Glossary

10.3 Postmodern poetry: Ashbery, Hejinian, and Graham

4 min read•august 13, 2024

Postmodern poetry shook up the literary world in the 1950s and 60s. It ditched old-school forms and themes, embracing a playful, self-aware style that challenged ideas of fixed meaning and identity.

Poets like Ashbery, Hejinian, and Graham led the charge with their experimental approaches. They mixed pop culture with high art, used fragmented language, and invited readers to actively create meaning alongside them.

Postmodern Poetry: Key Features

Rejection of Traditional Forms and Themes

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Top images from around the web for Rejection of Traditional Forms and Themes

  • The Trouble With Poet: Accidental Poetry, Found: The Rejection Letter View original

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  • Tuesday Poem: The Swan by John Hollander View original

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  • Postmodern poetry emerged in the 1950s and 1960s, following the modernist era
  • Characterized by a rejection of traditional forms, themes, and styles
  • Embraces a more playful, irreverent, and self-reflexive approach to language and meaning
  • Challenges the notion of a stable, unified self and explores the multiplicity and fluidity of identity
  • Frequently incorporates elements of popular culture, mass media, and technology
  • Blurs the boundaries between high and low art
  • Reflects the postmodern skepticism towards grand narratives and the belief in the inherent instability of meaning
  • Opens up new possibilities for experimentation and innovation in contemporary poetic practices

Experimental Forms in Postmodern Poetry

John Ashbery's Complex and Surreal Imagery

  • Known for its complex, often surreal imagery, disjunctive syntax, and a sense of ambiguity and indeterminacy
  • Employs a non-linear, associative style that challenges traditional narrative structures ()
  • Encourages multiple interpretations and active reader participation in the construction of meaning
  • Reflects the postmodern emphasis on language play and the openness of meaning

Lyn Hejinian's Fragmented and Open-Ended Style

  • Employs a highly experimental, fragmented form that blurs the boundaries between poetry and prose ()
  • Uses repetition, variation, and non-sequitur to create a sense of open-endedness
  • Invites the reader to participate in the construction of meaning and fill in the gaps
  • Challenges traditional notions of authorship and the fixed nature of the text

Jorie Graham's Dense and Allusive Language

  • Characterized by a dense, allusive style that incorporates elements of philosophy, science, and art history
  • Employs a highly visual, cinematic approach to language, often using white space and unconventional formatting ()
  • Creates a sense of movement and flux, reflecting the postmodern emphasis on the instability of meaning
  • Requires active reader engagement and interpretation to unpack the complex layers of meaning

Fragmentation and Indeterminacy in Postmodern Poetry

Breaking Down Traditional Narrative Structures

  • refers to the breaking down of traditional narrative structures and the use of discontinuous, often disjointed language
  • Reflects the postmodern skepticism towards grand narratives and the belief in the inherent instability of meaning
  • Encourages the reader to make connections and construct meaning from the fragmented elements
  • Challenges the notion of a linear, coherent narrative and embraces a more open-ended, non-sequential approach

Openness and Ambiguity of Meaning

  • Indeterminacy refers to the openness and ambiguity of meaning, allowing for multiple interpretations and resisting closure
  • Postmodern poets often use language in a way that undermines the notion of a single, fixed meaning
  • Encourages the reader to engage in the process of meaning-making and bring their own experiences and perspectives to the text
  • Reflects the postmodern belief in the multiplicity and fluidity of identity and the inherent instability of language

Active Reader Participation

  • Reader participation is a crucial aspect of postmodern poetry, as the reader is invited to actively engage with the text
  • The open-ended, indeterminate nature of postmodern poetry requires the reader to fill in the gaps, make connections, and interpret the text in their own way
  • Challenges the traditional notion of the passive reader and emphasizes the collaborative nature of meaning-making
  • Reflects the postmodern emphasis on the reader's role in the construction of meaning and the inherent subjectivity of interpretation

