Poetry’s stepping outside of the classroom.
Poetry Week, hosted by the Cultural Attractions Committee, is taking place throughout the week with various events across campus to celebrate the literary art.
Each day has a different theme to guide the events. Monday kicked off the week with “Comedy Day.” Marilyn Kallet, director of creative writing, and Claire Dodson, senior in English and editor-in-chief of The Daily Beacon, each read poems about love during “In A Certain Light: Love Poems for the Afternoon.”
The two writers took turns standing before the audience to read short collections of their work.
“I loved it,” Kallet said after the reading. “A good, small crowd but very interested. I could see people’s faces, and they were really listening, kind of smiling and laughing. It just felt really good to me.”
Tuesday’s theme is “Versus/Verses,” and The Asia Project, a cancer survivor who turned to poetry and his brother-in-law, will perform in the UC Ballroom at 7 p.m. The pair now travels to use both comedy and sadness to inspire listeners. They are also social activists who work to fight poverty in the Philippines.
Wednesday will continue with “Romance Day,” where Stephanie Dugger, a graduate assistant in English, will read and discuss her poetry during “But Afterwards Your Love” at 2:30 p.m. in the UC Room 226. That night, the love theme will carry through during the poetry contest awards and reception to celebrate the winners of the love-themed poetry contest CAC hosted prior to the week’s commencement.
Thursday will features “Favorites Day,” where spoken word poet Alix Olson will be performing in the UC Auditorium at 7 p.m. Olson is known for using her work to address issues of capitalism, sexism, homophobia, heterosexism, misogyny and patriarchy.
“She was the proposed artist that spurred everything around it to create the poetry week series long event,” said Eddie Roe, sophomore in College Scholars and Poetry Week subcommittee chair. “I feel most students don’t hear that kind of poetry around here often, and it doesn’t get a lot of awareness and appreciation, so I feel like Alix will bring a big pool of audience members as well.”
Finally, Friday will conclude Poetry Week with an open mic night entitled “An Ode to Ole Tennessee.” Participants can sign up early through the CAC Facebook page or at the event before it starts in the UC Room 226 at 5 p.m.
The event’s mission is to help UT students engage in opportunities to learn about, perform, and express themselves through poetry.
“Poetry so rarely gets attention,” Kallet said. “It’s a great joy and an honor to have poetry get some recognition on campus, so I am grateful. I feel like a flower that’s been watered.”
All events are free for opted-in students and open to the public. For more information, visit facebook.com/utkcac.
