Remarks on "Why is modern poetry so bad?"

In the Washington Post, Ron Charles summarizes the opinions of University of Virginia professor Mark Edmundson. Edmundson, unimpressed with the state of modern poetry, calls contemporary poets' works, "oblique, equivocal, painfully self-questioning." His critique manifests from his view: "At a time when collective issues — communal issues, political issues — are pressing, our poets have become ever more private, idiosyncratic, and withdrawn."

The romanticization of being misunderstood and a push for mandatory uniqueness are reflected in Edmundson's observations. In school, students are taught their self worth is rooted in their ability to standout and "be different." Chauffeured by this societal driver, many students disregard shared experience as petty, cheap, and worthless because in the past, they have been rewarded for their individualistic approaches. The results of this conditioning are expensed by Edmundson as bad, and although it may not be as simple as good and bad, the state of modern poetry should be addressed.

Modern poetry is a reflection of it's time, and because of this, Edmundson's critique seems a bit short sighted. He's convinced contemporary poets focus their efforts into developing a unique voice, yet says they neglect using their voice for a common purpose. However a poet like Terrance Hayes writes about masculinity, race, and pop culture. His book, A Lighthead's Guide to the Galaxy touches on his experiences as a black man, and his companionship with hip hop culture. Through his poems, he explores the pitfalls and triumphs of black culture-a direct contradiction to Edmundson's take on modern poetry. It is in Edmundson's review that he warns against generalizations, then lumps modern poetry into one category; bad.

It is concerning that a man of Mark Edmundson's status views contemporary poetry as bad, yet it is important to search further into the genre, and explore poets who do in fact use their "unique voice" to "light up the world we hold common."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2013/06/20/why-is-modern-poetry-so-bad/?utm_term=.1e49babb29f1