One might think that nearly every successful adult poet has formally studied literature at one time or another. But meet Thalia Field, a poet who, in college, opted to study architecture and biology instead of Wordsworth and Keats. Field spoke to an intimate crowd of about 15 area college students and Philadelphia residents at the Kelly Writers House last night and read poems from her recently published collection, Point and Line. In addition, her reading was broadcast live over the Internet as part of a recent Writers House initiative to expand access of its events to anyone with a computer. An experimental poet who combines both poetry and theater in her work, Field cited her influences as architecture and visual art. As a result, she has developed into a poet who is as interested in style as she is in content. "Reading is something more than a given. It is an exciting time for the media of the book," Field told the audience. She read three selections: "Coming of Age," "Setting the Table" and "Binge of the Envelope Bag" -- all poems that place words on disparate parts of the page and utilize provocative -- and seemingly disconnected -- wordplay. "Members of the Writers House have always admired her work. Ever since we met her at the Bard [College] Conference On Poetry and Pedagogy last summer, we have viewed her work as really brilliant for writing in a style that is characterized by combining poetry, theater and fiction all together," said Kerry Sherin, the director of the Writers House. "Field's work is special in that she is interested in what lies outside normal perception, which makes her writing a new form of writing all together," Sherin added. Field is currently a faculty member at the Naropa Institute in Boulder, Colo., and an associate at Bard College's Institute for Writing and Thinking. She has written an opera, The Pompeii Exhibit, and previously worked as senior editor of Conjunctions magazine. Still, even though Field is part of a canon of poetry dedicated to playing with words and manipulating their meaning, she pointed out that she is still conscious of providing form in her poetry. "Another aspect that I focused on in addition to structure was indeterminacy," Field said. "I try to make my work both structured and indetermined, which is very different from improvisation." Pia Deas, a Temple University graduate student studying writing, described Field's work as "provocative, insightful and innovative." What impressed Deas the most, she said, was "the sophistication of her work, even though she does not have a literature background." And Diana Goodman, a senior at nearby Bryn Mawr College, said that though she found Field's work "interesting," she thought the "drama did not come out in reading since the word layout and structure is more effective on paper."
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
DonatePlease note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.