Ultra Cosmic Gonzology is the third book by poet Charles Giuliano published in rapid succession from June 2014 to August 2016.
Now in his mid-70s the first book, Shards of a Life, initiated reflections on issues of legacy. The three books continue to explore family history, a career as a critic of the fine arts, jazz, blues, and rock, as well as the cosmic.
The second book Total Gonzo Poems established the author's literary and social context as the one who coined the ubiquitous word gonzo. With Hunter S. Thompson and William J. Cardoso, he was one of three founders of the gonzo school of literature. The volumes convey his gonzo approach, which has evolved from journalism to poetry.
Given the enormous interest in all matters related to gonzo, with this book Giuliano founds the field of gonzology. Its range of topics, hipster style, outrageous humor, and aesthetic irony offer vivid examples of what he means by the freshly-minted term.
As gonzology is absorbed by academia, these poetic volumes comprise rich and amusing additions to the study and appreciation of a major movement of outrageous style.
The books are profusely illustrated by the author. The current volume includes many vintage images of seminal jazz, blues, and rock performers, as well as visual and performance artists.
In addition to poems inspired by career and life experiences, the poet also probed deeply into philosophy and far reaches of the unknown. This entails the Ultra Cosmic dimensions of his unique gonzology.
Readers of Giuliano's poems often describe them as having the kind of riffs, speed, and rhythm that relate to the bop and jazz that he writes about. They are meant to be read rapidly with deep breaths.
Already in the works is a fourth book The Nugents of Rockport.
About the Author: Charles Giuliano is a critic, curator, artist, and art historian. Since 2006 he has published and edited the online arts website Berkshire Fine Arts. He has published widely with staff positions at the daily Boston Herald Traveler, Boston After Dark/Phoenix and the pioneering Microsoft website, Sidewalk. He was a columnist and frequent guest editor of Art New England as well as Boston correspondent for Art News. A graduate of Boston Latin School and Brandeis University he holds an MA from Boston University. He was director of exhibitions and taught art history and the humanities for the New England School of Art & Design/Suffolk University. As an adjunct he taught at Boston University's Metropolitan College, U Mass Lowell, Salem State University, and Framingham State University. His work has been seen in numerous solo and group exhibitions. This is his third book of poetry. He has contributed essays to numerous museum and gallery catalogues. He is a board member of American Theatre Critics Association.
