American Political Poetry into the 21st Century (American Literature Readings in the Twenty-First Century)

Dowdy uncovers and analyzes the primary rhetorical strategies, particularly figures of voice, in American political poetry from the Vietnam War era to the present. "In this study, Dowdy uncovers and analyzes the primary rhetorical strategies, particularly figures of voice, in American political poetry from the Vietnam War-era to the present. By advancing a theoretical model that foregrounds how poems enact politically-engaged voices, the book cuts across critical studies organized by identity category and subject matter. Combining theories of agency and cultural studies, this comprehensive account of contemporary American verse uses close readings of canonical and lesser known poets, bilingual poets, and hip-hop artists in order to chart American poetry's distinctive voices. This book will be indispensable to those interested in twentieth-century poetry, poetics, hip-hop culture, literature and politics, cultural studies, and African-American and Latina/o cultures."--Jacket Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 Acknowledgments......Page 14 Introduction: Political Poetry in the United States......Page 16 1 Embodied Agency......Page 50 2 Equivocal Agency......Page 92 3 Migratory Agency......Page 132 4 Contestatory Urban Agency......Page 168 Conclusion......Page 204 Notes......Page 216 References......Page 228 A......Page 242 C......Page 243 F......Page 244 I......Page 245 M......Page 246 R......Page 247 T......Page 248 Z......Page 249 Dowdy uncovers and analyzes the primary rhetorical strategies, particularly figures of voice, in American political poetry from the Vietnam War-era to the present. He brings together a unique and diverse collection of poets, including an innovative section on hip hop performance. Uncovers and analyzes the primary rhetorical strategies, particularly figures of voice, in American political poetry from Vietnam War-era. The author brings together a diverse collection of poets, including a section on hip hop performance