eng489final

[eng489final]

Chapter 5: Conclusions

Poetry is a timeless form of literature that is often lauded for its ability to create emotional appeal through the use of devices similar to other works of literature. This can include metaphors and allusions, but with the unique characteristic of confining the verse to a meter and rhyme scheme in most cases.

Despite its exceptional appeal, poetry has seen a significant decline in its popularity as a medium of consumption and it was my mission to figure out what influences may have led to this decline. After consulting a few journals, researching a few poets, and formatting a space for this investigation, I have determined that (like with most complex questions) there is no one given answer.

Poetry has become an exclusive niche in our contemporary society in both production and consumption. While poetry may have always been produced by a relatively small group of creatives, the increase in literacy rates over time has been strongly contrasted with the forms of literature that are available. A plethora of choices, and a shortening in attention span leaves most poetry as an afterthought to media headlines, comics, fan fiction, and other short narratives.

The future of poetry remains strong, however, as it seems to still be practical in some instances. Whether sharing a creative space with songwriting, or taking more visual identities the form seems to be alive, just not as well as it used to be. Poetry can and should still be consumed. There are not any other forms of literature that occupy the same niche that poetry does or accomplishes the same rhythmic appeal. It will be around for a long time coming.

[eng489final]

4d. Political Speeches

As political speech as proven to be a popular medium for which to implement poetry, following is the link and a short exerpt from Maya Angelou's "On the Pulse of Morning" (1993). The poem was delivered at the inauguration of Bill Clinton.

"But today, the Rock cries out to us, clearly, forcefully, Come, you may stand upon my Back and face your distant destiny, But seek no haven in my shadow. I will give you no hiding place down here. You, created only a little lower than The angels, have crouched too long in The bruising darkness Have lain too long Face down in ignorance. Your mouths spilling words Armed for slaughter. The Rock cries out to us today, you may stand upon me, But do not hide your face."

[eng489final]

4c. Spoken Word Poetry

I feel as if it is also appropriate to link a powerful spoken word performance as well:

[eng489final]

4b. Songwriting

To enrich the experience, I attached some songs released in the last few decades that have been acclaimed for their storytelling abilities and comparisons to poetry in language:

[eng489final]

4a. Where Does Poetry Excel?

Poetry has always invoked a strong sense of emotional appeal, despite any claims on its popularity. Many genres of literature fail in comparison to be able to cater to this appeal in so few words. So, in what niches has poetry been applicable for our society?

Spoken Word: Often placing an emphasis on performance, spoken word poetry incorporates rhythm, tone, and movement to enhance the emotional appeal of its delivery.

Political Speeches: With similar poetic devices to spoken word and the inclusion of metaphors and other methods of figurative language, political speeches have been an impactful medium for poetry to inspire action. Think Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream."

Songwriting: Musical lyrics can be argued to have taken the form and moniker of "modern poetry." Lyrics follow the rhythm of a composed song and use rhyme, meter, and metaphors among other devices to create an emotional appeal. Songwriters that have been hailed for this craft include Bob Dylan or Joni Mitchell.

Advertisement: Poetry can catch attention and be memorable as well. Slogans or short jingles that so frequently accompany the vision of a brand bring in small elements of writing that can be argued as poetry.

Theatre: While many musical dramas use the same facets of appeal as songwriting mentioned above, theatre performances help historical poetry carry on. Shakespeare, for example, is immensely popular and continues to have new renditions done today.

[eng489final]

Chapter 4: Preserving Poetry

With many posts analyzing the hypothetical reasons behind poetry's decline in popularity, it is also important to examine the ways in which poetry has survived in our contemporary society.

What ways has poetry flourished with the digital literature we read through today?

In what niches does poetry find itself to be the most practical and compelling?

[eng489final]

3b. The Status of Poetry in the Field

Poetry is confronted with a major problem of perception by the public audience. Poetry is and always has carried somewhat of an elitist status. Amit Majmudar discusses some of these elements in his journal article, "Elitism and American Poetry" for the Kenyon Review. I'll provide the link to the article for those interested, but I will summarize some points below, many of which mirror points discussed in this blog already:

Poetry in the 'old days' was written for kings, dukes, and wealthy patrons. Many of these texts were beyond the common man, as the literacy rate was close to none.

Poetry often employs language that needs dedicated time and larger vocabularies, this upholds its status to those who are wealthy in education, not simply money as it were before.

The intimacy created in poetry is much like a spouse, a reader to the poet. This kind of intimacy leaves poetry to a smaller audience and less suited to catering to a large group of fans, similar to the way pop icons in songwriting do.

Interesting Read: https://kenyonreview.org/2015/10/elitism-and-american-poetry/

[eng489final]

3a. Employment in Comparison

As stated before in Chapter One discussing the elements of the Renaissance period that made poetry so prolific, writers and creators of art in the Renaissance were funded by the state -- the monarchy and Church alike.

