Famous Americans

Complexity, contradiction, and subjectivity are the name of the game.

In the wake of World War II, a new era of poetry emerged: Postmodernism. Widely considered a reaction to the modern literary works that came before it, early Postmodern poetry reflected a growing skeptical perspective that emphasized uncertainty and was resistant to hierarchy and objectivity. Shaped by a world grappling with destruction, poets increasingly questioned whether universal truths exist at all. Today, postmodern poetry is defined by questioning life and art.

Postmodernism

Much like Modernism, Postmodern poetry is complex, but it stands apart from its poetic predecessor by embracing contradiction, diversity, and ambiguity. According to the Poetry Foundation, Postmodernism often emphasizes dialogue, demonstrating “the power of language in structuring thought and experience.”

Post-war culture played a major role in how postmodern poetry developed. From anxiety over the Cold War to rapid technological advancements, this controversial era of poetry challenges traditional viewpoints related to history, reality, and knowledge. Featuring themes of globalization and consumerism, Postmodernism argues “truth” is determined by culture and history, and as a result, many accuse postmodern writers of relativism.

Postmodern poetry has faced criticism over the years, with many arguing its attacks on objectivity foster self-indulgence. “I find much of what touts itself as postmodern poetry to possess too little interest in writing, to be as emotionally conventional as a prime time sitcom, and to be formally lazy and intellectually superficial,” poet David Biespiel wrote. “In a word, inert. What I resist above all are apologies for postmodern poetry — for flarf, for conceptualist poetics —that fetishize mediocrity.”

While Postmodernism poets frequently addressed similar topics, their styles could be quite different – although many postmodern poems are written in free form or stream of consciousness.

Washington-based media creator Joseph Ivan Long explained that postmodern poetry can be confusing, with many writers resisting readers’ attempts to understand them. This approach, which developed into a “challenging, chaotic, sometimes meaningless and shapeless form of writing,” is considered a reflection of life’s incoherence. “These works can be simultaneously challenging and frustrating to delve into – and sometimes enormously rewarding as well,” Long wrote.

Postmodern Poets

This was arguably the most experimental era of poetry, and postmodern poets are known for testing out new approaches to form and style. One of the most intriguing examples of postmodern poetry is “One-Word Poem” by David R. Slavitt. The poem is written in its entirety as follows: Motherless. Educator Kristi Moore described Slavitt’s bold poem best, writing: “The idea of a one-word poem is so audacious that the text could only represent post-modernism.”

Another strong example of postmodern poetry was penned by Anne Sexton. Titled “Courage,” the literary work embodies Confessional poetry, bridging the gap between Modernism and Postmodernism:

It is in the small things we see it.

The child’s first step,

as awesome as an earthquake.

The first time you rode a bike,

wallowing up the sidewalk.

The first spanking when your heart

went on a journey all alone.

When they called you crybaby

or poor or fatty or crazy

and made you into an alien,

you drank their acid

and concealed it.

While just a portion of Sexton’s poem, the above demonstrates form-experimentation that is common among postmodernists.

Postmodern poetry is all about challenging centuries-old ideas. Rather than offering answers, however, postmodern poets invite readers to engage in dialogue through experimental forms and deliberate ambiguity.

1. Postmodern poetry emerged after World War II and is defined by questioning life and art.
2. Postmodernism has been criticized for its attacks on objectivity.
3. “One-Word Poem” by David R. Slavitt exemplifies postmodern poetry.