Daniel Scott Tysdal
Encyclopedia
Daniel Scott Tysdal is a Canadian poet
whose work approaches the lyric
mode with an experimental spirit. In June 2007, Tysdal received the ReLit Award for Poetry.
Tysdal was born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
, and was raised on a farm
. He received a B.A. (Hons.) from the University of Regina
(Saskatchewan
) in 2003, an M.A. (English) from Acadia University
(Nova Scotia
) in 2006, and an M.A. (English in the Field of Creative Writing) from The University of Toronto in 2008. He currently lives in Toronto
, Canada
and is a lecturer in creative writing at The University of Toronto Scarborough
.
Manuscript Award and the 2006 Anne Szumigalski
Award (Saskatchewan Book Award for Best Book of Poetry). Predicting the Next Big Advertising Breakthrough was also shortlisted for the 2006 Brenda MacDonald Riches Award (Saskatchewan Book Award for Best First Book), and won the 2007 ReLit Award. Tysdal’s poem, “An Experiment in Form,” received honourable mention in the 2003 National Magazine Awards. His poem “T-Shirts or Toys: Crib Notes for a One-Year-Old Nephew” was a national finalist in the CBC’s (Canadian Broadcasting Company) 2005 National Poetry Face-Off.
Tysdal’s poetry, Canadian writer Jon Paul Fiorentino
writes, “is an exhilarating mix of pop culture, philosophy
, mythology
, and visual art.” His work investigates traditional poetic themes -loss and redemption, selfhood and community— through a diverse range of contemporary experiences, mediums and artefacts
. Predicting the Next Big Advertising Breakthrough begins with “Zombies: A Catalogue of Their Return,” a modestly illustrated description of a zombie invasion, and ends with, “A>Al Jaffee
’s MAD Magazine “fold-ins”; to read the final line of the poem, readers must physically fold the page in thirds to discover it. Thus, whether writing a traditional lyric or elegy
, or dealing with subjects as diverse as bukkake and Walter Benjamin
, Tysdal “gets us to rethink what constitutes a poetic text.” George Elliot Clarke observes, “for all their high-minded, critical jouissance
, the lyrics are lively with accessible puns
, jokes, games, and satire
.”
In the book, Tysdal’s work is also characterized by elements of concrete poetry
and visual art. “One Way of Shuffling Is Ten Hours into Back-to-Back Sessions Going on Tilt,” a meditation on ideas of order and origin through a hand of Texas Hold 'Em
, takes the visual form of a deck of cards. “How We Know We Are Being Addressed by the Man Who Shot Himself Online” works with the images taken from the digital footage of a suicide
posted on the World Wide Web
, an innovative poetic strategy praised by one reviewer as the book’s “most horrifying intermingling of text with visuals.” But reviewer Tim Conley demurred, writing that the book, "has the pleasing shape of a catalogue but structurally smacks of one of those dead-end marketplace “squatter” sites encountered at a wrong turn on the web, offering catch-all links in categories (games, dating, cell phones, horoscopes, real estate, movies)..."
Tysdal's second book of poetry,The Mourner's Book of Albums, was published by Tightrope Books in October 2010.
. In 2008, Tysdal's short story
"What is Missing" received first place in the Eye Weekly
Short Story Contest. His fiction has also appeared in Canadian online literary magazine The Puritan
(2011).
Other Reviews of Daniel Scott Tysdal's Predicting the Next Big Advertising Breakthrough Using a Potentially Dangerous Method
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
whose work approaches the lyric
Lyric poetry
Lyric poetry is a genre of poetry that expresses personal and emotional feelings. In the ancient world, lyric poems were those which were sung to the lyre. Lyric poems do not have to rhyme, and today do not need to be set to music or a beat...
mode with an experimental spirit. In June 2007, Tysdal received the ReLit Award for Poetry.
Tysdal was born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
, and was raised on a farm
Farm
A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
. He received a B.A. (Hons.) from the University of Regina
University of Regina
The University of Regina is a public research university located in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Founded in 1911 as a private denominational high school of the Methodist Church of Canada, it began an association with the University of Saskatchewan as a junior college in 1925, and was disaffiliated...
(Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
) in 2003, an M.A. (English) from Acadia University
Acadia University
Acadia University is a predominantly undergraduate university located in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada with some graduate programs at the master's level and one at the doctoral level...
(Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
) in 2006, and an M.A. (English in the Field of Creative Writing) from The University of Toronto in 2008. He currently lives in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and is a lecturer in creative writing at The University of Toronto Scarborough
University of Toronto Scarborough
The University of Toronto Scarborough is a satellite campus of the University of Toronto. Based in the Scarborough district of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the campus is set upon suburban parkland in the residential neighbourhood of Highland Creek...
.
Poetry
His first collection of poetry, Predicting the Next Big Advertising Breakthrough Using a Potentially Dangerous Method (2006), received the 2004 John V. HicksJohn V. Hicks
John Victor Hicks, SOM was a Canadian poet. He was born in London, England but his parents immigrated to New Brunswick while he was still an infant...
Manuscript Award and the 2006 Anne Szumigalski
Anne Szumigalski
Anne Szumigalski, SOM was a Canadian poet.- Life :She was born Anne Howard Davies in London, England, and grew up mostly in a Hampshire village. She served with the Red Cross as a medical auxiliary officer and interpreter during World War II, following British Army forces in 1944-5 across parts of...
Award (Saskatchewan Book Award for Best Book of Poetry). Predicting the Next Big Advertising Breakthrough was also shortlisted for the 2006 Brenda MacDonald Riches Award (Saskatchewan Book Award for Best First Book), and won the 2007 ReLit Award. Tysdal’s poem, “An Experiment in Form,” received honourable mention in the 2003 National Magazine Awards. His poem “T-Shirts or Toys: Crib Notes for a One-Year-Old Nephew” was a national finalist in the CBC’s (Canadian Broadcasting Company) 2005 National Poetry Face-Off.
Tysdal’s poetry, Canadian writer Jon Paul Fiorentino
Jon Paul Fiorentino
Jon Paul Fiorentino is a Canadian poet, novelist and short story writer.Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, he currently teaches at Concordia University, is editor-in-chief of Matrix magazine and founded Snare Books , a Canadian publishing Company....
writes, “is an exhilarating mix of pop culture, philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
, mythology
Mythology
The term mythology can refer either to the study of myths, or to a body or collection of myths. As examples, comparative mythology is the study of connections between myths from different cultures, whereas Greek mythology is the body of myths from ancient Greece...
, and visual art.” His work investigates traditional poetic themes -loss and redemption, selfhood and community— through a diverse range of contemporary experiences, mediums and artefacts
Artifact (archaeology)
An artifact or artefact is "something made or given shape by man, such as a tool or a work of art, esp an object of archaeological interest"...
. Predicting the Next Big Advertising Breakthrough begins with “Zombies: A Catalogue of Their Return,” a modestly illustrated description of a zombie invasion, and ends with, “A>
Al Jaffee
Abraham Jaffee , known as Al Jaffee, is an American cartoonist. He is notable for his work in the satirical magazine Mad, including his trademark feature, the Mad Fold-in. As of 2010, Jaffee remains a regular in the magazine after 55 years and is its longest-running contributor...
’s MAD Magazine “fold-ins”; to read the final line of the poem, readers must physically fold the page in thirds to discover it. Thus, whether writing a traditional lyric or elegy
Elegy
In literature, an elegy is a mournful, melancholic or plaintive poem, especially a funeral song or a lament for the dead.-History:The Greek term elegeia originally referred to any verse written in elegiac couplets and covering a wide range of subject matter, including epitaphs for tombs...
, or dealing with subjects as diverse as bukkake and Walter Benjamin
Walter Benjamin
Walter Bendix Schönflies Benjamin was a German-Jewish intellectual, who functioned variously as a literary critic, philosopher, sociologist, translator, radio broadcaster and essayist...
