response to "the Cut-Up Method of Brion Gysin"

Most people consider the art of collage is solely for still or moving images and rarely for words. Even if words were considered for a collage, they would serve as replacements for images and not for the meaning itself. Nevertheless, Brion Gysin and similar writers/artists use the “cut up method” to take previously written works apart, then back together in a completely non-sequential order, to create new poetry. New meanings replace the ones of the original because, the juxtaposition is now different.

The concept of creating odd juxtaposition is not new. I have seen it done in older poetry without the use of the cut up method. The most famous ones are by E.E Cummings. However, there are big differences between the two. With E.E Cumming’s work, such as rpophessagr, the poem is broken apart and the lines are often scattered. The reader must then piece the poem back together to understand it. The odd juxtaposition of Cumming’s works is to enhance the meaning of the poem. These poems take planning to make. The cut up method is the complete opposite. The outcome is unknown by the artist/writer. He or she just cuts and rearranges lines to reach the unexpected outcome. Another difference is that the reader is not supposed to place the words back together but read the work the way it appears before them. The new juxtaposition may not enhance the meaning of the poem but it will give it a new meaning. This method brings new life to an over read poem.

The article mainly focuses on cutting up just one work but the possibilities would be endless if different types of books or poems were mixed together. What could make it more interesting, is if two completely different works became one. How would an excerpt from Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler and the “I have dream” speech from Martin Luther King read together? Another odd pairing could be Carrie by Steven King and Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne. I would look forward to reading something like that or making it myself.

According the article, reorganizing is said to make great poetry. However, I was taught time, effort, and polishing made good poetry. A poet needs the right syntax, and diction to make a perfect piece of work. In my opinion, the cut up method is a milder equivalent of the abstract paintings of the early to mid 20th century. These paintings shocked viewers from it’s divergence from the classical paintings made earlier on. However, it was a much-needed change to the media. Since then, there have been all different types of art. The article constantly states “Poetry is for everyone” It needs to be enjoyed by everyone. The cut up method could provide the starting point for novices to push the boundaries of writing just as abstract was for artists. All they need is scissors, glue, a poem/book and a will to experiment.