Line Break: Poetry as Social Practice

by James Scully

Line Break is the major work on poetry as social practice and a must-read for anyone interested in contemporary criticism or poetry. For many years, James Scully, along with others, quietly radicalized American poetry—in theory and in practice, in how it is lived as well as in how it is written. In eight provocative essays, James Scully argues provocatively for artistic and cultural practice that actively opposes structures of power too often reinforced by intellectual activities.

Genres: Poetry, Essays

180 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1988

Reviews

[Heidi Hanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is probably only going to hold interest for those who write poetry. It is written from the perspective of poetry as a means of practicing social justice. The chapters address different aspects of writing social justice poetry using examples from different poets. I'm an amateur poet and learned a great deal about the 'practice' of writing poetry. It's relatively scholarly but in a way that resonates with anyone who is interested in the topic.