Often times this led to many poets belonging to the clergy (see: Hildegard of Bingen) writing hymns and prayers. This also meant that poets like Geoffrey Chaucer (Known for The Canterbury Tales) were given stipends or gifts to produce such works. Poetry became a suitable means of living as it was supported by those willing to pay for it.

Fast forward to today, poetry is still purchased, but not nearly as heavily. Occupations in poetry/literature range from traditional publishing (a field that is high in competition and low in reward), non-profit work, poetry performances (that may not pay but rather be compensated through exposure), and academia where one may teach English or poetry. Options are varied, but none come with a sustainable means of living on their own and this defaults poetry to becoming something of a hobby and discourages aspiring writers from pursuing it.

[eng489final]

Chapter 3: Employment

Employment is an important aspect to consider when evaluating the decline of poetry as a popular medium. If one cannot make a living from producing written works like poetry, then this can affect the output of it.

[eng489final]

2c. Poetry is Consumed, Where?

Poetry and other popular forms of literature are easily consumed online, that much is clear. But can the effect of where it is consumed play an effect as well? "Reading in English Classrooms: A Developing Culture of Disenchantment" echoes this idea:

"When we teach reading without an inquiry into the intellectual, emotional and embodied experience that reading is for individuals in classrooms, we flatten the experience into passive absorption of what systems require."

McGraw, A., & Mason, M. (2019). Reading in English Classrooms: A Developing Culture of Disenchantment. Changing English, 26(2), 137–149. https://doi.org/10.1080/1358684X.2019.1585755

With so many historical works being reduced down to an assignment in the classroom setting, analytical literature becomes something of a chore to young minds. This can have a negative turn of also polluting other works of poetry and literature that 'seem hard' to be easily refused.

[eng489final]

2b. New Digital Forms of Literature

As if there weren't already a plethora of different forms of media available before, the digital age today boasts even more additions to the list.

Literature can now be consumed through interactive fiction websites, fan fiction platforms (Wattpad), E-books and downloadable media, social media (like the work being consumed right now), blogs, virtual reality, collaborative literature (Reddit), Mobile apps, Webcomics, and the list goes on and on. With so many choices available, poetry starts to become a more concentrated niche than it was before giving way to other more available avenues of consumption.

[eng489final]

2a. Popular Written Forms of Literature

From the 1400s to the late 1800s various forms of written literature took focus as popular forms of media. This concise list varied from some of these popular choices:

Epic Poetry - long, narrative poems on historical or mythological figures

Examples: The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri, Paradise Lost by John Milton

Dramas/Theatre - plays often written in some form of verse were an outlet for performances

Examples: William Shakespeare’s tragedies (Hamlet, Macbeth)

Prose Fiction/Novellas - short prose works that offered a moral lesson or satire/entertainment

Examples: Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes

Lyric Poetry - short poems on personal emotions usually discussing love, nature, or personal reflection

Examples: Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey by William Wordsworth, Ode on a Grecian Urn by John Keats

Novels - longer prose narratives that featured personal and socially relevant themes

Examples: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

[eng489final]

Chapter 2: Consumption of Art

The ability to read is essential to consuming literary forms of art, but changes in the most popularly consumed types of art is strongly correlated with how easy it is to consume.

The consumption of art is largely based on the forms that are available, and moreover, the forms that are popular. In periods of great artistic expression, like the Renaissance or the Romantic era, popular forms of art in literature tended to centralize in poems, novels, or theatre performances. Today, we have much more diversity in the mediums through which we consume art. With the rise of digital technology, platforms in visual art, music, and interactive experiences have become a primary means of consuming literature.

[eng489final]

Transition: Literacy Rates in Comparison

In contemporary society, literacy rates are much higher but less easily absorbed. The busy nature of the economy we live in does not see nearly as much funding of literature nor does it allow the time for the critical thought needed in comprehending most nuances in poetry to develop. Social media and brief new stories are more easily digested in this kind of environment.

This leads me to my next element of discussion, how literature and media is being consumed!

[eng489final]

1c. Elements of Literacy Rates

Literacy rates play an important factor in the growth of literature. While it might not be as significant for our current society, literacy was a strong barrier against the spread of poetry a few centuries ago. The literacy rates of those in the late Elizabethan era and Romantic era were relatively low compared to today's standards, with estimates of less than some 20% of the population being able to read and write. See the following link and graph...

[eng489final]

1b. Poetry in Romantic Era Culture:

Poetry also experienced a shift in how it was presented to the public! Accessibility to poetry became greater when the language used catered to those of an average vocabulary. One of the prominent writers of the Romantic era, William Wordsworth, captured this idea in his Preface to Lyrical Ballads (1800):

"The principal object, then, proposed in these Poems was to choose incidents and situations from common life, and to relate or describe them, throughout, as far as was possible in a selection of language really used by men, and, at the same time, to throw over them a certain colouring of imagination, whereby ordinary things should be presented to the mind in an unusual aspect..."

Link for the text is inserted here, for a lengthy but informative read: