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At JF Kennedy’s inauguration in 1961, people heard Robert Frost’s The Gift Outrifght, Clinton invited May Angelou in 1993 and Miller Williams in 1997. Obama voted Elizabeth Alexander in 2009 and Richard Blanco in 2013.
It is true that this poet was proposed by future first lady Jill Biden. Naturally, the question is, what does this election say about the White House worldview of 2021-2025? Here, from the point of view of the poet and translator of much American literature, Marius Burokas, this figure was chosen symbolically. “It just came to our knowledge then culture awakened, and J. Biden’s emphatically diverse team, both in terms of age and skin color. “
Donald Trump had nothing to do with poetry, but J. Biden immediately chooses a young and even dark-skinned poet.
“We see what we all see,” said poet and literary critic Rimas Užgiris about the choice of J. Biden. – Donald Trump had nothing to do with poetry, but J. Biden immediately chooses a young and even dark-skinned poet. This is a sign that he is reaching out to all American ethnic groups. And especially for African Americans who have been beaten by the police. He also wants to attract young people, he says. I am for the youth. In any case, A. Gorman is not known, except in this niche: reading poetry during ceremonies. “
R.Užgiris said that there is America’s Poet Laureate in America, who becomes the voice of America for a certain period of time. “We and everyone else know that these are not the best poems. Some poets even avoid such things because they feel that they cannot create as they would like. It is true that A. Gorman is interesting in the fact that he has specialized in this field since his youth. People, politicians, seem to like him. “
Photo by Julius Kalinskas / 15min / Rimas Užgiris
This year, the age of the writer has become a hook for foreign media headlines: she is 22 years old, she is a young activist poet, who will read the poem “The Hill We Climb” during the event, which, according to The Guardian, it should indirectly reflect the Captain’s storm. The poet herself wrote that she did not want to think of it as unusual in America. He expressed the understanding that American democracy is eclectic and volatile.
Below is an excerpt from the poem, which is still officially available:
We have seen a force that would tear our nation apart instead of sharing it,
It would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy.
And this effort was close to being successful.
But while democracy can be periodically delayed,
It can never be permanently defeated …
„Scanpix“ nuotr./Amanda Gorman
Stadium, poetry of the palace bard?
Perhaps a poem formed in a simple form and uncomplicated images is a kind of request to preserve and nurture democracy. It is reminiscent of multi-layered intellectual poetry. Some would appreciate the quality of the poetry itself if the opportunity were different. And my poetry experts?
Poetry has not always been as intimate and complex as we now think.
Essay and books “The emergence of cities. Anthology of American Modern Poetry ”by Laurynas Katkus says:“ It is still difficult to decide what the artistic value of this poem is in the format of eternity, but the initiative itself, in my opinion, is a good thing. More countries, including Lithuania, could do the same. Of course, we tend to react too critically to such things: na va, something was read here, politics was tainted. That poem may not be a masterpiece, but I wouldn’t look at it with such categorical appreciation, he said. – Poetry has not always been as intimate, complex as we now think. Let us suppose that Walt Whitman’s work is also oratory, with pathos. Although Vladimir Mayakovsky is not the best example, he is still a student of W. Whitman. Of course it does it for us [turi neigiamą konotaciją], because it supported the Soviet ideology. But it also has good lyrics that sound good when read aloud. It’s stadium poetry. “
Interview 15 minutes L. Katkus drew attention to the details of gender in Western culture. “Poems were read, recited on solemn occasions – at weddings, funerals, consecrations of kings – very often. In Lithuania, this has disappeared a bit, because in Soviet times it was closely related to ideology. So, to put it mildly You couldn’t really hear anything more interesting in those poems. ”Later, L. Katkus added that the first hegazameter in Lithuania was written in the 16th century, congratulating King Zigmantas Vaz.
Noting that the poetry read during this inauguration is not the only case, he provided more examples. One of them took place during the Winter Olympics in Canada, where “the poet-slemer read an impressive text about Canada, its identity.
Photo by Lukas Balandis / Laurynas Katkus
According to Burok, for occasions like the inauguration of the president, this form can be logical: “all those who play those texts commonly read”. The interviewee also points out that The Hill We Climb has a healing function, trying to unify society again.
Asm. file photo / Poet, translator Marius Burokas
Dominyk Norkūnas, who translates much of American poetry, thinks: “Inviting a poet to address a nation that has never been divided and riddled with power is a strong gesture and, most importantly, constructive. Of course, America also pays a gracious tribute to the ancient archetype, the palace bard.
And where that artist, after receiving a bouquet and a beautifully framed photo with prominent politicians, will go later, no one cares and will not care.
This may seem strange, especially since we still tend to see the United States as the core of modern political consciousness, but on the other hand, it should come as no surprise that many countries sometimes invite an artist to the podium, who sadly performs at such cases, merely a decorative function. And where that artist, after receiving a bouquet and a beautifully framed photo with prominent politicians, will go later, no one cares and will not care. Be that as it may, however, it is clear that cultural politics is returning to the United States and the White House has once again become a palace. And that’s not bad. “
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