, Tysdal “gets us to rethink what constitutes a poetic text.” George Elliot Clarke observes, “for all their high-minded, critical jouissance
Jouissance
The term jouissance, in French, denotes "pleasure" or "enjoyment." The term has a sexual connotation lacking in the English word "enjoyment", and is therefore left untranslated in English editions of the works of Jacques Lacan. In his Seminar "The Ethics of Psychoanalysis" Lacan develops his...
, the lyrics are lively with accessible puns
Puns
Puns may refer to:*Partido de Unión Nacional Saharaui, the Sahrawi political party* Pun, figure of speech* Phoenicians...
, jokes, games, and satire
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
.”
In the book, Tysdal’s work is also characterized by elements of concrete poetry
Concrete poetry
Concrete poetry or shape poetry is poetry in which the typographical arrangement of words is as important in conveying the intended effect as the conventional elements of the poem, such as meaning of words, rhythm, rhyme and so on....
and visual art. “One Way of Shuffling Is Ten Hours into Back-to-Back Sessions Going on Tilt,” a meditation on ideas of order and origin through a hand of Texas Hold 'Em
Texas hold 'em
Texas Hold 'em is a variation of the standard card game of poker. The game consists of two cards being dealt face down to each player and then five community cards being placed face-up by the dealer—a series of three then two additional single cards , with...
, takes the visual form of a deck of cards. “How We Know We Are Being Addressed by the Man Who Shot Himself Online” works with the images taken from the digital footage of a suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
posted on the World Wide Web
World Wide Web
The World Wide Web is a system of interlinked hypertext documents accessed via the Internet...
, an innovative poetic strategy praised by one reviewer as the book’s “most horrifying intermingling of text with visuals.” But reviewer Tim Conley demurred, writing that the book, "has the pleasing shape of a catalogue but structurally smacks of one of those dead-end marketplace “squatter” sites encountered at a wrong turn on the web, offering catch-all links in categories (games, dating, cell phones, horoscopes, real estate, movies)..."
Tysdal's second book of poetry,The Mourner's Book of Albums, was published by Tightrope Books in October 2010.
Fiction
Tysdal has also received recognition for his work in short fictionFiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
. In 2008, Tysdal's short story
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
"What is Missing" received first place in the Eye Weekly
Eye Weekly
Eye Weekly was a free weekly newspaper published in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was owned by Torstar, the parent company of the Toronto Star, and was published by their Star Media Group until its final issue on May 5, 2011. The following week, Torstar launched a successor publication, The Grid.-...
Short Story Contest. His fiction has also appeared in Canadian online literary magazine The Puritan
The Puritan
The Puritan, or the Widow of Watling Street, also known as The Puritan Widow, is an anonymous Jacobean stage comedy, first published in 1607. It is often attributed to Thomas Middleton, but also belongs to the Shakespeare Apocrypha due to its title page attribution to "W.S.".-Date and...
(2011).
Poetry
- Predicting the Next Big Advertising Breakthrough Using a Potentially Dangerous Method (2006); Coteau Books
- The Mourner's Book of Albums (2010); Tightrope Books
Anthologies
- Gulch: An Assemblage of Poetry and Prose (2009); Tightrope Books
- Boredom Fighters: A Collection of Graphic Poems (2008); Tightrope Books
- Fast Forward: New Saskatchewan Poets (2007); Hagios Press
Criticism
- Tysdal, Dan. "Inarticulation and the Figure of Enjoyment: Raymond Carver's Minimalism Meets David Foster Wallace's 'A Radically Condensed History of Postindustrial Life.'" Wascana Review of Contemporary Poetry and Short Fiction 38.1 (2003), 66-83.
External links
- Daniel Scott Tysdal's blog
- "What Is Missing" Tysdal's first-place winning entry for the 2008 Eye WeeklyEye WeeklyEye Weekly was a free weekly newspaper published in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was owned by Torstar, the parent company of the Toronto Star, and was published by their Star Media Group until its final issue on May 5, 2011. The following week, Torstar launched a successor publication, The Grid.-...
Short Story Contest.
Other Reviews of Daniel Scott Tysdal's Predicting the Next Big Advertising Breakthrough Using a Potentially Dangerous Method
- Review by