[UPDATE] New Contexts for American Poetry in the 1950's and 1960's

full name / name of organization: 
The Charles Olson Society
contact email: 

The Charles Olson Society will sponsor a session at the annual Louisville Conference on Literature and Culture since 1900, to be held at the University of Louisville, February 26-28, 2015. We are interested in abstracts pertaining to poetry in the fifties and sixties, especially those that draw attention to uncommon readings. Though Donald Allen's influential anthology The New American Poetry divided American poetry into distinct schools (Black Mountain, San Francisco, Beat, New York) and contributed to its division into distinct styles (Experimental, Academic, and Confessional), Allen's model creates too many internal and external contradictions. What other theoretical or cultural contexts might create a more robust understanding of poetry in the fifties and sixties? How else might we categorize individuals or groups of poets? Readings that open up the field of American poetry to overlooked social, environmental, or political frameworks will be particularly welcome.

Those interested should send a 250 word abstract to Joshua Hoeynck (jsh115@case.edu) no later than September 30th. Please include your academic affiliation (if any) and a brief biographical note with your abstract.