Humanophone

Humanophone

by Holmes

2001
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"The poetry in Humanophone celebrates composers and creators such as Harry Partch, Raymond Scott, Leon Theremin, and George Ives, who had to invent new instruments to capture the music heard in their "mind's ear." Taking its title from a George Ives invention - an instrument made from a group of humans, each of whom sings a single note, arrayed like a xylophone - Humanophone appears on its surface to be about music. But its real subject is the artist's creative dilemma - how to deliver a new idea, whether it be a song or a poem, through existing media."--BOOK JACKET.

Discussion questions for Humanophone

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  1. 1

    How does Janet Holmes use the eccentric inventors in Humanophone—such as Harry Partch and Leon Theremin—to mirror the struggles and ambitions of the poet herself?

  2. 2

    The title Humanophone refers to a literal instrument made of humans, each singing a single note. In what ways does this metaphor speak to the relationship between the individual creator and the broader culture or medium they work within?

  3. 3

    Holmes explores the artist’s dilemma of trying to deliver a wholly new idea through existing media. Have you ever felt constrained by the traditional "tools" or formats available in your own field or creative projects, and how did you push past those limits?

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