Anti-poetry is a literary movement that advocates breaking with the usual conventions of traditional poetry. Early proponents of anti-poetry include the Chilean Nicanor Parra[1] and the Greek Elias Petropoulos.[2]
Parra, known as the father of anti-poetry, published his first collection of antipoems in 1954,[3] rejecting the conventional belief that verse holds a mystical power. His poems have been described as prose-like, irreverent, and illuminating of human existential concerns.[4]
Petropoulos sought to describe the art of anti-poetry in his Berlin notebook containing verses that included intentionally-made mistakes of prosody, grammar, and rhyme. An inspiration for many of his poems was the difficult atmosphere of the wall-divided Berlin where he resided. Petropoulos had come to believe that poetry centered on love and desire was too gentle for modern literature – that it was time for an anti-poetry incorporating anti-sentimental feelings.[5]
Early history
editDuring 5th century B.C, theatrical sketches called mimes were being introduced with ideas and languages that were determined to be anti-plays. There had been times when poets would turn against his/her own poetry in an antagonistic way. Anti poetry can be found and cited from the first poets of Italy and also (Dante, followed by Petrarch) as well as some other places in Europe. They made the decision to compose verses in vernacular rather than Latin, and were therefore behaving in an anti-poetic manner. Many playwrights, including William Shakespeare and Moliere, were cited for using anti-poetry within a verse play.[5]
Modern anti-poetry
editAnti-poetry has been picked up in the 21st century. Modern anti-poetry carries the same spirit as the early writers, but is still distinct in nature. In modern anti-poetry, punctuation is minimal and only used as necessary. Formatting and capitalization are simple and friendly to the eye. It also incorporates new vocabulary and depicts poetic images and scenes.
Anti-poetry reading performance
editTaking inspiration from Dada and performance poetry anti-poetry reading performances have gained momentum in the Prague, Czech Republic.[6][7] The Prague-based performance and poetics collective Object:Paradise began in 2019 by Tyko Say with the mission to make "poetry readings more inclusive and inter-disciplinary and less restricted to art cafes and turtlenecks".[8][9] Since then, the collective has hosted performance poetry events which feature a variety of disciplines happening at the same time to highlight "everything that happens at a poetry reading besides the poetry reading itself".[10][11][12]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Nicanor Parra | Latin-American poet | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2022-07-17.
- ^ Taylor, John (Summer 2009). "Poetry Today: The Art of Antipoetry". Antioch Review. 67 (3): 594–601 – via JSTOR.
- ^ Parra, Nicanor (1954). Poemas y antipoemas. Madrid: Cátedra. ISBN 8437607779. OCLC 19545265.
- ^ "Parra, Nicanor: INTRODUCTION." Poetry Criticism. Ed. David Galens. Vol. 39. Thomson Gale, 2002. http://www.enotes.com/topics/nicanor-parra/critical-essays/parra-nicanor
- ^ a b Taylor, John. “Poetry Today” N.p., Web. June 1, 2009.
- ^ "Prague's Indie Writing Scene @ DiverCity Week and Prague Microfestival". 12 April 2017.
- ^ "About — OBJECT:PARADISE".
- ^ Fernanda, Seavon (March 2022). "INSTANTNÍ NOSTALGIE". A2 (5/2022): 11.
- ^ "Manifesto — OBJECT:PARADISE".
- ^ "Poetics collective OBJECT:PARADISE celebrates Žižkov » Prague Monitor / Czech News in English". 9 June 2021.
- ^ Gironès, Cristina (16 February 2022). "Object Paradise, el colectivo artístico que quiere devolver la vida y la voz al barrio de Žižkov". Radio Prague International. Radio Prague International.
- ^ Fernanda, Seavon (March 2022). "INSTANTNÍ NOSTALGIE". A2 (5/2022): 11.
External links
edit- The technique of anti-poetry, an essay by Edith Grossman
- [1]