Post-structural poetry is not so much poetry without structure, but poetry after structure or post structure. The post-structural poet rejects the idea of traditional structure within literature, all literature, not just Western precepts. Post-structuralism runs concurrent with other styles, but rejects traditionalism for more personal, self-taught, self-presented unusual styles tones and structure.
The poem can draw its nucleus from, say, surrealism, but the poet expands upon that, perhaps with no punctuation, possibly without the left margin set. The lines skewed, created in different lengths, to represent the emotions within the words. With a post-structural approach, your poem should be writing you chose to create, to envision.
Example of Post-Structural Poetry:
To make sunset edge
is to order which is why
it is important to make
without a plan. Intention
lands one in bed with cliché
which is somebody's old plan strike
Copyright©
--Andrei Codrescu
· Codrescu is the penultimate early practioner of literary post structuralism. He met some of the early post-structuralist theorists and was well aware of their work. In fact, his work was published with theirs in Romania. Codrescu uses free verse, free association, some surrealism to create this stunning short poem. When I read it the first time, I very much enjoyed the little shock wave that passed right through my brain.
Example of my post structural poetry:
I’m recovering in my car no catharsis secrets uploaded
but not revealed look at this business reviled or this display
of fractured images...
Copyright©
--e. smith sleigh
· For my style, I choose not to punctuate my poetry. I use spaces to create pauses. The rhythm I use when I read in front of an audience comes from the emphasis I place on the ending of the phrases. I place special emphasis on the verbs at the end and the letter 'd' in this particular poem. My approach is far from traditional approaches to the creation of poetry.
· By embracing a post structural approach, I have rejected the traditional formulas used for the creation poetry. Below, after the quote, you will find descriptions of the Basics of Poetry from that I found in an internet search. The first is comprised of the traditional formulas. The second and third descriptions approaches are loser, full of freedom of creativity and are broader with fewer restrictions.
Connotation:
"Post-structuralism holds that there are many truths, that frameworks must bleed, and that structures must become unstable or decentered. Moreover, post-structuralism is also concerned with the power structures or hegemonies and power and how these elements contribute to and/or maintain structures to enforce hierarchy. Therefore, post-structural theory carries implications far beyond literary criticism."
-- Steven Shaviro, author of Doom Patrols
The Basics of Poetry: A Traditional Explanation
from POETRY and ITS ELEMENTS www.meister-.com/meister_z/POETRY.htm :
Synoptic Chart:
Elements: Lines/Stanzas/Rhyme/Rhythm/Beat
(UN)Stressed Syllables/Euphony/Pattern
Forms: Limerick/Haiku/Ballad/Free Verse
Types: Narrative/Lyric-Descriptive/Humorous/Parody
Devices: Simile/Metaphor/Personificatin/Repetition/Anaphora/Anadiplosis/Alliterration/Invwrsion/Onomatopoeia/Imagery/Refrain/Variety
With poetry, we put words together in a creative way to express an idea, emotion or image (or even to tell a story). Poetry is made up of different elements, each of which may or may not be used in a given poem. By becoming familiar with the elements of poetry, you'll be able to manipulate them more easily and improve your writing. Here's a quick rundown of 10 of the most basic elements of poetry, with links to more in-depth information.
Title Repetition
Imagery Rhyme
Plot Meter
Diction Form
Rhythm Art
Note all the devises and formulas, so traditional and structural.
Less Traditional Explanations for the Basics of Poetry:
1st response --Rhythm, structure, and content, in no particular order. Rhythm deals with something similar to a beat count in music--imagine end stops like periods, semi-colons and dashes as full stops; whereas, something like a comma would be a half-stop, or half-beat, and none at all just keeps the piece moving. Structure deals with the physical / visible part of the poem, but can also affect rhythm. There are many fixed form structures that dictate syllable count (stressed and unstressed), as well as stanza lines, the sonnet being most famous and has several variations of its own. Content: what the author's message and intent are and the effectiveness in which they are conveyed.
*2nd response --Poetry doesn't require form, rhythm (meter), rhyme, and such, but its often best to use them... There's many options...
Words are just one component, timing (meter) is an optional one, so is rhyme, structure and other elements of form (i.e. repetition, placement of words, fonts/styles, etc), a message and preferably some art.. that factor X that makes it stylized as more than just droll words (unless being droll is purposeful and thus becomes the art - like in the case of a comedian monotonously droning out the lyrics to the song "I'm so excited" in his best deadpan voice...)
*3rd response--Rhythm, sounds, imagery.
*The last two responses are very twenty-first century and post-structural.
Next: more ANDREI CODRESCU.
--e. smith sleigh, poet, author, blogger