After Words

A revolutionary anthology of visual poetry contextualizing works within their original small-press publications, from authors such as Wallace Berman and Marian Zazeela to titles such as Ginger Snaps and Futura

By the 1960s, visual and experimental poetry was widely acknowledged as the first truly international poetry movement, occurring on several continents. The simultaneous "mimeograph revolution"-an emerging name for the proliferation of small, poet- and artist-operated presses and little magazines that emerged in the postwar era-meant that an extraordinary variety of experimental work appeared in ephemeral outlets, often reflecting an array of geographic influence and communities. After Words is a thematic journey through the history of these experimental poetics, including cut-up, collage, sound poetry scores, performance scripts, practices of "writing through," erasure, glyph systems, calligraphy, experimental typography, non-Western alphabets, assemblages and beyond. Most importantly, it presents these works within their original contexts through scans of page spreads from storied publications and presses. Contributors include: Mary Beach, Wallace Berman, bill bissett, William S. Burroughs, Henri Chopin, Judith Copithorne, Johanna Drucker, d.a. levy, bpNichol, Seiichi Niikuni, Tom Phillips, Miroljub Todorovic, Cecilia Vicuna, Marian Zazeela. Publications include: Futura, Ginger Snaps, Rhinozeros, Journeyman, Kontexts</>, Revue OU, Stereo Headphones, Soft Need, kroklok, Pages, ASA. Presses include: Xexoxial Editions, Beau Geste Press, Wild Hawthorn Press, Something Else Press, The Hermetic Press, Siglio Press, Granary Books.