Confessionalism (Both Specifically and In General)

May 2, 2012 2:12 AM

Besides the Wikipedia listings, who are some confessional poets, writers, visual artists and songwriters? I'm especially looking for contemporary confessional poets, writers, and visual artists. (I have the contemporary songwriters covered.)

I also welcome links to discussions of the concept of "confessionalism" itself.

posted by mermaidcafe to Media & Arts (12 answers total)

The wiki link is good, and speaking in terms of literature it's a very specific term. I'd argue that these days the "norm" in English-language poetry is very much influenced by the first-person confessional mode of Lowell and Plath and others. Honestly, any poet employed by a major American university these days is probably writing in the "natural" mode of first person, free verse, middle- to upper-middle class lamentations.

Anything by Billy Collins would qualify.

Confessionalism hasn't gone away in American poetry. Quite lamentably, it's become the normative mode and not many people seem to realize that writing a poem doesn't have to be an exercise in subjective self-pity. Not in American MFA programs anyways.
posted by bardic at 3:28 AM on May 2, 2012

Dory Previn was a singer/songwriter/poet active in the 70's who is about as confessional as it's possible to be - so confessional I find her music uncomfortable to listen to! Her biggest hit (if you can call it that) is Beware of Young Girls, written about Mia Farrow, who stole her husband (that's a pretty terrible fan video, but it's the original song).
posted by cilantro at 3:33 AM on May 2, 2012 [1 favorite]

visual artists that spring to mind:

Anette Messeger

Sophie Calle
posted by effluvia at 8:24 AM on May 2, 2012 [1 favorite]

Tracey Emin is the first visual artist that sprung to mind here. The bulk of her work is about her sexual experiences as a teenager.
posted by mippy at 8:28 AM on May 2, 2012

Also - I thought Elizabeth Wurtzel in terms of writing, but as she is a memoirist it possibly doesn't count?

Chester Brown (if that's who I'm thinking of - writes a lot abotu using porn and masturbating), the comic book artist.
posted by mippy at 8:30 AM on May 2, 2012

Kim Addonizio
posted by ifjuly at 10:01 AM on May 2, 2012

Charles Bukowski might be considered confessional.
posted by catatethebird at 10:49 AM on May 2, 2012

Seconding Chester Brown. His graphic novel Paying for It, about being a client of sex workers, is startling.
posted by Sidhedevil at 12:05 PM on May 2, 2012 [1 favorite]

W.D. Snodgrass is the O.G. of the genre.
posted by yellowcandy at 1:58 PM on May 2, 2012

Oh, and as for visual artists, Nan Goldin comes to mind.
posted by ifjuly at 2:33 PM on May 2, 2012

Richard Siken
posted by Iris Gambol at 5:09 PM on May 2, 2012

I'd add Franz Wright, whose beautiful book Walking to Martha's Vineyard details his own childhood and struggles with addiction and his mental health recovery.
posted by airguitar2 at 9:18 PM on May 2, 2012