On CAS senior Kareem Estefan's radio show, the stars are three contemporary poets - Sina Queyras, Caroline Bergvall and Kevin Davies.
As the mastermind behind the newest program, WNYU-FM "Ceptuetics," Estefan brings a half-hour of avant-garde poetry right to you every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
"The name 'Ceptuetics' comes from combining the words conceptual and poetics," Estefan said, as he described the nature of conceptual poetry. "It's more about an inquiry into the way language constructs our realities."
The show debuted Sept. 5 and four shows have been broadcast so far. Although "Ceptuetics" could still garner a bigger following, Estefan seemed positive about the feedback he's received so far.
"It's been quiet these first couple weeks, but my friends liked it, and I got an e-mail from a guy who happened to tune into my show while in traffic," Estefan said. "He said he hadn't heard poetry like it in a while, and was surprised to find he really enjoyed it."
Each week, Estefan plays recordings of poetry readings that he finds from CDs, Bobst Library and websites like ubu.com.
"I find recordings because I want to present the material as the poets perform it, not as I'd imagine it performed," Estefan said.
The poetry that Estefan focuses on is avant-garde poetry from the past to the present.
"And by avant-garde, I mean poetry that explores the possibilities of different texts, sounds and meanings - poetry that asks what writing is or can be," he said.
Estefan mainly looks for poetry to broadcast that he considers unique.
" 'Ceptuetics' covers a very broad range of 20th and 21st century avant-garde poetry," Estefan said. "But some characteristics are common in most of the poetry [like] appropriated or 'found' language, disjunctive syntax; And yes, it must be something you can't hear on the radio elsewhere in New York City."
In his broadcasts, Estefan says he juxtaposes the early poetic forms with the modern to make connections between past and present.
Since it is a new program, "Ceptuetics" is open to change, and Estefan is working on all aspects of production, from advertising to inviting guest speakers.
"I put up flyers and am currently working on getting poets on the show for live readings," he said.
He added that live readings of student poetry could be possible in the future.
Estefan started with WNYU in the spring semester of his freshman year and has been working with the radio station ever since. After spending two years as an online DJ, Estefan is now a full-fledged radio personality at the station, hosting "The New Afternoon Show" and "The Sound Between" as well as "Ceptuetics."
Estefan attributes his initial interest in conceptual poetry to the creative writing class he took with Robert Fitterman, a professor who taught about re-conceptualizing poems.
"Instead of teaching what was good or bad in a poem, he told us to ask ourselves 'How would I write this differently?' " Estefan said. Fitterman also hosts his own radio show of conceptual poetry.
In the long run, Estefan says he hopes to introduce his kind of poetry into the NYU mainstream.
"I'm trying to take poetry that is usually not covered by undergraduate classes and make it approachable for students," he said.
Hyein Lee is deputy features editor. E-mail her at hlee@nyunews.com.
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