Of Poets and Hackers: Notes on Canadian Post-Modern Poets
Abstract
Post-modern poets have been accused of being writers "who often seem devoted to experiment as an activity so autonomous that its results often pass far beyond the ever-refined precision demanded by modernism into realms of esoteric obscurity the modernists would have found repellent" (Woodcock). However, poets such as Nichol, Bowering, Davey, and Ondaatje do not reach unacceptable heights of esotery, do not ignore content and assess literature solely by form, and do not denigrate traditional literature. Indeed, post-modern poets can be seen as similar to computer hackers who are also interested in creation for creation's sake, as well as in innovation, style, and technical virtuosity. Hackers and post-modern poets enjoy playing games with language and form, and, for both, the ultimate reward is the moment of discovery.Published
1987-01-01
How to Cite
Precosky, D. (1987). Of Poets and Hackers: Notes on Canadian Post-Modern Poets. Studies in Canadian Literature, 12(1). Retrieved from https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/SCL/article/view/8061
Issue
Section
Notes and Commentaries
License
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