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Back to Modern & Contemporary American Poetry (“ModPo”)

Learner Reviews & Feedback for Modern & Contemporary American Poetry (“ModPo”) by University of Pennsylvania

4.9
stars
548 ratings

About the Course

ModPo is a FREE (no fee, no charge) fast-paced introduction to modern and contemporary U.S. poetry, with an emphasis on experimental verse, from Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman to the present. Participants (who need no prior experience with poetry) will learn how to read poems that are supposedly "difficult." We encounter and discuss the poems one at a time. It's much easier than it seems! Join us and try it! ModPo is open all year, so you can enroll now, or any time, and join us. Each year we host a lively, interactive 10-week session, in which we move together through the ten-week syllabus. The next live 10-week session of ModPo will begin on September 2, 2023, and will conclude on November 13, 2023. Al Filreis will be in touch with you by email before the September 3 start of the course with all the information you'll need to participate. If you have questions, you can email the ModPo team any time at modpo@writing.upenn.edu. Much more information about ModPo can be found at modpo.org. During the 10 weeks of the course, you will be guided through poems, video discussions of each poem, and community discussions of each poem. And (unique among open online courses) we offer weekly, interactive live webcasts. Our famed TAs also offer office hours throughout the week. We help arrange meet-ups and in-site study groups. If you are curious about the ModPo team, type "ModPo YouTube introduction" into Google or your favorite search engine, and watch the 20-minute introductory video. You will get an overview of the course and will meet the brilliant TAs, who will be encountering the poems with you all the way to the end. If you use Facebook, join the always-thriving ModPo group: from inside Facebook, search for "Modern & Contemporary American Poetry" and then request to be added as a member. If you have any questions about ModPo, you can post a question to the FB group and you'll receive an almost instant reply. Much more information about ModPo can be found at modpo.org . We tweet all year long at @ModPoPenn and you can also find ModPo colleagues using the hashtag #ModPoLive. ModPo is hosted by—and is housed at—the Kelly Writers House at 3805 Locust Walk on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia USA. All ModPo'ers are welcome to visit the Writers House when they are in our area. Our discussions are filmed there. Our live webcasts take place in the famed "Arts Cafe" of the House. To find out what's going on at the Writers House any time, just dial 215-746-POEM....

Top reviews

MM

Nov 14, 2022

This was a wonderful course. I learned more about stylistic devices, close readings of poems, and was introduced to some very fine poet's!

JW

Dec 4, 2022

This is a great course. The course is very interactive with great discussions and unique insights.

John

John Wang, PhD CRE MBB

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76 - 100 of 209 Reviews for Modern & Contemporary American Poetry (“ModPo”)

By Zakia R

Nov 16, 2017

I find this course very extensive. I recommend every one to get enrolled in here. I had started other online courses and regretted that i should have completed those first and then embarked on this one. Now that when the course has gone to its 10 week will i be able to earn a certificate for this one.

By Don C

Nov 17, 2020

I've learned so much from this course. I went from having a strong interest in poetry to feeling like I have at least the beginning of a robust base of knowledge about the American poetic cannon and some goings-on in the contemporary world of American poetry. Thank you for what you're doing, Al!

By María d C S A

Jan 25, 2017

This is an extraordinary opportunity to engage with a community of poetry lovers from all over the world. Al Filreis and his team share with the participants in-depth analysis of poems, from Whitman and Dickinson to the wild contemporary experimental authors of our time. You'll never feel alone!

By Nana A A

Dec 16, 2022

This is an absolutely brilliant and absolutely necessary course.

It so beautifully, and challengingly, and thoughtfully displayed that poetry is more than words and words are more than poetry. And ultimately that poetry is alive and is itself, life.

To all who make ModPo possible, THANK YOU!

By Hariharasudhan R

Dec 2, 2016

Very well thought. Amazing selection and gives a complete coverage of the subject matter. Amazing amazing TAs and others who accompany Al. A great way to learn American Poetry. The best that's out there. And them giving a completion certificate from UPenn for free is really kind of them.

By Lo W

Nov 21, 2021

I will be returning again and again to this course for all the ModPo Plus material I could not get to this time around. I wanted to finish on time, but there were times I wanted to ponder a bit more, read more and participate in the forum chats more. Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!

By Carlos A

Apr 13, 2022

Disfuté la amplitud de lecturas y autores. Creo que el curso es muy valioso y me ha ayudado a construir mejores lecturas de la poesía norteamericana.

