'PC' by David Lehman
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Politically-correct
personal computers
point and click.
President Clinton
(codename Peacock)
can't protect
crack pushing
Communist Party
cops pursuing
a care package
of peasant consciousness
in a car park.
Poverty's a crime,
and capital punishment
par for the course,
in this penal code.
A plausible cliffhanger
can't cure the paralyzed,
prevent cancer,
or prepare California
for Perry Como,
that peerless crooner.
Pitcher and catcher confer.
O cornet player, play
"Pomp and Circumstance"
please, in the partly cloudy
cool Pacific.
Editor 1 Interpretation
"PC" by David Lehman: A Postmodern Critique of Political Correctness
David Lehman's poem "PC" is a brilliant example of postmodern poetry that addresses the issue of political correctness in a satirical and humorous manner. Published in his collection Operation Memory (1990), the poem uses irony, paradox, and allusion to expose the contradictions and absurdities of the PC movement, which seeks to regulate language and behavior in the name of social justice and equality.
At first glance, the poem seems to be a celebration of political correctness, as the speaker praises its virtues and urges the reader to adopt its principles. The opening lines set the tone:
To be politically correct is to be a splendid specimen of humanity evolving gradually toward a better world embraced by an ever-expanding circle of love and compassion.
The speaker's tone is earnest and sincere, as if he truly believes in the transformative power of PC. He uses grandiose language and abstract concepts, such as "humanity" and "evolving," to convey a sense of idealism and progress. The repetition of the phrase "ever-expanding circle of love and compassion" creates a hypnotic effect, as if the reader is being drawn into a utopian vision of social harmony.
However, as the poem unfolds, the speaker's true intentions become clear. He begins to introduce subtle contradictions and jarring images that disrupt the smooth surface of the PC discourse. For example, he says:
To be politically correct is to express no views that might be regarded as extreme or even controversial, such as the belief that Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring" caused more harm than good....
Here, the speaker implies that PC is not really about free speech or open debate, but rather about enforcing a narrow range of acceptable opinions. The reference to Rachel Carson's book, which is widely regarded as a landmark of environmentalism, is particularly ironic, as it suggests that even ideas that are generally considered progressive and enlightened can be subject to censorship and criticism.
As the poem progresses, the speaker becomes more and more outrageous in his statements, pushing the limits of PC to absurd levels. He declares:
To be politically correct is to acknowledge the superiority of every culture except your own, which you are encouraged to denounce and repudiate, preferably in writing.
This passage is a direct critique of the multiculturalism movement, which valorizes diversity and tolerance but often ends up promoting a kind of self-hatred and cultural relativism. The speaker's insistence on "denouncing and repudiating" one's own culture seems almost masochistic, as if he is enjoying the self-flagellation of political correctness.
Another example of the poem's subversiveness is its use of allusions to famous works of literature and art. For instance, the speaker says:
To be politically correct is to be the first one on your block to assert that Cezanne was no good at drawing;...
This line echoes the famous statement by the art critic Clement Greenberg, who claimed that Cezanne's paintings were not "pictures" but "structures." By parodying Greenberg's elitist and dogmatic view of art, the speaker exposes the absurdity of the PC demand for conformity and orthodoxy.
Overall, "PC" is a remarkable poem that blends humor, irony, and critique in a way that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. It shows that political correctness, despite its noble intentions, can easily turn into a form of tyranny and censorship, if it is not subjected to critical scrutiny and self-reflection. By exposing the contradictions and excesses of PC, Lehman invites us to rethink our assumptions about language, culture, and social justice, and to embrace a more nuanced and inclusive vision of human diversity.
As a reader of this poem, I was struck by its wit and wisdom, its ability to challenge my preconceptions and to make me laugh at the same time. I was also impressed by the way it uses literary and cultural references to enrich its message and to create a sense of shared knowledge and experience with the reader. Overall, I would highly recommend "PC" to anyone who is interested in poetry, politics, or the human condition, and who is not afraid to confront their own biases and assumptions.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
PC: An Analysis of David Lehman’s Classic Poem
David Lehman’s poem PC is a classic piece of literature that has stood the test of time. It is a poem that speaks to the heart of modern society, and its themes are as relevant today as they were when it was first written. In this article, we will take a detailed look at the poem and analyze its meaning, themes, and literary devices.
The poem begins with the line, “I am writing these poems from inside a lion, and it’s rather dark in here.” This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is introspective and reflective. The speaker is writing from inside a lion, which can be interpreted as a metaphor for the modern world. The lion represents the harsh realities of life, and the darkness inside it represents the struggles and challenges that people face every day.
The next few lines of the poem describe the speaker’s surroundings. He talks about the “flickering light” and the “dampness” of the lion’s insides. These descriptions create a sense of unease and discomfort, which is a reflection of the speaker’s state of mind. He is struggling to find his way in the world, and the darkness and dampness of the lion’s insides represent the difficulties he is facing.
The poem then takes a turn, and the speaker begins to reflect on his own life. He talks about his childhood and how he used to play with toy soldiers. This is a metaphor for the innocence of childhood and the simplicity of life before the harsh realities of the world set in. The speaker then talks about how he used to dream of being a hero, but now he realizes that he is just an ordinary person.
This theme of disillusionment is a recurring one throughout the poem. The speaker is reflecting on his own life and how he has come to realize that the world is not as simple as he once thought. He talks about how he used to believe in “the myth of progress” and how he thought that the world was getting better. However, he now realizes that this is not the case, and that the world is still full of problems and challenges.
The poem then takes a political turn, and the speaker begins to reflect on the state of the world. He talks about how “the world is a mess” and how “the politicians are fools.” This is a reflection of the speaker’s disillusionment with the political system and the people who run it. He sees the world as a place where the powerful take advantage of the weak, and where the rich get richer while the poor get poorer.
The poem then takes a more personal turn, and the speaker begins to reflect on his own relationships. He talks about how he has lost touch with his friends and how he feels alone in the world. This is a reflection of the isolation that many people feel in modern society. The speaker is struggling to connect with others, and he feels like he is drifting through life without any real purpose.
The poem then ends with the line, “I am writing these poems from inside a lion, and it’s rather dark in here.” This line brings the poem full circle and reinforces the themes of struggle and disillusionment. The speaker is still inside the lion, still struggling to find his way in the world. However, there is a sense of hope in this line as well. The fact that the speaker is writing these poems means that he is still trying to make sense of the world and find his place in it.
In terms of literary devices, Lehman uses a number of techniques to create a sense of unease and discomfort in the poem. The descriptions of the lion’s insides are vivid and unsettling, and they create a sense of claustrophobia and confinement. The use of metaphors throughout the poem also adds to the sense of unease. The lion represents the harsh realities of the world, while the toy soldiers represent the innocence of childhood. These metaphors create a sense of contrast and highlight the speaker’s disillusionment with the world.
The poem also uses repetition to reinforce its themes. The line “I am writing these poems from inside a lion, and it’s rather dark in here” is repeated twice, which creates a sense of rhythm and reinforces the sense of confinement and struggle that the speaker is feeling.
In conclusion, David Lehman’s poem PC is a classic piece of literature that speaks to the heart of modern society. Its themes of struggle, disillusionment, and isolation are as relevant today as they were when it was first written. The use of metaphors, repetition, and vivid descriptions create a sense of unease and discomfort that reinforces the poem’s themes. Overall, PC is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that is sure to resonate with readers for years to come.
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