In an introduction to literature class recently, students gathered into small groups to discuss and draw diagrams of the events in the novel Notable American Women by Ben Marcus, an avant-garde satire of utopia-themed books, such as George Orwell’s 1984 and Brave New World by Aldous Huxley.
While some students manage to illustrate the bizarre themes of the story, others students are left perplexed at what the story is about. For Zachary Schomburg, a poet and new professor at Portland State, perplexed is an OK way for his students to be.
“If you’re confused and you’re uncomfortable, and you don’t know what to think, that’s the best place to have your students,” Schomburg said. “That’s when they’re really learning something, when they have to kind of struggle to figure something out.”
Before studying poetry and literature, Schomburg was a journalism student, but found there was more freedom in creative writing.
“There’s all these rules in journalism. In creative writing, no rules. Just do what you want to do,” he said.
Although he is working toward his doctorate in poetry and creative writing from the University of Nebraska, he took a job at Portland State as part of the adjunct faculty teaching literature and film classes. Teaching about what he loves seemed to be the logical career choice for Schomburg.
“It makes sense to me that if I love it so much that I want to be there with people actually learning it, just beginning to be interested in it,” Schomburg said. “I want to show them that literature is being written all around us right know. Classics are happening right know.”
In an intro to literature class one might expect to read the standard classics from authors such as John Steinbeck or Mark Twain. Schomburg takes an unlikely approach, and picked books that have been written in the last five years, such as Notable American Women and The Road by Cormac McCarthy.
“His approach to teaching is really unique and innovative,” said freshman Kristina Barrera, a student in Schomburg’s Introduction to Literature class. “Instead of just lecture, he tries to think of activities to [help you] understand the underlying themes.”
He usually eases his students in with more straightforward and conventional novels to begin with and later throws in some surprises with less conventional novels such as Notable American Women.
“The exposure to the different kinds of literature is good,” said Ruth Whited, a senior in Schomburg’s Intro to Literature class.
Schomburg said that he would love to eventually teach poetry classes also.
“I think it is what I’m most passionate about, and know most about,” Schomburg said.
Schomburg has enjoyed critical success with his book The Man Suit, a collection of his poetry that was honored on the New York Public Library’s list of Top 25 Books to Remember for 2007. He has another book of poetry titled Scary, No Scary, that is coming out this year.
Schomburg names poets James Tate and Russell Edson as some of his influences in his writing.
“They have the ability to be serious and contemplative, but funny, relaxed and light. They have a mix of strangeness and humor,” said Schomburg, who describes his own poetry as “strange, funny, sad and surreal … and good.”
Schomburg also does live readings of his poems around the Portland area through groups like Spare Room. “I feel like I’ve instantly become part of the poetry community, which feels good,” he said.
Along with finding a family in the poetry community here in Portland, Schomburg is trying “to blend in with Portland” and its environmentally friendly spirit by walking to campus instead of driving. He recently bought a vintage bicycle to be able to get more places in the neighborhood without a car.
Whether it’s reading a novel, looking at art or reading poetry, Schomburg’s biggest aim for his students is just to have fun with it.
“This isn’t just an assignment or just a chore that you burn through 140 pages,” he said. “If that’s it then don’t read it all. The point is if you can enjoy these 140 pages if you get something from them and learn something from them. That’s when you’re actually going somewhere.”