Martin Harrison’s anthology of lyric poetry Summer and the verse prose Music lucidly articulates the disposition of the postmodern poet having no choice but to write in the time in which they are living. His poetry of verse and experimental prose lucidly articulates the angst and dilemmas of living and narrating in the ambiguous epoch of Postmodernity. Paul Cheselka had once commented on the prolific poet Borges:
In Borges’ poetic cosmovision the most important symbol is time; it is a representation of man and his human condition. Like time, men are in a constant state of flux; they are both forever different and always essentially the same.
This is immensely obvious in Harrison’s anthology of poetry which mesmerizes the reader through his encapsulating imagery, juxtapositioning of unlikely entities, and experimentation and representation of man in his time. Specifically, Harrison focusses on infinitesimal moments and the ramifications which unfold in a ripple- like effect to convey an ontological appreciation of poetry and poetics which are a product of their respective culture, an aesthetic and evocative pastiche of the time they are written. We notice a disparaging discomfort within these poems, perhaps a semblance of Postmodern disharmony and anxiety infused with the overwhelming nuances of hybridity, which seems to be attributed to the element of time and its influences on the contemporaneous individual, and poetic artist.
Harrison, having no choice but to write of the vices and concerns of his time, instigates a melancholic tone, and an overwhelming mood of low modality with an omnipresent yearning for comprehension of what could be definitive of the Postmodern hybrid personage. This examination of human cynicism, and the search for self hood may be attributed to the uncertainties that govern Australian, and Western society of Post- September 11, and the continuance of the Iraqi War. However, in light of this, Harrison is able to induce his concerns with honest self reflection and careful selection of contrary images.
Table of Contents
1. MARTIN HARRISON - in the course of our lectures Harrison claimed; “You have no choice but to live in your time”. What does he mean by this, and how does it influence his poetry?
Objectives and Themes
This work examines the poetry of Martin Harrison to explore the existential condition of the contemporary poet who is forced to navigate the uncertainties, industrialization, and commodification of the postmodern era. It investigates how Harrison uses "made spaces," linguistic techniques, and the juxtaposition of nature and modern artifice to convey a sense of displacement and the search for authentic meaning within a temporal flux.
- The influence of postmodernity on the poet's sense of "having no choice" but to write of their time.
- The use of "infinitesimal moments" and meta-significations to reflect modern anxieties.
- The tension between human nature and the artificial landscape of contemporary society.
- The impact of Post-Structuralist approaches and commodification on the poetic consciousness.
Excerpt from the Book
MARTIN HARRISON - in the course of our lectures Harrison claimed; “You have no choice but to live in your time”. What does he mean by this, and how does it influence his poetry?
Martin Harrison’s anthology of lyric poetry Summer and the verse prose Music lucidly articulates the disposition of the postmodern poet having no choice but to write in the time in which they are living. His poetry of verse and experimental prose lucidly articulates the angst and dilemmas of living and narrating in the ambiguous epoch of Postmodernity. Paul Cheselka had once commented on the prolific poet Borges:
In Borges’ poetic cosmovision the most important symbol is time; it is a representation of man and his human condition. Like time, men are in a constant state of flux; they are both forever different and always essentially the same.
This is immensely obvious in Harrison’s anthology of poetry which mesmerizes the reader through his encapsulating imagery, juxtapositioning of unlikely entities, and experimentation and representation of man in his time. Specifically, Harrison focusses on infinitesimal moments and the ramifications which unfold in a ripple- like effect to convey an ontological appreciation of poetry and poetics which are a product of their respective culture, an aesthetic and evocative pastiche of the time they are written. We notice a disparaging discomfort within these poems, perhaps a semblance of Postmodern disharmony and anxiety infused with the overwhelming nuances of hybridity, which seems to be attributed to the element of time and its influences on the contemporaneous individual, and poetic artist.
Summary of Chapters
1. MARTIN HARRISON - in the course of our lectures Harrison claimed; “You have no choice but to live in your time”. What does he mean by this, and how does it influence his poetry?: This opening section introduces Harrison's poetic philosophy regarding the inevitability of responding to one's own time and the resulting existential angst found in his work.
Keywords
Martin Harrison, Postmodernism, Poetics, Temporal flux, Commodity, Hybrid identities, Neo Formalist, Existentialism, Displacement, Nature, Industry, Signs, Meta-significations, Authenticity, Contemporary poetry
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The work analyzes Martin Harrison’s poetry to understand the relationship between the poet and the specific era in which they live, specifically focusing on the challenges of the postmodern condition.
What are the central themes discussed?
The key themes include the impact of industrialization on the human experience, the search for identity in a world of manufactured signs, and the loss of connection to the natural environment.
What is the central research question?
The core inquiry is how Harrison's claim that one has "no choice but to live in your time" dictates his poetic method, aesthetic, and thematic preoccupation with contemporary reality.
What methodology does the author apply?
The author employs a literary analysis that integrates Post-Structuralist theory, Neoplatonist perspectives, and Neo Formalist approaches to examine the structure and linguistic nuances of Harrison's verse.
What is covered in the main body of the analysis?
The main body focuses on the interpretation of specific anthologies and poems, such as "Summer," "Flowers," and "Double Movement," analyzing how they mirror the complexities of 21st-century mindset and capitalism.
Which keywords best characterize the analysis?
The analysis is best characterized by terms such as Postmodernism, temporal flux, commodification, hybridity, and the poetic search for meaning.
How does Harrison use the concept of the "swimming pool" in his poetry?
Harrison uses the swimming pool as a metonymic construct that replaces the natural ocean, symbolizing the superficiality of modern existence and the persona's struggle to find comfort in an artificial environment.
What role does the "image" play in Harrison's work according to the author?
The image functions as a distorted snapshot of reality that reminds the persona of their displacement and the fact that they are living in a society saturated by signs and cinematic perceptions.
- Quote paper
- Anastasia Louridas (Author), 2009, "You have no choice but to live in your time" - A Deconstruction of Martin Harrison's poetry collection "Summer", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/134668
