Date of Award

2014

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Humanities

First Advisor

Zamsky, Robert

Keywords

Photography, Poetry, Oppen, George, Ekphrasis

Area of Concentration

English

Abstract

This thesis examines and reverses the creative practice of ekphrasis in order to argue for the fusion of artistic mediums. This is done, in part, by responding to the poetry of George Oppen through original photography. By translating Oppen‟s poetry into a series of corresponding photographs, I produce my own examples to support the claim that textual ideas and imagery can be applied to the visual arts. I also support this claim by referencing several well-known writers and visual artists who have employed the use of ekphrasis and created works of art that significantly contributed to major artistic movements. This thesis challenges the argument that mediums such as textual and visual should not influence and/or mimic one another‟s content and techniques. Critics of ekphrasis often undermine the innovative work that results when an artist has to think outside of her medium. Ekphrasis allows artists to communicate across the borders of their mediums, creating a more unified and creative art community.

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