Analysis Of Charles Bernstein's Essay 'Against National Poetry Month As Such'
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In his essay, “Against National Poetry Month As Such” Charles Bernstein claims that National Poetry Month approaches its audience in a condescending manner, distributing highly accessible, therefore simple, poetry that is intellectually dull, and narrow in its subject matter. However, if National Poetry Month is an everyone’s welcome party, then Bernstein’s ideal poetry readers are an exclusive and elite group of poetry readers. Bernstein’s rhetoric and slight nudges at his lettered target audience reflect his egotistical effort to keep poetry only to a small, sophisticated group. Throughout the essay, Bernstein appeals to well-educated readers by managing to slide in cultural references that require extensive art and political knowledge to