Poetry as Form of Political Activism and Resistance: An Analysis of Contemporary Burmese Poems
Keywords:
activism, poetic language, representation, resistance, social issuesAbstract
This study analyzed five contemporary Burmese poems through the lenses of Mimetic, Marxist, Postcolonial, and Stylistic theories. It centered on the following: (1) the prevailing poetic visions reflected in the poems, (2) the social issues identified from these poems, (3) the representations of Myanmar based on these aspects, and (4) the recurring linguistic elements identifiable in the poems. The analysis adopted a qualitative approach, employing iterative content analysis and thematic analysis of the textual evidence from the poems. The findings revealed that the prevailing poetic visions were displacement, resistance, and activism, all of which are closely interrelated and reflective of the broader socio-political context of the country. In terms of social issues, the analysis identified the following: (1) extrajudicial killings, (2) the struggle for freedom and liberation, and (3) calls for unity and systemic change. These poetic visions and social issues contribute to a paradoxical representation of Myanmar as a conflict-ridden yet resistant society. The recurring linguistic elements, particularly pronoun use and imperative constructions reflected in the poems, point to the poets' reclamation of identity and their call to action, both of which are prerequisites for the notions of resistance and activism. As such, the study provides an integrative analysis emphasizing how the poetic visions, social issues, and representations of Myanmar are not only consistent with the country's socio-political realities but are also actively constructed through the linguistic and stylistic choices appropriated by the poets. The study therefore contributes to the ongoing discussion on the role of poetry as a mechanism for activism and resistance. Finally, the integrative framework adopted in this study highlights how literary theories unpack the socio-political realities of Myanmar as reflected in these contemporary poems.
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