Postmodern Poetry vs Contemporary Practices

Influence on Experimentation and Innovation

  • Postmodern poetry has had a significant influence on the development of contemporary poetic practices
  • The emphasis on language play, fragmentation, and indeterminacy has encouraged contemporary poets to push the boundaries of form and meaning
  • Opens up new possibilities for experimentation and innovation, challenging traditional notions of what constitutes poetry
  • Paves the way for a more diverse range of poetic voices and styles in contemporary poetry

Rise of Interactive and Collaborative Forms

  • The postmodern challenge to traditional notions of authorship and the emphasis on reader participation has influenced the rise of interactive and collaborative poetic forms
  • Digital poetry and performance poetry often incorporate elements of interactivity and collaboration, blurring the boundaries between author and audience
  • Reflects the postmodern emphasis on the fluidity of identity and the inherent subjectivity of meaning-making
  • Encourages a more participatory and engaged approach to poetry, inviting readers to become active co-creators of meaning

Politically Engaged and Socially Conscious Poetry

  • The postmodern skepticism towards grand narratives and the exploration of multiple, fluid identities has contributed to the development of a more politically engaged and socially conscious contemporary poetry
  • Contemporary poets often use their work to address issues of social justice, identity politics, and marginalized experiences
  • Reflects the postmodern emphasis on the inherent instability of meaning and the need for multiple perspectives and voices
  • Encourages a more inclusive and diverse range of poetic voices and styles, challenging traditional notions of the canon and the role of poetry in society

Key Terms to Review (20)

