About the book
Modernist poetry has long had a reputation for craft formalism and political conservatism that overshadows its radical legacies. Lukas Moe shows how midcentury US poets and poetics drew upon leftwing culture to pave the way for diversity and pluralism in contemporary poetry. Poets used modernist forms to write poems of individual dissent and systemic critique that resonated with the ambitious visions of social movements in postwar US society. Audre Lorde’s sense that poetry “makes you happen”—a remix of W. H. Auden’s old saw that ”poetry makes nothing happen\"—exemplifies the power of what Moe calls verse culture: the archives, networks, and print media that sustain individual poetic creation and collective imagination.
By resituating authors such as Sterling A. Brown, Robert Hayden, George Oppen, Lorine Niedecker, and Muriel Rukeyser into a fluid political network of commitment and dissent, Moe narrates a compelling literary political history that deepens our understanding of what poetry can do in difficult times.
Editions of Poetry Makes You Happen
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781469694009
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781469694016
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469694023
- PDF
- ISBN 9781469694030
Read an Excerpt
Modernist poetry has long had a reputation for craft formalism and political conservatism that overshadows its radical legacies. Lukas Moe shows how midcentury US poets and poetics drew upon leftwing culture to pave the way for diversity and pluralism in contemporary poetry. Poets used modernist forms to write poems of individual dissent and systemic critique that resonated with the ambitious visions of social movements in postwar US society. Audre Lorde’s sense that poetry “makes you happen”—a remix of W. H. Auden’s old saw that ”poetry makes nothing happen\"—exemplifies the power of what Moe calls verse culture: the archives, networks, and print media that sustain individual poetic creation and collective imagination.
By resituating authors such as Sterling A. Brown, Robert Hayden, George Oppen, Lorine Niedecker, and Muriel Rukeyser into a fluid political network of commitment and dissent, Moe narrates a compelling literary political history that deepens our understanding of what poetry can do in difficult times.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Poetry Makes You Happen about?
Modernist poetry has long had a reputation for craft formalism and political conservatism that overshadows its radical legacies. Lukas Moe shows how midcentury US poets and poetics drew upon leftwing culture to pave the way for diversity and pluralism in contemporary poetry. Poets used modernist forms to write poems of individual dissent and systemic critique that resonated with the ambitious visions of social movements in postwar US society. Audre Lorde’s sense that poetry “makes you happen”—a remix of W. H. Auden’s old saw that ”poetry makes nothing happen\"—exemplifies the power of what Moe calls verse culture: the archives, networks, and print media that sustain individual poetic creation and collective imagination.
By resituating authors such as Sterling A. Brown, Robert Hayden, George Oppen, Lorine Niedecker, and Muriel Rukeyser into a fluid political network of commitment and dissent, Moe narrates a compelling literary political history that deepens our understanding of what poetry can do in difficult times.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Poetry Makes You Happen?
Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Literature: history and criticism > Literary studies: poetry and poets
Where can I read a sample of Poetry Makes You Happen?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781469694009
How long is Poetry Makes You Happen and how many pages does it have?
Poetry Makes You Happen has 242 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Poetry Makes You Happen?
Lukas Moe
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Poetry Makes You Happen is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781469694009) and paperback(ISBN 9781469694016) and ebook(ISBN 9781469694023) and pdf(ISBN 9781469694030)
Where can I buy Poetry Makes You Happen online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Poetry Makes You Happen from below
Where can I buy Poetry Makes You Happen?