Absorbing the machine: materiality, technology, and modern American poetry
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Abstract
This dissertation presents a pioneering comparative study of modernist poetic experiments by Hart Crane (1899-1932) and George Oppen (1908-1984), two influential American poets whose works have shaped contemporary American poetry. Despite their differing styles and reception histories, both poets grapple with the impact of technology on human experience, exploring how absorbing the machine into poetry leaves an imprint on poetic form and the materiality of the printed page. The study employs a materiality-focused approach, integrating recent advances in poetry studies while considering bibliographic elements such as typography, layout, and the physical properties of original editions. This methodological framework underscores Oppen’s unique word-page assemblages and Crane’s visual-textual interplay, promoting a richer understanding of their respective poetics. In analyzing significant works from both poets, including Crane’s The Bridge and Oppen’s Discrete Series in their original publication settings, the dissertation elaborates on Crane’s ‘(techno)logic of metaphor’ and Oppen’s ‘vertical dimension’ as potent principles that encapsulate their engagement with coming to terms with modernity. By closely reading archival materials and employing a dis/close reading strategy, new dimensions of poetic meaning are revealed, resonating with the material practices of modern poetry. The work contributes to ongoing discussions regarding the poets’ legacies and encourages further exploration of material-conscious poetics in contemporary poetry.