Changes

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 [[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 males who collectively comprise the [[Western Canon]] would be seen as contributing to an oppressive society.

Adherents of this movement do not include such Modernist as [[William Butler Yeats]], [[T.S. Eliot]], who were  conservative, as was [[W. H. Auden]], eventually.<ref>Essay on T.S. Eliot's erudition: https://sites.udel.edu/britlitwiki/allusions-in-eliot/</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>

Progressive poets  use simple language and avoid traditional forms, as this is correlated with equality in socioeconomic or cultural status. In the rare event that they use traditional forms, they again claim that this 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>

==Education and status of progressive poets==

==Education and status of progressive poets==