jake kennedy a b ib l iogra phy by R ache lle Frase r
ENGL 205-001 kevin mcpherson eckhoff February 20, 2018
Index
A. Awards
B. Books
C. Fine Press Books
D. Broadsheets
E. Anthology Contributions
F. Journal and Magazine Contributions
G. Edited by Jake
H. Interviews with Jake
2  J a ke Ke nnedy
Biography Jake Kennedy was born and raised in Ontario, Canada. He has studied at York University, the University of Calgary, and McMaster University from which he earned a PhD in English and Cultural Studies. He now resides in Kelowna, BC and teaches students at Okanagan College the ways of English and Creative Writing. Kennedy is currently tearing up the learning scene as an ArtsX faculty member, where he nurtures thirsty minds innovative, collaborative, and non-standard methods of “instruction.” Kennedy is the recipient of a number of awards including: the bpNichol Chapbook Award (2007), the Robert Kroetsch Award for Innovative Poetry (2010), the Robin Blaser Award for Poetry (2011), as well as a BC Arts Council Writing grant (2013). He is an active member of the literary community and has an extensive list of work published in print and digital journals/magazines/anthologies, including some major publications such as: The Lateral (2010), Apollinaire’s Speech to the War Medic (2011), and Merz Structure No. 2 Burnt by Children at Play (2015). Many more of Jake’s creations can be found in Culture Machine, McSweeny’s Internet Tendency, The Awl, The Capilano Review, Porkopolis, and many more publications across Canada, The United States, and the UK. Jake specializes in the avant-garde and experimental poetry, often collaborating with his BFF and fellow Okanagan College professor, kevin mcpherson eckhoff, who teaches English and Literature and also likes to experiment with word-sounds. Their shenanigans can be found on YouTube for your eyeball pleasure, and BFF collaborations are present in many of the journals/magazines/anthologies mentioned above.
Aesthetics Jake Kennedy’s poetry goes beyond what is and into what else. He attempts to prove that nothing is always as it seems (cliché alert!) by taking a thing/idea/feeling and turning it upside-in and downside-out by finding new word-sound combinations that bring that thing/idea/feeling to life in a whole new way. A good example of this is in his collection of poems in “Studies” published in an issue of Ryga: A Journal of Provocations. Where he starts with an idea, something usually abstract, and attempts to materialize it in concrete imagery. His experimental tendencies keep his work fresh and intriguing by not allowing it to get lost in genres which keeps him constantly progressing and pushing the boundaries of poetry, creative writing, and the human imagination machine.
A Bi bli ography by R ach elle Fr a s e r 3
Bibliography A. Awards a BC Arts Council Writing Grant, 2013. the 2011 Robin Blaser Award for Poetry for the long poem “Futuromani.” the 2010 Robert Kroetsch Award for Innovative Poetry for The Lateral. the 2007 bpNichol Chapbook Award for Hazard.
B. Books Kennedy, Jake. Wing/Body/Wing. N.p. The Elephants, 2018. ———. Made Line Sing. New York: OPR, 2016. ———. Merz Structure No. 2 Burnt by Children at Play. Toronto: BookThug, 2015 ———. Apollinaire’s Speech to the War Medic. Toronto: BookThug, 2011. ———. The Lateral. Montreal: Snare, 2010. ———. Hazard. Toronto: BookThug, 2006.
C. Fine Press Books Kennedy, Jake. Light & Char. Vernon, BC: Greenboathouse, 2010. ———. Kobayashi, the Will. Vernon, BC: Greenboathouse, 2015.
D. Broadsheets Kennedy, Jake. “Claw Hammer Study.” The Stern Broadsheets. Vernon, BC: Greenboathouse, 2008.
E. Anthology Contributions Kennedy, Jake. “Notes to myself.” In Why Poetry Sucks, edited by Ryan Fitzpatrick and Jonathan Ball. Ontario: Insomniac, 2014. ———. “Studies.” In Ryga: A Journal of Provocations. Vernon, BC: Okanagan College and the Okanagan Institute, 2009.
4 J ake Ke nnedy
———. “Gedrogen Worden.” In Mary in the Black and White Room. Edited by Jennifer Lynn Fordyce. Kelowna, BC: Okanagan College, 2016. ———. “Brief Reflection on Optimism, After Holub.” In Dear Mr. Pink: Writings. Edited by Peter Olinger. Kelowna, BC: Okanagan College, 2015. ———. Poems. In BafterC 4, no. 1. Toronto: BookThug, 2009. ———. Poems. In Pissing Ice Anthology of New Canadian Poets. Edited by Jon Paul Fiorentino and Jay Millar. Toronto: BookThug, 2004. ———. Poem. In Moment’s Café #2. Toronto BookThug, 2009.
F. Journal and Magazine Contributions Kennedy, Jake. “Dante and Beatrice Bookends.” Literary Review of Canada, December 2017. ———. “Marina Abramović is Your Kid’s New Soccer Coach and the Team is Down by Nine Goals at the Half.” McSweeny’s, November 21, 2017, https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/marinaabramovic-is-your-kids-new-soccer-coach-and-the-team-is-down-by-nine-goals-at-the-half. ———. “Gins, Arakawa and the Undying Community.” Culture Machine vol. 8 (2006). https:// culturemachine.net/index.php/cm/article/viewArticle/44/52. ———. “Bushestina.” McSweeny’s, February 14, 2005, https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/ bushestina. ———. “Dust and the Avant-Garde.” CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture 7, no. 2, 2005, https://doi.org/10.7771/1481-4374.1261. ———. “A Life in Pictures Revisited.” Tout-fais 1, no.2 (May 2000). http://www.toutfait.com/ issues/issue_2/Notes/kennedy.html.
G. Edited by Jake Kennedy, Jake and Paola Poletta, eds., Boredom Fighters. Toronto: Tightrope, 2008. Kennedy, Jake and kevin mcpherson eckhoff, eds., Open Letter 15 no. 4 (Fall 2013).
H. Interviews with Jake Kennedy, Jake. “BookThug Interview with Jake Kennedy, author of Merz Structure No. 2 Burnt by Children at play.” By Jay MillAr. YouTube, June 26, 2015, https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=qR2075C1_Tk.
A Bi bli og raphy by R achelle Fra s e r 5
———. “BookThug Interview with Jake Kennedy, author of Apollinaire’s Speech to the War Medic.” By Jay MillAr. YouTube, June 8, 2011, https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Q84Rhkmgw5I. ———. “Interview with Poet, Jake Kennedy.” By Cole Mash. YouTube, March 28, 2014, https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=COGEVEU36UU. ———. “12 or 20 questions: with Jake Kennedy.” By Rob Mclennan. Rob Mclennan’s Blog, July 16, 2009, http://robmclennan.blogspot.ca/2009/07/12-or-20-questions-with-jake-kennedy.html.
I. Reviews by Jake Kennedy, Jake. Review of Poetry of the Revolution: Marx, Manifestos, and the Avant-Gardes, by Martin Puchner. Politics and Culture, October 2, 2009, https://politicsandculture. org/2009/10/02/jake-kennedy-poetry-of-the-revolution. ———. Review of The Men, by Lisa Robertson. Jacket Magazine (July 2007), http:// jacketmagazine.com/33/kennedy-robertson.shtml.
6 J ake Ke nnedy
A Bi bli og raphy by R achelle Fra s e r   7