Changes

'''Progressive poetry''', alternatively known as “woke” poetry or postmodern poetry, is a leftist development within modern [[poetry]] that promotes [[racism]], [[misandry]], selfishness, ignorance, and the [[Seven Deadly Sins]]—particularly [[pride]] and wrath. These practices are justified through the lenses of radical ideologies such as [[critical race theory]], [[Marxism]], queer theory, [[feminism]], post-colonialism, the [[fat acceptance movement]], and other liberal “isms.” As a body of writing that is often confused with real literature, it results in the harmful indoctrination of youth<ref>''Children Forced to Write Anti-Britain Poems by Woke National Trust.'' https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2021/04/07/children-forced-to-write-anti-britain-poems-by-woke-national-trust/</ref> and ensures that the adults who read it will retain a low literacy level.<ref> ''What's the Latest US Literacy Rate?'' https://www.wyliecomm.com/2021/08/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate/</ref>

'''Progressive poetry''', alternatively known as [[postmodern]] poetry, is a leftist development within modern [[poetry]] that promotes [[racism]], [[misandry]], selfishness, ignorance, and the [[Seven Deadly Sins]]—particularly [[pride]] and anger. These practices are justified through the lenses of radical ideologies such as [[critical race theory]], [[Marxism]], [[queer theory]], [[feminism]], [[postcolonialism]], the [[fat acceptance movement]], and other liberal “isms.” As a body of writing that is often confused with real literature, it results in the harmful indoctrination of youth<ref>''Children Forced to Write Anti-Britain Poems by Woke National Trust.'' https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2021/04/07/children-forced-to-write-anti-britain-poems-by-woke-national-trust/</ref> and ensures that the adults who read it will retain a low literacy level.<ref> ''What's the Latest US Literacy Rate?'' https://www.wyliecomm.com/2021/08/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate/</ref>

Practitioners of progressive poetry tend to write in free verse, adhering to a style of extreme minimalism characterized by a small lexicon and a narrow range of rhetorical devices that are unskillfully deployed when used. Due to this their work shares numerous features in common with poetry written by schoolchildren, with the difference that examples in the latter category are judged as superior by the more rigorous poetic standards that were dominant from the beginning of written history (as exemplified by the [[Epic of Gilgamesh]]) to the early 20th century.<ref>Some poems by kids that are better than anything written by award-winning leftist poets: https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poems/children/by-kids/</ref>  

Practitioners of progressive poetry tend to write in [[free verse]], adhering to a style of extreme [[minimalism]] characterized by a small lexicon and a narrow range of rhetorical devices that are unskillfully deployed when used. Due to this their work shares numerous features in common with poetry written by schoolchildren, with the difference that examples in the latter category are judged as superior by the more rigorous poetic standards that were dominant from the beginning of written history (as exemplified by the ''[[Epic of Gilgamesh]]'') to the early 20th century.<ref> Some poems by children that are better than anything written by award-winning leftist poets: https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poems/children/by-kids/</ref>  

Although in the past such “poetry” would be dismissed as doggerel, it is now widely praised by corrupt liberal institutions, venal politicians, and publications that were once venerable bastions of critical judgment.<ref>''An Afternoon with Maya Angelou; A Wordsmith at her Ingaugural Anvil'' https://www.nytimes.com/1993/01/20/style/an-afternoon-with-maya-angelou-a-wordsmith-at-her-inaugural-anvil.html?.?mc=aud_dev&ad-keywords=auddevgate&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7OjD4vSp8wIV_m5vBB3W9gklEAMYASAAEgI32PD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds</ref> Despite the detrimental effect this poetry has on the human mind, body, and soul, it has grown to be synonymous with most verse being written in the early 21st century,<ref>''Do We Really Need More Political Poetry?'' https://www.theamericanconservative.com/prufrock/do-we-really-need-more-political-poetry/</ref> which has resulted in fewer and fewer people reading poetry than ever before.<ref>''Poetry is Going Extinct, Government Data Shows'' https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/04/24/poetry-is-going-extinct-government-data-show/</ref>  

Although in the past such “poetry” would be dismissed as doggerel, it is now widely praised by corrupt liberal institutions, venal politicians, and publications that were once venerable bastions of critical judgment.<ref>''An Afternoon with Maya Angelou; A Wordsmith at her Ingaugural Anvil'' https://www.nytimes.com/1993/01/20/style/an-afternoon-with-maya-angelou-a-wordsmith-at-her-inaugural-anvil.html?.?mc=aud_dev&ad-keywords=auddevgate&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7OjD4vSp8wIV_m5vBB3W9gklEAMYASAAEgI32PD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds</ref> Despite the detrimental effect this poetry has on the human mind, body, and soul, it has grown to be synonymous with most verse being written in the early 21st century,<ref>''Do We Really Need More Political Poetry?'' https://www.theamericanconservative.com/prufrock/do-we-really-need-more-political-poetry/</ref> which has resulted in fewer and fewer people reading poetry than ever before.<ref>''Poetry is Going Extinct, Government Data Shows'' https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/04/24/poetry-is-going-extinct-government-data-show/</ref>  

