Is Poetry A Social Act example essay topic

Is poetry a social act rather than an isolated object? Is poetry meant to be shared with others, or meant for the individual? Personally I can think of examples that would justify both of these statements. Poetry itself is almost impossible to define but to describe a poem, as a "social act" or an "isolated object" doesn't necessarily mean that the next poem is. There are however cases that would suggest that poetry does indeed lean more towards the "social act" description allotted by this particular essay-title.

One point that arose during a discussion with a fellow student concerning this question was that poetry itself originated from song: the medium of song itself being a very social form of expression so logically poetry is also a social form of expression. I personally agree with this point and firmly believe that the origins of poetry do lie in the social act of singing. But one of the most unique, fascinating and potent qualities of poetry (of which there are a few) is its state of flux, it is constantly changing and re-inventing itself so to think of poetry as a mere derivative or deviation of song is to miss the point of poetry entirely. One prominent social re-invention of poetry that comes to mind is that of the "Beat Movement". The 'Beat Movement' in modern literature has become an important period in the history of literature and society in America in particular but also around the world. Incorporating influences such as jazz, art, literature, philosophy and religion, the beat writers created a new and prophetic vision of modern life and changed the way a generation of people see / saw the world.

One of the most important contributions to contemporary verse was to take poetry out of the classrooms and into non-academic setting coffee houses, jazz clubs, large public auditoriums and even athletic stadiums making it an even more social act / form of expression. Poetry is more popular and more read at this time than anytime in previous history, not only spoken poetry but also sung poetry of a high order, reminiscent of poe tries origins. Keeping this further socialization of poetry in mind I would also like to stress the point that although poetry was in its most social environment yet the emphasis was firmly on the individual and their individual poetry, attempting to isolate their poetry from all previously heard. So in the ideal situation although the act would be social, the object would be isolated. The influence of music on poetry is obvious but after this movement the influence of poetry on music becomes more obvious. Music has been influenced greatly by Beat writing.

The lyrics of many great songs have been influenced by the writings of the Beat Generation. In preparation for this essay I found some interesting facts at web 'Bob Dylan's favourite poet was Allen Ginsberg. Ginsberg became one of Dylan's greatest friends. He worked on many projects with Dylan... The band Rage Against the Machine has many of Ginsberg's poems and words show up in their songs. For instance the song 'Bulls on Parade' includes Ginsberg 'Had da Been Playing on the Jukebox' (web) '.

The more recent Generation X writers are compared to the Beat writers. Many people say that the... ' Generation coming to age has the potential to bring a new vision to society. The Beats thumbed their noses at the corporate world just like Generation X does today. (web) 'Many writers of Generation X have been influenced by the writings of Andy Clausen, Eliot Katz, Geoffrey Mano ugh and Ed Sanders.

There are many writers that have been influenced but have not been included in the Generation X section. These writers took up the flame of the Beat flavour, keeping it strong. James Wright was one of the writers that kept the flame going. I personally taste a distinctive Beat flavour in his poem "Speak" located on page 1640 of "The Norton Anthology Of Poetry". The poem begins with the lines:" To speak in a flat voice Is all that I can do". Similarly, the closing lines of his poem "A Blessing" are also reminiscent of the poetry that circulated during the height of the beat movement:" Suddenly I realise That if I stepped out of my body I would break Into blossom".

This poem can be found on page 1639 of "The Norton Anthology Of Poetry". Both these poems are very personal, even just in the two brief extracts I have given above the emphasis is clearly on the "I" which certainly serves to isolate this poem, however the poems also are social acts, both criticising and commenting on society. His works have a 'sense of Midwestern American bleakness... (web) 'So far in this essay I have contemplated both sides of the chosen title and come up with a sum of near coherent ideas, but upon reading this title one particular poet immediately came to mind. The enigmatic recluse Emily Dickinson.

Miss Dickinson's poetry was strictly confidential and written without the purpose of publication and merely as a way of expressing her own mind. Dickinson was an obsessively private writer she withdrew herself from the social contract around the age of thirty and devoted herself, in secret, to writing. She never married, finding in her poetry, reading, gardening, and close friendships, a rich and fulfilling life. One of my favourite poems that I believe illustrates her treatment of poetry as an isolated object is poem number 280, (found on page 1013 of "The Norton Anthology Of Poetry"). I think this poem is remarkable for several reasons: its dramatic narrative, its use of repetition and its rhythm. It is written in the past tense and the poem records a painful and strange experience as only Emily Dickinson could.

The poem takes place in Miss Dickinson's head and the startlingly unusual opening line grabs our attention immediately in typical Dickinson fashion:" I felt a Funeral, in my Brain", Here something final, sad and to an extent public is interiorized. This moment is one of nervousness tension and vulnerability:" I felt a Funeral, in my Brain, And Mourners to and fro Kept treading-treading -till it seemed That Sense was breaking through-"The movement of "to and fro" and the harshness of "treading-treading" are images of restlessness and unease and pirates. In fact all the sounds featured in this poem are harsh and severe. The references -to treading feat, the beating, drum-like service, the creaking sound, boots of lead, the silence of the bell, dropped down, hit -all create a sense of inescapable, increasing and very solitary personal pain. Even though the experience depicted in this poem is an intensely personal one, it is apparent that even she doesn't fully understand the feelings she is experiencing, expressions such as: "it seemed", "I thought" are used during this poem. This particular poem is very much an isolated object just as Emily Dickinson sees herself, alone, unable to communicate from within her coffin.

She is in this poem literally dead to the world. Considering that this poem was never intended to be published during Emily Dickinson's life I believe it can be seen as anything but a social act. It does not see Emily Dickinson writing for any social reason but merely for herself in isolation neither influencing nor being influenced by anyone, she is trying to understand a difficult time in her life. The poem although depicting a public event it is clearly a very introspective poem there is no social message and it has no social use yet it is clearly a poem and a very intriguing unconventional one at that. So in regards to the question I opened this essay with: Is poetry a social act rather than an isolated object? The answer?

No, poetry is not a social act rather than an isolated object, however neither is it an isolated object rather than a social act. It can be either, neither, or both due to the openness and state of constant flux that poetry is subject to by its very nature. The living End. Sources: The Norton Anthology of Poetry, fourth edition; W.W. Norton &Company.

New York. London". Emily Dickinson: A Life", second edition, Rebecca Patterson. web courtesy of the "Emma-Jane collection of illustrations and Wa. ".