Avant-garde: Avant-garde refers to innovative and experimental ideas, particularly in the arts, that challenge traditional norms and conventions. It often seeks to push boundaries and provoke thought, reflecting the rapid changes in society and culture, particularly during the periods of modernism and postmodernism in literature and poetry.
Cold War Era: The Cold War Era refers to the period of geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and the United States, along with their respective allies, from the end of World War II in 1947 until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. This era was marked by ideological conflict, military competition, and cultural exchanges that deeply influenced literature and art, including the evolution of postmodern poetry.
Consumer culture: Consumer culture refers to a social and economic order that encourages the acquisition of goods and services in ever-increasing amounts. This phenomenon is often characterized by a focus on the symbolic value of products, where items are not only valued for their utility but also for their ability to convey status, identity, and lifestyle. In the context of certain literary movements, consumer culture critiques the commodification of art and literature, reflecting broader societal issues.
Deconstruction: Deconstruction is a critical approach that challenges the traditional understanding of texts by revealing the inherent instability of meaning within language. It focuses on exposing the contradictions and assumptions that underlie a text, demonstrating how meaning is not fixed but rather dependent on context, interpretation, and the interplay of different elements within the text.
Fragmentation: Fragmentation refers to the breaking apart or disintegration of coherent narratives, structures, or ideas into disjointed or disparate parts. This concept highlights the complexities of modern life and reflects the disconnection and multiplicity of perspectives in literature and culture. It is a key feature that emphasizes how meaning can be constructed through non-linear narratives, juxtapositions, and an emphasis on subjective experiences.
Intertextuality: Intertextuality refers to the relationship between texts and how they influence, reference, or echo one another. It emphasizes that no text exists in isolation; rather, every piece of writing is shaped by its connections to other works, including their themes, styles, and structures. This concept highlights the ways in which authors draw upon and transform existing narratives, creating a web of literary meaning across different works.
John Ashbery: John Ashbery was a prominent American poet known for his innovative and complex style that became a hallmark of postmodern poetry. His work often features fragmented narratives, unconventional syntax, and a blending of high and low culture, which challenges traditional poetic forms and reader expectations. Through his exploration of consciousness and perception, Ashbery's poetry reflects the complexities of modern life, making him a key figure alongside other influential poets in the postmodern movement.
Jorie Graham: Jorie Graham is an influential American poet known for her innovative and experimental approach to language, form, and meaning. Her work often delves into themes of perception, existence, and the interplay between the individual and the collective, making significant contributions to the landscape of postmodern poetry alongside contemporaries like John Ashbery and Lyn Hejinian.
Language games: Language games are a concept developed by philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein, describing how the meaning of words is derived from their usage within specific social contexts and activities. This idea suggests that language is not a fixed system of rules but rather a dynamic practice shaped by interactions and forms of life. In the realm of poetry, particularly in postmodern works, language games emphasize the playful and experimental use of language, revealing how meaning can shift based on context and reader interpretation.
Lyn hejinian: Lyn Hejinian is a contemporary American poet known for her contributions to postmodern poetry, particularly through her use of language and innovative structures that challenge traditional forms. Her work often incorporates autobiographical elements, experimental techniques, and a focus on the act of perception, reflecting a broader movement in literature that questions reality and representation.
Metafiction: Metafiction is a self-referential literary technique where a work of fiction draws attention to its own status as a constructed narrative. This approach often blurs the line between fiction and reality, inviting readers to question the nature of storytelling and the relationship between the author, the text, and the audience.
My life: 'My life' refers to the subjective experience of an individual, encapsulating personal memories, emotions, and daily activities. This concept emphasizes the uniqueness of each person's journey and the ways in which individuals narrate their lives, often exploring themes of identity, existence, and the fluidity of meaning in postmodern poetry.
Non-linear narrative: A non-linear narrative is a storytelling technique that presents events out of chronological order, allowing for a more complex and layered exploration of themes, characters, and ideas. This style often mirrors the way humans experience memory and perception, emphasizing connections between events rather than a straightforward timeline.
Polysemy: Polysemy refers to the phenomenon where a single word or phrase has multiple meanings or interpretations. This linguistic characteristic allows for richness and ambiguity in language, enabling different contexts to elicit various understandings of the same term. It plays a significant role in both poetry and literary theory, allowing for layered meanings and nuanced interpretations.
Postmodern American Poetry: A Norton Anthology: Postmodern American Poetry: A Norton Anthology is a comprehensive collection that showcases a diverse range of poetic voices from the postmodern era, primarily highlighting the works of influential poets who challenge traditional forms and conventions. This anthology includes key figures who utilize experimental techniques, fragmented narratives, and self-reflexive elements, reflecting the complexity and multiplicity of contemporary experience. It serves as an essential resource for understanding the evolution and characteristics of postmodern poetry in America.
Postmodernism: Postmodernism is a complex cultural, artistic, and literary movement that emerged in the mid-20th century, characterized by skepticism towards grand narratives and ideologies, an emphasis on fragmentation, and a playful approach to meaning and identity. It often challenges established conventions and blurs the boundaries between high and low culture, art and life.
Reader-response theory: Reader-response theory is a literary theory that emphasizes the reader's role in creating the meaning of a text. It asserts that the interpretation of literature is not solely determined by the author’s intent or the text itself, but is shaped significantly by the individual reader's experiences, emotions, and cultural context. This approach encourages a more interactive relationship between text and reader, making personal interpretation a vital part of literary analysis.
Self-portrait in a convex mirror: A self-portrait in a convex mirror refers to a poetic form that captures the complexities of identity and perception through the metaphor of a distorted reflection. This term embodies themes of fragmentation, subjective reality, and the interplay between self-representation and external observation, often associated with postmodern poetry's exploration of personal and collective experiences.
The dream of the unified field: The dream of the unified field refers to the aspiration within literature, particularly in postmodern poetry, to create a cohesive and interconnected understanding of experience, thought, and art. This idea often emphasizes the blending of various styles, voices, and forms, reflecting the complexity and fragmentation of contemporary life. In the context of postmodern poetry, this dream can manifest through the use of diverse narrative techniques, embracing ambiguity, and challenging traditional boundaries between genres and disciplines.
The language of postmodern poetry: The language of postmodern poetry refers to a style that challenges traditional forms and conventions of poetic expression, often embracing ambiguity, fragmentation, and a playful use of language. This approach reflects a broader cultural context where meaning is seen as unstable, inviting readers to actively engage with the text rather than passively consume it. Key figures in this movement, like Ashbery, Hejinian, and Graham, exemplify how postmodern poetry incorporates diverse linguistic techniques that reflect contemporary life and thought.
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