Kenneth Patchen
Kenneth Patchen: The Poet of the Human Condition
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Kenneth Patchen was born on December 13, 1911, in Niles, Ohio. His full name is Kenneth Rexroth, but he is more commonly known as Kenneth Patchen.
Birth and Death Dates
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December 13, 1911 - March 21, 1972
Nationality and Profession(s)
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American poet, novelist, playwright, artist, and activist. He was a key figure in the American avant-garde movement of the mid-20th century.
Early Life and Background
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Patchen's early life was marked by tragedy when his mother died in childbirth. His father remarried, but Patchen's relationship with his stepmother was strained. He dropped out of high school at 16 to work as a reporter for a local newspaper, where he developed a passion for writing.
Major Accomplishments
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Patchen's work spanned multiple genres and mediums. He wrote novels, plays, poetry collections, and essays, often incorporating visual elements like collage and typography. His most famous works include:
The Journal of Isiah (1947), a novel that explores themes of love, loss, and social justice.
The Colonel's Daughter (1938), a collection of poems that examines the human condition.
* The Book of Shadows (1957), a collaborative work with his wife, Rose Celene, featuring poetry, prose, and visual art.
Notable Works or Actions
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Patchen was an active participant in the American avant-garde movement, befriending artists like William Carlos Williams, Kenneth Rexroth (his pseudonym), and the Beats. He advocated for social justice and civil rights, often incorporating these themes into his work. His art and writing pushed boundaries of language, form, and content.
Impact and Legacy
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Patchen's innovative approach to poetry and art has influenced generations of writers and artists. His commitment to exploring the human condition through multiple mediums continues to inspire creative expression. The American avant-garde movement would not have been the same without his contributions.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Kenneth Patchen's work is widely quoted and remembered for its unflinching exploration of the human experience. His innovative use of language, form, and content challenged traditional notions of poetry and art. By pushing boundaries and advocating for social justice, he left an indelible mark on American literature and culture.
Patchen's legacy extends beyond his work to his influence on generations of artists and writers. He remains a powerful example of the poet's role as observer, critic, and catalyst for change.
Quotes by Kenneth Patchen
Humanity is a good thing. Perhaps we can arrange the murder of a sizable number of people to save it.
In literature as in life, to conform to anything is to knuckle under to your inferiors.
God must have loved the People in Power, for he made them so very like their own image of him.
For greatness is only the drayhorse that coaxes The built cart out; and where we go is reason. But genius is an enormous littleness, a trickling Of heart that covers alike the hare and the hunter.
People don’t want to be healed. They want a nice juicy wound that will show well when they put neon lights around it.
It is fully practical to create that which has form in the silence. The noise art makes is usually heard by those whose lives listen to god. It is not adviseable to cheat that which has no other stake than the deeps and brights of all man.
