Spring Break
Web site anthology increases art access
By: Jenna Janik
Issue date: 11/28/05 Section: News
Students and faculty from Texas A&M are creating the first Web anthology of Texas poetry to make art more accessible.
"It is my view that the arts in general are a beauty worth fighting for," said Faith Fuqua, editor of the project. "Nothing so much moves me as when I witness good art. This view overflows into my current project. I want good art to be more accessible, and placing this anthology on the Web accomplishes that easy access. To our understanding there has never been an online anthology of Texas poetry, so it was a good opportunity to make one."
Fuqua, senior English major, said students can submit poetry to be considered for the anthology.
"We accept submissions from published and unpublished poets of all ages," she said. "The subject matter does not have to be about Texas, however the criteria are that the poet be a resident of Texas and submit quality work. A wide variety of styles are acceptable, from formal to free verse; five line haikus to poems from one to 10 pages."
Fuqua said the anthology is part of senior lecturer Chuck Taylor's literary editing and publishing course. She said she selects the poems that are included in the anthology and that she receives input, suggestions and creative ideas from Taylor and from her classmates.
Taylor said a Web site was chosen as the channel for the anthology because it was easy to continuously update.
"It can be an ongoing project," Taylor said. "Poems can be added or subtracted from year to year to improve and broaden the anthology. That can't be done with a printed anthology. Another reason is it hasn't been done before and deserves being done."
Taylor said he hopes the anthology will increase awareness of Texas poetry.
"Some people may assume poetry is only written about the Thames River in London," he said. "Robert Frost said long ago in his inaugural poem for John Kennedy that poems need to be written about this state. Texas is the only state that seems to perceive itself as having its own literature. Texans are curious about their state and like to read about it."
Taylor said the first phase of the anthology will be complete at the end of the semester. The anthology will be available at the Texas A&M English Department's Web site, he said.
"The University and the students will benefit from the anthology the same way they benefit from looking at the moon or at a sunset or at a mountain," Taylor said. "Here we have things that can't be explained, ultimately. If you have a month or two we could make a worthwhile effort to explain, knowing we would fail."
Senior history major and student poet Hilary Duncan said she is eager to see the anthology.
"I think it is wonderful a student at Texas A&M is compiling an anthology, especially of Texas poetry," Duncan said. "It seems students are really putting an emphasis on making poetry more prominent at Texas A&M. It's also a great opportunity to get your work noticed."
"It is my view that the arts in general are a beauty worth fighting for," said Faith Fuqua, editor of the project. "Nothing so much moves me as when I witness good art. This view overflows into my current project. I want good art to be more accessible, and placing this anthology on the Web accomplishes that easy access. To our understanding there has never been an online anthology of Texas poetry, so it was a good opportunity to make one."
Fuqua, senior English major, said students can submit poetry to be considered for the anthology.
"We accept submissions from published and unpublished poets of all ages," she said. "The subject matter does not have to be about Texas, however the criteria are that the poet be a resident of Texas and submit quality work. A wide variety of styles are acceptable, from formal to free verse; five line haikus to poems from one to 10 pages."
Fuqua said the anthology is part of senior lecturer Chuck Taylor's literary editing and publishing course. She said she selects the poems that are included in the anthology and that she receives input, suggestions and creative ideas from Taylor and from her classmates.
Taylor said a Web site was chosen as the channel for the anthology because it was easy to continuously update.
"It can be an ongoing project," Taylor said. "Poems can be added or subtracted from year to year to improve and broaden the anthology. That can't be done with a printed anthology. Another reason is it hasn't been done before and deserves being done."
Taylor said he hopes the anthology will increase awareness of Texas poetry.
"Some people may assume poetry is only written about the Thames River in London," he said. "Robert Frost said long ago in his inaugural poem for John Kennedy that poems need to be written about this state. Texas is the only state that seems to perceive itself as having its own literature. Texans are curious about their state and like to read about it."
Taylor said the first phase of the anthology will be complete at the end of the semester. The anthology will be available at the Texas A&M English Department's Web site, he said.
"The University and the students will benefit from the anthology the same way they benefit from looking at the moon or at a sunset or at a mountain," Taylor said. "Here we have things that can't be explained, ultimately. If you have a month or two we could make a worthwhile effort to explain, knowing we would fail."
Senior history major and student poet Hilary Duncan said she is eager to see the anthology.
"I think it is wonderful a student at Texas A&M is compiling an anthology, especially of Texas poetry," Duncan said. "It seems students are really putting an emphasis on making poetry more prominent at Texas A&M. It's also a great opportunity to get your work noticed."
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