In 1996, the Academy of American Poets established National Poetry Month, following in the esteemed tradition of literary works such as sonnets, odes, and haikus, designating April as a time to recognize and contemplate the influence of this art form on our culture.
Poetry, like other forms of artistic expression, has been significantly impacted by technological advancements, including artificial intelligence and social media, making it more accessible to the public. This raises the question of how the evolving technological landscape affects our relationship with poetry. At Arizona State University, two professors from The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are uniquely positioned to provide insights into this matter.
Sarah Florini, an associate professor of film and media studies in the Department of English and interim director of the Lincoln Center for Applied Ethics, draws from her research on the use of digital mediums by Black Americans to organize and build relationships within their community around larger social issues, as documented in her 2019 book “Beyond Hashtags: Racial Politics and Black Digital Networks.” Serena Ferrando, an assistant professor of environmental humanities and Italian in the School of International Letters and Cultures, focuses on the relationship between literature and science fiction, and the interaction between violence and peace, subjects explored in the international literary conference Poesiæuropa.
In a discussion, these two esteemed academics explore the impact of technology on poetry and how social media has influenced both its consumption and creation. Florini observes that despite social media platforms being owned by corporations and shaped by economic imperatives, users are still capable of engaging in remarkable and creative activities within these constraints. Ferrando adds that technology has enabled students to actively participate in global conversations about poetry and engage in poetry events abroad via social media platforms.
Ferrando also notes the deep affinity for poetry among Italians, with four out of 10 Italians having written poetry at some point in their lives. She incorporates an ecological perspective in her courses to examine the connection between literature and the environment, such as in Milan, where attention is drawn to the presence of water in local poetry, reflecting the city’s existential thirst following the covering of many of its water canals.
The influence of social media on the poetry community is also explored. Florini remarks that different social media platforms have given rise to unique poetry genres, providing users with the opportunity to express their creativity through written word and visual art. Ferrando emphasizes that technology has facilitated the dissemination of poetry to wider audiences and engagement in civic and social conversations about sustainability and the environment.
Technology has revolutionized the poetry writing and creation process, as evidenced by Florini’s research on TikTok and the phenomenon of “BookTok,” where individuals discuss and reimagine stories in snippets. Meanwhile, Ferrando emphasizes the shared desire of technology and poetry to transcend human limitations.
Ultimately, the ever-evolving technological landscape is expanding the possibilities for poetry and its role in society, a phenomenon that is met with enthusiasm and anticipation.