Volume: 3  Number: 1  Page: 66–77  doi:10.2167/new058.0

Making Voices: Identity, Poeclectics and the Contemporary British Poet1

Mario Petrucci School of Arts and Humanities, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK

The concept of Poeclectics is described, and used to explore the vitality, diversification and complexity of voice currently exhibited among British poets. The author also examines, through a Poeclectic lens, specific aspects of literary output in order to demonstrate a growing engagement between their means of funding and profound contemporary issues of personal-creative identity. The importance of collaboration among artists is highlighted, principally through the ShadoWork project, thereby introducing the terms polyvocal, co-vocal and multi-vocal. Some key Poeclectic issues are illustrated through site-specific and ‘self-performing’ work, including a community-based Year of the Artist commission and the unique Poetry Hunt currently on view at the Imperial War Museum. The author concludes with a thorough assessment of the dangers and opportunities presented by Poeclectic practice (particularly in terms of artistic integrity, the modern self and conflict resolution), raising the question of how best to support poets in the growing sector of public commissions, and with a closing emphasis on urban regeneration and community identity.

Keywords: community, identity, Poeclectics, poetry, ShadoWork, voice

© M. Petrucci

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