Advance to your interest by clicking a selection below:
"In this unique seminar, we read, looked at, and discussed
a great variety of works by
Romantic poet, illustrator, and artist, William Blake (1757-1827), and attempted
to define his
considerable achievements as both verbal and visual artist. We analyzed
and discussed in detail a
selection of his 'illuminated books' as composite works, in which text,
design, and illustration
together help us better understand his intentions and meanings. In addition
to having our own
facsimile copies of Songs of Innocence and of Experience, The
Marriage of Heaven and Hell,
America, Europe, and illustrations for the Book of Job,
we
1. Used the rare and beautiful Trianon Press editions of Blake's books in
our own
Schaffer Library Rare Book Room.
2. Looked at slides of Blake's books and related drawings, watercolors,
and engravings.
3. Viewed other university's archives.
4. Attended the magnificent Blake exhibition of original books, watercolors,
and paintings at
the Yale Center for British Art in New Haven."
-taken from Professor McCord's course syllabus
J. McCord of HU 216D with
OFFICE HOURS TuTh 3:30-4:30; Weds 1:30-2:45
and most other times by arrangement
(please just ask)
UNION PHONE NUMBER: 518 388-6035
Please NOTE: this is a "telephone" number, a telephone
being "an instrument for reproducing [human]
sounds over a distance." This is not an E-mail number or an E-fee-mail
number or a FAX number or a
voice-mail number. When you telephone this number and I am in the office,
I will pick up the phone and
you will hear my live voice, as I will hear yours. We will then be able
to speak to each other "over a
distance": two human beings speaking directly to each other. The phone
rings three times in my office,
and then-- if I do not pick it up-- begins to ring in the English department
office. The secretary in
that office-- another human being with a living voice...-- will answer the
phone and take a message for me
during the school hours of 8 to 4:30. I will return your call as soon after
I receive your message
as I am able.
William Blake made two comments that provoke thinking on
this very matter:
A Machine is not a Man nor a Work of Art it is destructive
of Humanity & of Art the word Machination
[Never] turn that which is Soul & Life into a Mill
or Machine
-- "Public Address," pp. 39 and 46.
A few of the questions we'll be considering: What are the
particular strengths and weaknesses of the written
word as an expressive medium compared to illustration? To what degree can
we "define" the working
relationships between a poem and a picture? How consistent is Blake in his
intentions and methods? To
what extent is Blake original, to what extent traditional?
INDIVIDUAL REQUIREMENTS:
Students are expected to contribute regularly-- and with Blakean
energy-- to class discussion. During the term, each student will give two
"provoking," "critical" interpretive
presentations that require-- nay: DEMAND!!!-- the participation of other
class members, each member
being accountable for all of the readings for every class meeting. A 2-4
page focused "prospectus" of your
final project of your own choosing will be due the 8th week, a one-on-one
conference with Prof. McBlake
on this proposal to follow in the 9th week. This final project can take
whatever form your imagination
might consider: analytical, critical, argumentative essay; Blake 'enwebbed'
for better and worse; creative
essay; imaginative autobiography; original work in writing and/or illustration
inspired by Blake;
interpretive musical and/or dance performance and script/score, for examples.
This final project--which
will consider at least in part the relationships between word and image,
poem and illustration, text and
design-- will be due by 4 the afternoon of Monday, June 9th.
POSSIBLE/PROBABLE CLASS PRESENTATION:
All members of each section of the
seminar (or-- if you like-- the two sections together) will be responsible,
together, for scripting,
coordinating, directing, and performing a "Blake Show" to be presented
sometime during the final week
of classes, June 2nd to June 6th. This show will be about 20 minutes in
length (30 to 40 minutes if the
sections combine for the effort), and will take whatever combined shape
you choose: readings, slides,
music, dance, dramatic interpretation.
TIMETABLE AND READINGS
click a week below to view that week's readings
PROFESSOR
McCORD: A RARE COLLECTION AT UNION
Professor Jim McCord received his B.A. 1968, M.A.
1971, Ph.D. 1976 from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and received
a Fullbright Scholarship to study Blake in London before coming to Union
College in 1977.
While writing his graduate thesis, Professor McCord ("McBlake") first became fascinated with William Blake when he discovered Blake produced all his own illustrations while writing his undergraduate work.
Since then, Professor McCord has been an avid collector and researcher of William Blake, his work, and life. At Union, Professor McCord has illuminated the lives of many students by incorporating Blake into his course material, and even teaches an entire seminar devoted to William Blake (EGL 191).
Professor McCord's office and home hold a vast collection of Blake ephemera of all sorts. Recently, our class was fortunate enough to attend his home for an afternoon of Blake Cake and a sharing of our research and work.
Below you will find links that connect you to pictures of his office and home: including close scans of pieces in his personal special collection .
Professor McCord is truly a rare collection at Union.
Click one of the below places to view selections from McCord's private collection:
Click below to talk with others and Professor McCord about Blake
| Brian L. Bishop |
|
| Rebecca L. Cutler | Painting on Acrylic: after Blake |
| Jeffery G. Druzba | "Blake at Union" Click here to comment |
| Michael D. Ferguson | "Blake at Union" Click here to comment |
| Heather M. Germann | Polymer Plate and Prints: after Blake |
| Ben Allan Goodhue | Interpretations of Blake's plates |
| Christopher W. Harrison | |
| Kenneth G. Harrison | |
| Orya C. Hyde-Keller | |
| Erica B. Isaacson | Selected Plates |
| Jill Israel | Ria's Flight |
| Christine A. Kotraba | |
| Leena D. Mankad | Series of Poems and Illustrations |
| Pamela M. Monroe | "Visions of the Daughters of Minerva" |
| Talia M. Ofeck | |
| Shaleen Patel | |
| Jared S. Richman | Union, a Prophecy |
| Jaya Saxena | Blake Seminar Collage |
| Jesse A. Shafer | |
| Alyssa J. Siegel | |
| Kenley A. Smith | |
| Julianna Spallholz | Thoughts and Illustrations from the Path to Liberation |
| J. Andrew Will |
Share your work or thoughts on Blake with others by clicking below
On May 15, 1997, members of Professor McCord's Blake Seminar
were lucky enough to
attend an exhibit of many of Blake's original works at the Paul Mellon Center
of
Yale University. This one-of-a-kind showing featured works from Mellon's
vast collection of
all things Blake, collected over a lifetime of appreciation. From one of
the rare full-color editions
of Jerusalem to exquisite engravings and watercolors for the writings of
Thomas Gray, this exhibit
did nothing less than impress all members of the Union's Blake seminar class.
To study William
Blake as poet, engraver, artist, and philosopher in the classroom and then
to be able to
fully appreciate his work in person, was truly an academic privilege and
fruit for our eyes.
