blackout poetry lesson plan
What is Blackout Poetry?
Blackout Poetry is a literary trend that involves creating poems from excerpts of prose. Matt Kleon, a native of Austin, Texas, has played a role in reintroducing our generation to this innovative and visually exciting writing style. Listen to his Ted Talk from 2012 about the concept of "stealing like an artist."
Blackout Poetry is a literary trend that involves creating poems from excerpts of prose. Matt Kleon, a native of Austin, Texas, has played a role in reintroducing our generation to this innovative and visually exciting writing style. Listen to his Ted Talk from 2012 about the concept of "stealing like an artist."
"Human beings are collectors."
"It looks as if the CIA did haiku."
"It looks as if the CIA did haiku."
These are the legal documents Kleon referred to in his speech, where the lines were blacked out by government officials due to their sensitive content.
What effect does the "blacking out" give the poems? Is there something illicit in deleting certain phrases? Where else do we see this type of imagery?
The images below are pages from Tom Phillip's work, A Humument:
See the entirety of his work here:
What do you think of Kleon's view of originality and creativity? Is it significant that this type has been done by many artists before? Why do you think it keeps cropping up?
"I am a creative kleptomaniac...I'm interested in stealing the things that really mean something to me."
"Good artists copy, great artists steal."
"I'm more like a tasteful thief."
Do you agree with his idea of "creative theft"? Why is this a good or a bad strategy?
Dive deeper: explore these links to learn more about Matt and his background with this style of poetry:
"I am a creative kleptomaniac...I'm interested in stealing the things that really mean something to me."
"Good artists copy, great artists steal."
"I'm more like a tasteful thief."
Do you agree with his idea of "creative theft"? Why is this a good or a bad strategy?
Dive deeper: explore these links to learn more about Matt and his background with this style of poetry:
Here are a few of my favorite examples (created by various artists):
Want to see more? Check out these recommended links or do a couple of Google searches yourself - this fad is incredibly popular and quickly spreading!
Here's an interactive, virtual version from The New York Times:
Assignment:
Each student will create a blackout poem of their own. I will provide miscellaneous pages from newspapers and books as well as sharpies and other art supplies. The poems may either be colorful or in black-and-white. The idea of this project is to follow the footsteps of Matt Kleon and find creativity in an unexpected setting - think outside the box, and make them look good! (Let's decorate the classroom with these things, eh?)
Each student will create a blackout poem of their own. I will provide miscellaneous pages from newspapers and books as well as sharpies and other art supplies. The poems may either be colorful or in black-and-white. The idea of this project is to follow the footsteps of Matt Kleon and find creativity in an unexpected setting - think outside the box, and make them look good! (Let's decorate the classroom with these things, eh?)
Blendspace link for this lesson: https://www.blendspace.com/lessons/g-qwtgPeukxFFg/blackout-poetry-lesson-plan