Multiculturalism in Contemporary American Poetry
Keywords:
Avant-garde Poetry, Cultural Openness, Multiculturalism, Civil Rights Movement, American Literature (Poetry)Abstract
This article examines the impact of societal turmoil during the period 1968-1972 on contemporary American poetry, particularly the avant-garde. The Vietnam War and its aftermath led to deep divisions in society, economy, and poetry. The Civil Rights Bill of 1965 marked a turning point, fostering cultural openness and allowing minority voices to be heard politically, artistically, and poetically. The article discusses the influence of this period on major poets such as Denise Levertov, Robert Duncan, Charles Olson, and Allen Ginsberg, as well as its impact on American painting. It also highlights the emergence of a multicultural approach in poetry, with a focus on Native American, African-American, Chicano, and women poets, challenging traditional literary canons.
(The abstract and keywords were prepared retrospectively for indexing purposes using AI-assisted tools and editorial review, based on the original article. They did not appear in the original publication.)
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