POSTMODERN POETICS: A REVIEW OF EXPERIMENTAL FORMS AND THEMES IN CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH POETRY

Abstract

Postmodern poetics represents a radical departure from traditional poetic forms, embracing fragmentation, intertextuality, pastiche, and metafiction to challenge conventional narrative structures. This paper explores the evolution of experimental poetry in the postmodern era, focusing on key poets such as John Ashbery, Anne Carson, Jorie Graham, and Charles Bernstein, who have pioneered innovative poetic expressions. By incorporating diverse influences from philosophy, media, and digital technology, postmodern poets blur the lines between high and low culture, subverting linguistic conventions and traditional poetic aesthetics.

This study critically examines how intertextuality and self-referentiality redefine meaning in poetry, emphasizing the role of irony and paradox. The influence of poststructuralist theorists such as Jacques Derrida and Roland Barthes has significantly shaped the approach of postmodern poets, challenging the notion of a fixed meaning or authoritative voice. Furthermore, this paper analyzes the impact of digital poetry and hypertext literature, where new media have expanded the boundaries of poetic engagement. The discussion extends to the political and cultural undercurrents of postmodern poetry, particularly in response to contemporary socio-political crises. The paper also explores how artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies influence poetic creation and readership. Through close textual analysis, supported by comparative tables and illustrative poetry excerpts, this paper highlights the paradigm shifts in poetic discourse and the ongoing influence of postmodernism on 21st-century poetics. The findings suggest that experimental poetry continues to evolve, responding dynamically to emerging global and technological landscapes while questioning the very essence of poetic meaning and authorship.