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Is Jeremy Paxman right about new poetry's inaccessibility? Is Jeremy Paxman right about new poetry's inaccessibility?
(1 day later)
Judging the Forward prize for poetry must have been a perplexing experience for Jeremy Paxman: he has suggested the need for an "inquisition" in which "poets [would be] called to account for their poetry", and explain to their audience why they chose their subject and form. Paxman found "a whole pile of really good poems", but he wished that contemporary poetry "would raise its game a little bit, raise its sights", and "aim to engage with ordinary people much more". Note: We’ve updated this article with commenters’ suggestions. Scroll down to see their contributions.
Classic poetry has a definite place in popular culture, living on in readings, weddings and funerals. But as Jeremy Noel-Tod, editor of the Oxford Companion to Modern Poetry, pointed out: "Frank O'Hara was once patronised as a niche poet of the New York art scene. Fifty years later, he's being recited by Don Draper on Mad Men and is one of the most influential voices around." The outsider can move into the mainstream: here's Don reading from Meditations in an Emergency, on season 2 of the popular American TV series. Judging the Forward prize for poetry must have been a perplexing experience for Jeremy Paxman: he has suggested the need for an “inquisition” in which “poets [would be] called to account for their poetry”, and explain to their audience why they chose their subject and form. Paxman found “a whole pile of really good poems”, but he wished that contemporary poetry “would raise its game a little bit, raise its sights”, and “aim to engage with ordinary people much more”.
Another example would be Lisa Simpson's wise words on Emily Dickinson, on an episode from season eight: "[She] lived alone, and she wrote some of the most beautiful poetry the world has ever known … then went crazy as a loon." Classic poetry has a definite place in popular culture, living on in readings, weddings and funerals. But as Jeremy Noel-Tod, editor of the Oxford Companion to Modern Poetry, pointed out: “Frank O’Hara was once patronised as a niche poet of the New York art scene. Fifty years later, he’s being recited by Don Draper on Mad Men and is one of the most influential voices around.” The outsider can move into the mainstream: here’s Don reading from Meditations in an Emergency, on season 2 of the popular American TV series.
Then there's Colonel Kurtz reading this spine-chilling passage from TS Eliot's The Hollow Men at one of the most haunting moments of Apocalypse Now: Another example would be Lisa Simpson’s wise words on Emily Dickinson, on an episode from season eight: “[She] lived alone, and she wrote some of the most beautiful poetry the world has ever known … then went crazy as a loon.”
Going further back in the canon, the movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind takes its title from a line in Alexander Pope's tragic verse Eloisa to Abelard: Then there’s Colonel Kurtz reading this spine-chilling passage from TS Eliot’s The Hollow Men at one of the most haunting moments of Apocalypse Now:
How happy is the blameless vestal's lot! The world forgetting, by the world forgot. Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind! Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resign'd; Going further back in the canon, the movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind takes its title from a line in Alexander Pope’s tragic verse Eloisa to Abelard:
Here's Kirsten Dunst's character, the receptionist from the memory-erasure company, reading the lines in Michel Gondry's surreal film about love and memory: How happy is the blameless vestal’s lot! The world forgetting, by the world forgot. Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind! Each pray’r accepted, and each wish resign’d;
Poetry plays a central part in one of the best moments of Woody Allen's classic Hannah and Her Sisters. The comic and pathetic merge when Elliot (Michael Caine) acts on his infatuation with his sister-in-law Lee (Barbara Hershey). His recommendation that she read ee cummings – especially page 112! – is one of the most brilliantly awkward scenes in the film: Here’s Kirsten Dunst’s character, the receptionist from the memory-erasure company, reading the lines in Michel Gondry’s surreal film about love and memory:
So, which of today's poets do you expect to see popping up in popular culture? Or do you agree with Jeremy Paxman that their work has become too far removed from the general public? And, if so, do you believe this is only natural? Does asking poets to explain themselves defeat the whole point of poetry? Poetry plays a central part in one of the best moments of Woody Allen’s classic Hannah and Her Sisters. The comic and pathetic merge when Elliot (Michael Caine) acts on his infatuation with his sister-in-law Lee (Barbara Hershey). His recommendation that she read ee cummings – especially page 112! – is one of the most brilliantly awkward scenes in the film:
So, which of today’s poets do you expect to see popping up in popular culture? Or do you agree with Jeremy Paxman that their work has become too far removed from the general public? And, if so, do you believe this is only natural? Does asking poets to explain themselves defeat the whole point of poetry?
You helped us compile examples of the presence of poetry in popular culture and used examples of poems that have inspired you or been part of your daily life. Here is a selection of your contributions to the thread below.You helped us compile examples of the presence of poetry in popular culture and used examples of poems that have inspired you or been part of your daily life. Here is a selection of your contributions to the thread below.
Richard Curtis's Four Weddings and a Funeral is, of course, a perfect example – thanks to Suzanne Fairless-Aitken, DanHolloway and Andrew Paul Wood for the suggestion. Here's John Hannah (Matthew) in the middle of his glorious moment reading WH Auden's Funeral Blues. Richard Curtis’s Four Weddings and a Funeral is, of course, a perfect example – thanks to Suzanne Fairless-Aitken, DanHolloway and Andrew Paul Wood for the suggestion. Here’s John Hannah (Matthew) in the middle of his glorious moment reading WH Auden’s Funeral Blues.
Lauded TV drama Breaking Bad used the title of Percy Bysshe Shelley's sonnet Ozymandias to fittingly name one of its last episodes, one of the most awe-strucking television episodes of all time – and possibly one of the best ever written. Lauded TV drama Breaking Bad used the title of Percy Bysshe Shelley’s sonnet Ozymandias to fittingly name one of its last episodes, one of the most awe-strucking television episodes of all time – and possibly one of the best ever written.
DO NOT watch the following episode teaser if you want to avoid spoilers. Protagonist Walt (Bryan Cranston) recites the poem and gives a whole new meaning to chilling with his reading of the verses 'My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!' DO NOT watch the following episode teaser if you want to avoid spoilers. Protagonist Walt (Bryan Cranston) recites the poem and gives a whole new meaning to chilling with his reading of the verses ‘My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!’
Thanks to ID9329316 for that. And, as JohnHKeenan points out (spoiler alert again), the main plot of Breaking Bad turns on a copy of Leaves of Grass carelessly left in the household toilet.Thanks to ID9329316 for that. And, as JohnHKeenan points out (spoiler alert again), the main plot of Breaking Bad turns on a copy of Leaves of Grass carelessly left in the household toilet.
Here are some of your other examples:Here are some of your other examples: