“We Don’t Read and Write Poetry Because It’s Cute” – Poetry in Contemporary Society
In 1999, UNESCO designated 21st March as World Poetry Day “with the aim of supporting linguistic diversity through poetic expression and increasing the opportunity for endangered languages to be heard,” as stated on the UNESCO website. The goal is to make poets and their works worldwide widely known and appreciated. On one hand, this day serves as a call for help for endangered languages, giving them a chance to survive; on the other hand, it is a day to promote poetry. Nowadays, people have less and less time to read even a short poem, which raises the question: how important is poetry in contemporary society?
Poetry still plays a significant role in society. Many people read or write poetry not just occasionally, but throughout the entire year. While the demand for classic poetry collections may decline, poetry remains present in everyday life, often without our conscious awareness. People celebrate the first moments of the year by singing the national anthem, couples exchange love poems on Valentine’s Day, and at Easter, it is a tradition in European countries to recite a poem in exchange for a red-stained Easter egg before sprinkling girls and women. Graduation ceremonies are never complete without quoting a few lines written by well-known poets, which the students may then carry with them to the next stage of their lives. Without poetry, all the important events, and even the minor ones in life would become meaningless.
Although the interest in reading classic pieces is no longer as widespread as before, the demand for poetry has persisted, however, it has transformed. Poems by canonical authors are being popularised worldwide – in Hungary, for example, by compiling the twelve most beautiful Hungarian poems into an anthology. Contemporary poetry is gaining more and more attention online, with accomplished and aspiring poets sharing their work on websites and social media platforms, such as Instagram and Facebook. Literature has also become a fashion trend, as evidenced by the success of a Hungarian brand, Vates (meaning poet, prophet), which features literary quotes and portraits of poets on clothing and accessories. Another popular form of poetry today is slam poetry. This genre combines poetry, theatre, performance art, and rap. Its freestyle delivery allows for personal expression, with its only limitation being the temporal length of the performance.
However, not everyone considers slam poetry a form of art; some criticise it, despite its important community-building power. It revived ancient literary traditions, as for thousands of years, poetry was orally transmitted: people gathered, read, and listened to each other’s works. Therefore, poetry remains alive, and we do not read poems solely on 21st March – although it is indeed a good occasion to remember how much more we could be reading. The various forms of poetry are continuously adapting to societal changes. Although conventional education is still dominated by a chronological approach to the history of literature, many believe that the teaching of poetry should be revolutionised, bringing contemporary writings one step closer to the younger generation. However, they seem to be finding their way to poetry on their own, as reading and writing literature is not an obligation, but a means of expressing thoughts and feelings.
Illustration: Anna Horváth
As Professor Keating remarked in the film Dead Poets Society (1989),
“We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion.”
This passion is still present today, albeit in a new form.
We would also like to offer the students of the University of Pécs, Faculty of Humanities and Faculty of Sciences, an opportunity to share their thoughts and feelings through poetry. On April 11, the Day of Hungarian Poetry, we wish to showcase poems written in English by international students, alongside those written by Hungarian students. Submissions are due by April 7 and should be sent via email to Dorka Nagy (nagy.dorka@edu.pte.hu), the chief editor of PécsiBölcsész Magazin and member of the Communications Committee.
Translated by: Tímea Hajtmann
