Elisa New on Poetry in America and Beyond

Digital Platforms

Digital platforms are reshaping how poetry is consumed and appreciated. Elisa New acknowledges the generational shift where younger audiences, raised on social media, seek personal connections through poetry 1. She sees potential in exploring poetry across various media, despite not being a social media devotee herself. New emphasizes that poetry serves our humanity, and while AI might offer insights, it is our unique intelligence that poetry truly celebrates 2.

It's our humanity that poetry most meaningfully serves. It's our humanity, not our art of it's.

--- Elisa New

The conversation also touches on the economic challenges poets face, highlighting the centralized market driven by anthologies and the feast-or-famine nature of digital poetry fame 1.

   

Media Evolution

The evolution of American English and its impact on poetry is a fascinating topic. Elisa New appreciates the richness and adaptability of American English, noting how slang and mass culture continually refresh the language 3. She argues that poetry should not be confined to silent reading but should be performed, much like music, to fully appreciate its rhythm and emotion 4.

Poetic language should be part of the pageantry of a rock concert.

--- Elisa New

This perspective aligns with her belief that poetry and music share a deep connection, as both are forms of expressive art that benefit from being shared and experienced collectively 4.