Poetic Attention

April 18–April 19, 2024

Register for Poetry Matters’ Poetic Attention event.

In the spirit of conversation and collaborative thinking, Poetry Matters is pleased to host a free in-person event, April 18-19, at McGill University’s Thomson House, 3650 rue McTavish (space accessible) on the topic of poetic attention, leading from the work of Lucy Alford (Forms of Poetic Attention, Columbia UP, 2020). Bringing together academic and poetic communities, the event explores the enigmatic concept of “poetic attention.” From different standpoints, we consider what this idea might mean and achieve in our days of the attention economy. 

Events include:

• A keynote lecture from Sarah Wylie Krotz, Director of the Centre for Literatures in Canada at the University of Alberta, On slowness and symbiosis: following lichens (11:30)
• A nature walk with Yvonne Hung, Director, McGill Writing Centre (1:30)
• Readings from poets Louise Dupré, Joel A. Harris, Lee Kathryn Hodge, Chad Norman, and Derek Webster

Full Schedule

Thursday, April 18, 2024

2:00–4:00 pm	Workshop with Chad Norman: “seeing the small” Register for the workshop here.

Friday, April 19, 2024

10:30–11:30 am	Welcome and opening remarks on “poetic attention”
11:30 am–12:45 pm	Keynote lecture by Sarah Wylie Krotz, Director of the Centre for Literatures in Canada, University of Alberta (“on slowness and symbiosis: following lichens”
12:45–1:30 pm	Lunch break (lunch provided) Exhibit by Montreal artist Kevin Jenne
1:30–2:30 pm	Nature walk with Yvonne Hung, Director, McGill Writing Centre, on writing and attention (weather permitting, outside)
2:30–3:00 pm	Break
3:00–4:30 pm	Poetry readings from Louise Dupré, Joel Anthony Harris, Lee Hodge, Chad Norman, and Derek Webster
4:30–5:00 pm	Q&A, discussion, closing remarks