Enjoy the breadth of readings and authors. I think the course is very valuable and has helped me build better readings of American poetry

By Cat M

Oct 11, 2023

One of the most profound and joyful learning experiences of my life, like walking freely through a superbly curated and tended forest and gathering periodically with many others – some who know the forest intimately and others new to it and everyone in between – to share our findings.

By Andrea S

Sep 14, 2020

Truly amazing course. Great proffessor and TAs that provided us with such lively discussions. It made me change my way of thininkg. I have noted all the poets and artists mentioned and I will continue to discover new and/or old modern American poetry.

Thank you for this amazing course.

By Ronald B

Nov 22, 2016

My third year immersed in ModPo experience, and it has been transformative for my poetry and my life. I love the videos, enthusiasm and poetic knowledge of Al (even when I disagree), and the TAs amaze me with their inquisitiveness, poetic understanding, and basic decent humanity.

By Ann H

Mar 12, 2019

An incredibly dynamic, exciting and informative course that invites active participation. It also allows for students to take their time and return to assignments and videos throughout the year. An invaluable and multi-faceted resource for teachers and poets and readers alike.

By Stephanie B H (

Nov 21, 2020

an extraordinary class that is at once, lecture, discussion, salon, and opportunity for thought, critical reading, writing and creative expression, ModPo demonstrates what the MOOC can be with sufficient commitment, resources and vision. Unforgettable and life-changing.

By Sayantani R

Apr 20, 2022

I fall short of words when I try to talk about this course. Al is a gifted professor who is also very generous, and his TAs are brilliant. I plan to stay here in Modpo world even though I've finished the course officially. Each year is better than the last.

By Lucinda J

May 27, 2020

Loved reacquainting myself with the familiar and exploring the unfamiliar and completely new. Will take this course again and look forward to lingering longer on the poems and poets who Inspired, moved and spoke to me here. Thank you, ModPo 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

By Suzanne M

Nov 12, 2023

I did this course during its "live" mode; it was exciting, collaborative, engaging. It is up to the learner how much time to spend, but there is an abundance of resources and information, all well-curated. Best online course I've ever taken.

By Prithvijeet S

Nov 10, 2022

This beautifully curated and consistently engaging course not only evolved my reading sense of poetry but exposed me to a whole new terrain of interpretation and recreation on an intimate scale.

Thank you so much for this treasure trove.

By Fos P

Jun 15, 2022

OMG this was an amazing course. I'm a lifelong student of poetry and I came in figuring that I might get a few new insights. I enjoyed and learned from every lesson. I savored the course (and it took me a long time to finish)!

By Deborah P

Dec 27, 2020

The best course on or off line I’ve ever taken. Spectacularly conceived, designed and delivered. Thank you thank you thank you ... fir all the briliant work and persons associated with this magnificent educational experience.

By Laura M

Sep 2, 2020

One of the best MOOCs I've ever taken. I jump in and follow along every year. It's welcoming, interactive and the most involved online experience I've had with MOOSc. You really feel part of a community of learning. I love it!

By Lucy C

Nov 22, 2016

This is an exceptional course. The range of material, the depth of discussion and the support from staff and other students far exceeds many university courses on literature. This course will change your life for the better.

By Adrienne P

May 20, 2021

I've not had this much fun in a while. Sure, we've been in a pandemic, but there's nothing better than geeking out on poetry with people who really want to get a lot out of it. Can't wait to do it all over again. Cheers!

By Margaret L y

Nov 27, 2020

Excellent course and a pleasure to learn from Al and the TA's. I enjoyed every minute of it and realized my own style of poetry is very simple compared with the great poets.

Sincerely, Lisa Young

youngedits.wordpress.com

By John S

Aug 28, 2020

Wide range of great activities in a rich format. Not really finished it, though i did all the assessments. Need to go back and view number of lessons. Live attached zoom discussion was also amazing. THANK YOU COURSERA!

By SARA G

Jan 5, 2021

It is a very interesting and fascinating course! I really appreciated the way it was organised and the clearly understandable conversations about Modern and Contemporary American Poetry among ModPo members. Thank you!

By Quentin Y

Mar 24, 2021

'One word is too often profaned for me to profane it.'

I too used to believe poetry is no more than the lines-broken 'what' of prose, but now I understand poetry is the 'how', which helps me to LOVE POETRY better.