==Characteristics of progressive poetry==

==Characteristics of progressive poetry==

Progressive poetry is the offspring of Modernism, a nihilistic reaction against Romantic and Victorian poetry that launched a revolution in bad grammar following the horrors of World War I.<ref>''Who Killed Poetry? A Critique of Modernism and Post-Modernism'' https://classicalpoets.org/2019/03/03/who-killed-poetry-a-critique-of-modernism-and-post-modernism-part-i/</ref> Postmodernism, developing out of this movement in turn, reacted against the impersonal objectivity and intellectual obscurity characterized by Modernism to focus on the relative position of the speaker. Poetry that adheres to this worldview is usually written from an autobiographical perspective and tends to take a confessional tone, focusing on the underlying (and often multiple overlapping) mental disorders from which the author suffers,<ref>Article on the Sylvia Plath Effect: https://www.apa.org/monitor/nov03/plath</ref> and misattributing personal defects as problems of the larger society.<ref>Article on Nietzsche's concept of ''ressentiment'': https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/bal-nietzsches-ressentiment-alive-and-well-today-20150619-story.html</ref> Given its personal and political nature, writing “verse” of this kind from the perspectives of other individuals—particularly those of a different social background—is strongly discouraged and has resulted in charges of [[cultural appropriation]]. This has occurred even in cases in which a poet writes about his own mixed ancestry.<ref>''Library of Congress Disrespects Poet Laureate'' http://blog.lareviewofbooks.org/essays/library-congress-disrespects-poet-laureate/</ref>

Progressive poetry is the offspring of [[Modernism]], a nihilistic reaction against [[Romantic]] and [[Victorian]] poetry that launched a revolution in bad grammar following the horrors of World War I.<ref>''Who Killed Poetry? A Critique of Modernism and Post-Modernism'' https://classicalpoets.org/2019/03/03/who-killed-poetry-a-critique-of-modernism-and-post-modernism-part-i/</ref> Postmodernism, developing out of this movement in turn, reacted against the impersonal objectivity and intellectual obscurity characterized by Modernism to focus on the relative position of the speaker. Poetry that adheres to this worldview is usually written from an autobiographical perspective and tends to take a confessional tone, focusing on the underlying (and often multiple overlapping) mental disorders from which the author suffers,<ref>Article on the Sylvia Plath Effect: https://www.apa.org/monitor/nov03/plath</ref> and misattributing personal defects as problems of the larger society.<ref>Article on Nietzsche's concept of ''ressentiment'': https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/bal-nietzsches-ressentiment-alive-and-well-today-20150619-story.html</ref> Given its personal and political nature, writing “verse” of this kind from the perspectives of other individuals—particularly those of a different social background—is strongly discouraged and has resulted in charges of [[cultural appropriation]]. This has occurred even in cases in which a poet writes about his own mixed ancestry.<ref>''Library of Congress Disrespects Poet Laureate'' http://blog.lareviewofbooks.org/essays/library-congress-disrespects-poet-laureate/</ref>

Adherents of this movement typically do not demonstrate the erudition of such Modernist poets as W.B. Yeats, W.H. Auden, or T.S. Eliot,<ref>Essay on T.S. Eliot's erudition: https://sites.udel.edu/britlitwiki/allusions-in-eliot/</ref> as including allusions to previous literature written by the dead white male figures who collectively comprise the Western Canon would be seen as contributing to an oppressive society.

Adherents of this movement typically do not demonstrate the erudition of such Modernist poets as [[William Butler Yeats]], [[W. H. Auden]], or [[T.S. Eliot]],<ref>Essay on T.S. Eliot's erudition: https://sites.udel.edu/britlitwiki/allusions-in-eliot/</ref> as including allusions to previous literature written by the dead white male figures who collectively comprise the Western Canon would be seen as contributing to an oppressive society.

Practitioners of progressive poetry emphasize using simple language and a lack of traditional forms, as this is erroneously correlated with promoting equality in socioeconomic or cultural status. In the rare event that they use traditional forms, this also ostensibly contributes to promoting social equality. Commenting on her sonnet “Slurret,” which is “comprised mostly of slurs used against black people,” progressive poet Ashley M. Jones told National Public Radio that use of rhyme and iambic pentameter represent the “trappings of the oppressor.” Although Jones herself uses rhyme and meter in her poem, this is not perceived as constituting an oppressive tactic, since it is not about “the fair maiden, or a rose, or any of the other non-political white subjects,” but is instead “attacking racism” by stringing together derogatory terms that have been obsolete since the 19th century. <ref>NPR's hyperbolic celebration of six of the worst poets in America:  https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2019/04/28/700903340/a-bouquet-of-poets-for-national-poetry-month</ref>

Practitioners of progressive poetry emphasize using simple language and a lack of traditional forms, as this is erroneously correlated with promoting equality in socioeconomic or cultural status. In the rare event that they use traditional forms, this also ostensibly contributes to promoting social equality. Commenting on her sonnet “Slurret,” which is “comprised mostly of slurs used against black people,” progressive poet Ashley M. Jones told National Public Radio that use of rhyme and iambic pentameter represent the “trappings of the oppressor.” Although Jones herself uses rhyme and meter in her poem, this is not perceived as constituting an oppressive tactic, since it is not about “the fair maiden, or a rose, or any of the other non-political white subjects,” but is instead “attacking racism” by stringing together derogatory terms that have been obsolete since the 19th century. <ref>NPR's hyperbolic celebration of six of the worst poets in America:  https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2019/04/28/700903340/a-bouquet-of-poets-for-national-poetry-month</ref>