Poet Phyllis Webb initiated new ways of seeing into the cultural "dark" of Western thought. By blurring the axis between "light" and "dark," she redefined in positive terms women's subjectivity and sexuality, which are traditionally assigned "dark" negative values. Seeing in the Dark includes perceptive discussions on a number of Webb's collections, specifically Naked Poems, Wilson's Bowl, Water and Light and Hanging Fire. Butling shows how Webb uses strategies of subversion, reversal and re-vision of prevailing traditions and tropes to facilitate "seeing in the dark." She also provides a fascinating analysis of Webb criticism -- tracing it over the past thirty years and revealing a shift in critical paradigms. A chapter on biography includes intriguing archival material. Pauline Butling offers important new ways of reading one of Canada's finest poets. Seeing in the Dark is essential introductory material for the general reader and provides provocative penetrating analysis for literary scholars.

Book Information
ISBN 9780889202719
Author Pauline Butling
Format Paperback
Page Count 198
Imprint Wilfrid Laurier University Press
Publisher Wilfrid Laurier University Press
Weight(grams) 266g