 1965–1974 at Syracuse UniversitySyracuse UniversitySyracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
- The John Taggart (re: Maps) Archive at NYU
- John Taggart Papers at UConn
External links
- Question No Question a poem at Lost Roads
- from Chicago Breakdown (PDF) at Facture
- Pastorelle 2 at Fence
- Pastorelle 11 at Poetrybay
- Two poems at Grist
- Interviewed at Flash Point