Weird Studies Episode 173: By Heart: On Memory, Poetry, and Form
21 snips
Jul 10, 2024 
Shannon Taggart, an advocate for the interplay of memory and poetry, joins the conversation to explore how we engage with verses beyond mere memorization. The discussion emphasizes the emotional resonance found in reciting poetry from memory, illustrating the deep connections between bodily experience and artistic expression. Taggart delves into the transformative power of forms like meter and rhyme, while reflecting on the importance of memory in shaping identity and navigating loss. Ultimately, they celebrate poetry as a vital bridge to our past and shared humanity.
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Knowing By Heart
- Reciting "by heart" implies deep embodiment, not just mental storage.
- The heart is a metonym for the integrated system of mind, body, and spirit.
Embrace Rhyme and Meter
- Retain rhyme and meter in poetry; don't dismiss them as juvenile.
- They're crucial for memory and connect language to the universe.
Finding Poetry Through Hip-Hop
- Phil Ford, despite not reading poetry, found himself moved by it recently.
- He describes writing hip-hop verses and experiencing synchronicities similar to magic.