Comment by cutler
5 years ago
The same is true in literature. Who today compares with Elliot, Yeats, Huxley, Orwell or the war poets? Maybe that seriousness of purpose is only possible when civilisation is in the balance.
5 years ago
The same is true in literature. Who today compares with Elliot, Yeats, Huxley, Orwell or the war poets? Maybe that seriousness of purpose is only possible when civilisation is in the balance.
One figure hanging over Western poetry for the second half of the 20th century is Celan, and it is hard to claim he is inferior to Eliot or Yeats. And if you like this kind of serious poetry, I really recommend J.H. Prynne (start with The White Stones), who is still active even.
The problem with poetry today is not a lack of talent, it is an inability for that talent to get mass attention when 1) poetry has been marginalized in today's media landscape, and 2) cultural scenes are now so fractured that people can't reach agreement on who is great and therefore keep the list of great poets going.