Claus Cluver: On Representation in Concrete and SEmiotic Poetry

Claus Cluver begins by giving James Heffernan's definition of ekphrasis as "the verbal represntation of grahic representation." (36) Hefferman excludes all non-representational paintings, sculptures, and architecture from this definition. However, Cluver defines ekphrasis as "the verbal representation of a real or fictitious text composed in a non-verbal sign system". This definition includes all those excluded from Hefferman's definition as well as "non-verbal and non-visual texts." Cluver then goes on to give different examples of ekphrasis poetry. Near the end of the essay Cluver says that many of these poems can be interpreted in many ways. Because of this, a title limits the readers interpretation but at the same time guides the readers.

In ekphrasis poetry it seems that the words and the visual image it produces are equally important. What do people notice first, the image as a whole or the words? How can this affect interpretation of the piece?