Haiku Theory

Graham Dutch
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"Haiku Theory" is a thought-provoking podcast delving deep into the theory of haiku, the centuries-old form of Japanese poetry renowned for its profundity. Each episode investigates a specific aspect of haiku theory, summarizing key ideas found in the writings of the deepest thinkers on haiku throughout the centuries and across the globe. Whether you're a seasoned haiku enthusiast or a newcomer to the world of haiku, "Haiku Theory" welcomes you to immerse yourself in the beauty and wisdom of this timeless art form.

  1. Episode 23: Poetic Diction in Haiku

    13/11/2025

    Episode 23: Poetic Diction in Haiku

    Think haiku is all about simple language? Come along as we unpack how the juxtaposition of poetic and common diction energizes haiku, and how 20th-century English-language poets got it wrong by mistaking the poetic for the prosaic.  Contact the Haiku Theory Podcast by Emailing Us Here.    This episode's soundscape was recorded by Graham on a subway car in Tokyo, Japan in June 2025.   Hiroaki Sato's On Haiku can be purchased here.  Haruo Shirane's Traces of Dreams can be purchased here. Koji Kawamoto's The Poetics of Japanese Verse can be purchased here.

    21 min
  2. Episode 22: Haiku Grammar

    15/05/2025

    Episode 22: Haiku Grammar

    Is haiku bound by the rules of everyday grammar, or does it operate on its own terms? In this episode, we explore how haiku breaks away from the structures of normal sentence-based language. From notions of spontaneous grammars to the disruptive grammars of the "Cut" in haiku, we question why readers and editors often impose standard grammatical expectations on a poetic form that may not want them. Through examples and thought experiments, we ask: If a haiku isn't a sentence, what is it—and what kind of grammar does it create?  Contact the Haiku Theory Podcast by Emailing Us Here.    This episode's music was recorded by Graham at his old piano and is titled, "Waltz of Gold."

    18 min
  3. Episode 21: Haiku Expectations

    14/03/2025

    Episode 21: Haiku Expectations

    Haiku expectations dictate what it is we think haiku should be doing. In this episode, we dive into the expectations surrounding haiku and how they shape our experience of the form. We explore the common belief that haiku should evoke profound moments of clarity or connection with nature, and why this expectation often leads to disappointment. From the historical influence of Western interpretations to the rise of prescriptive rules about the "haiku moment," we examine how these expectations have shaped both the writing and reading of haiku. Join us as we unpack the assumptions that guide our approach to haiku and rethink what this poetic form is truly meant to do. Instone Poetry Forums, and excellent place to workshop your haiku, and discuss all things haiku, can be found by Clicking Here  Contact the Haiku Theory Podcast by Emailing Us Here.

    40 min
  4. Episode 20: Care Ethics and Haiku

    23/01/2025

    Episode 20: Care Ethics and Haiku

    In a world that often feels disconnected, haiku offers a unique way to nurture our capacity for care. In this episode we read Ce Rosenow and Maurice Hamington's 'A Careful Poetics: Caring Imagination, Caring Habits, and Haiku,' which explores the intersection of care ethics and aesthetic theory, focusing on how haiku can enhance our capacity for care. We discuss how haiku, with its emphasis on embodied experience and mindful attention, cultivates a caring imagination, deepens understanding, and may even inspire compassionate actions. Tune in for a thoughtful look at the potential of poetry to foster care in both personal and societal contexts.  A 'Careful Poetics: Caring Imagination, Caring Habits, and Haiku' can be read in its entirety by Clicking Here.  Inkstone Poetry Forums can be found by Clicking Here.  Contact the Haiku Theory Podcast by Emailing Us Here.    This episode's soundscape was recorded by Graham on a train to Pompy, Italy on June 28, 2024.

    13 min
  5. Episode 19: Meaning and Experience

    19/12/2024

    Episode 19: Meaning and Experience

    Meaning and Experience  The interplay of meaning and experience in haiku both captivates and frustrates readers and writers alike. In this episode, we delve into Richard Gilbert's concept of Collocation and Roland Barthes' Narrative Codes, examining how these theories illuminate the structures of language—and what they reveal about the life and death of haiku.  Click Here for a link to an incredible discussion and analysis of Peter Newton's 'beam by beam' haiku. Click Here for a brief description of Roland Barthe's five language codes.  To contact the podcast Email Us Here.   The audio of this episode was recorded by Graham at a publicly performed Christmas pageant.

    16 min
  6. Episode 18: Jacques Lacan and Haiku

    13/12/2024

    Episode 18: Jacques Lacan and Haiku

    Within haiku is a tension between silence and expression that mirrors the complex relationship between desire and its unattainable fulfillment.   In this episode, we delve into Ian Marshall's essay, Jouissance among the Kire: A Lacanian Approach to Haiku, to explore Jacques Lacan's concept of Jouissance and its connection to haiku's emphasis on the ineffable, the unsaid, and the fragmented.  Marshall's essay, Jouissance among the Kire: A Lacanian Approach to Haiku, can be read in its entirety by Clicking Here.  To contact the podcast, email us by Clicking Here.    This episode's soundscape was recorded by Graham, and features the sounds of an backstreet in Rome, Italy at 6:58pm on June 28, 2024.

    23 min
  7. Episode 17: Disjunction

    02/12/2024

    Episode 17: Disjunction

    Dwelling beneath the formal aspect of Juxtaposition is the force of Disjunction, a force that disrupts perception and challenges the very notion of what a haiku is.  In today's episode, we explore Richard Gilbert's essay The Disjunctive Dragonfly, which shifts the conversation about haiku from what haiku is, to how haiku work. Gilbert argues that the true power of haiku lies in the concept of "disjunction," a force that disrupts readers' perceptions and challenges our understanding of how meaning arises within haiku.   Gilbert's essay, The Disjunctive Dragonfly, can be read in its entirety by Clicking Here.   Gilbert's introduction to Jim Kacian's long after can be read by Clicking Here.  William M. Ramsey's essay How One Writes in the Haiku Moment: Mythos vs. Logos, can be read by Clicking Here.  To contact the podcast email us by Clicking Here. This episode's soundscape was recorded by Graham, and features the sounds of a cafe in Varenna, Italy at 9am on June 19, 2024.

    20 min
  8. Episode 16: Copying Haiku Product, Problem, and Process

    14/11/2024

    Episode 16: Copying Haiku Product, Problem, and Process

    "Good artists copy, great artists steal." This quote is attributed to Picasso, but what does it actually mean for Haiku? Come along as we dig into a theory of crafting original haiku by copying the works of others. In this episode we'll be investigating the theory of copying put forth by Michele Root-Bernstein in her essay 'Copying to Create: The Role of Imitation and Emulation in Developing Haiku Craft,' which can be read in its entirety by CLICKING HERE.   To contact the podcast email us HERE  This episode/s soundscape was recorded by Graham, and features cowbells heard outside of the mountain village of Kriens, Switzerland, on June 11, 2024 at 12:31pm

    15 min
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About

"Haiku Theory" is a thought-provoking podcast delving deep into the theory of haiku, the centuries-old form of Japanese poetry renowned for its profundity. Each episode investigates a specific aspect of haiku theory, summarizing key ideas found in the writings of the deepest thinkers on haiku throughout the centuries and across the globe. Whether you're a seasoned haiku enthusiast or a newcomer to the world of haiku, "Haiku Theory" welcomes you to immerse yourself in the beauty and wisdom of this timeless art form.

Information

  • Creator
    Graham Dutch
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (c) 2024
  • Show Website
    Haiku Theory