The Magic Hour Poetry Camp
I have designed a new type of summer camp called The Magic Hour Poetry Camp, which is a reference to sunset and considered to be the time of day when poets and artists are “at work” creating.
Incidentally it is also the literal translation of the title of a movie by Koki Mitani, ザ・マジックアワー, though the translation also implies that The Magic Hour is an alternative idiom for the expression The Sunset Years: the golden age of a person’s life. Interestingly, the movie’s plot is centered around the act of creating via the act of substitution. Here is the basic plot summary, courtesy of Wikipedia:
When a gangster having an affair with the wife of his boss is found out, he promises to save face by recruiting a famous hitman. Instead, when he can’t find the real thing, he hires an actor to fill the role until he can find a suitable replacement.
While the Magic Hour Poetry Camp has little to do with this film, it is in fact an experiment in the art of creating via the art of substitution and revision. I have asked several friends and colleagues to join me for seven consecutive nights in continually writing a revision of a single poem, and in meeting to discuss the revisions.
Hypothesis: after seven nights we will each have seven variations of a single poem or we will have seven different poems.
In order to facilitate the discussion and revision process I have constructed seven “Nightly Preponderants,” experiments we will conduct to engage in these poems which will further propel curiosities about them and fuel the revisions. I have posted a copy of the workshop plan here.
This camp will take place the week of June 7th, and I will post my findings the following week!
