Wanda Coleman’s poem deals not with the suffix “-ism,” but it revolves around the concepts with which it gets attached. The concepts alluded to in ‘the ISM’ seem to be racism, colorism, materialism, capitalism, and many more. It is quite interesting to mention here, the poetic thoughts are adaptable to each of these concepts. There is no limitation of thoughts. Rather it keeps all the ideas open-ended. A reader can think concerning a particular concept (such as racism) and wonder that it also fits into this piece. It’s the beauty of Coleman’s poem.
Summary
This poem revolves around the influence of the “-isms” on Coleman’s mind. The speaker, who is the poet herself, expresses how concepts like racism, capitalism, and others influence her mind. The reflection of the ideas is everywhere. In the air, the people living around the speaker, music, supermarket aisles, television, streets, even in the flashing street lights, a person can find the reflection of those things. Thus, it influences the mind and shapes it according to the idea that is accepted by the majority.
You can read the full poem here.
Structure
This eleven-line poem is written in the postmodern style. It does not resemble any conventional form or structure. Even the lines do not conform to the ideal sentence structure. Alongside that, readers cannot find any specific rhyme scheme in this piece. It is in free verse and the internal rhythm maintains the overall flow.
Another important thing to mention here is that the text has an intricate structure. The flow never halts in the middle. Besides, Coleman mostly uses the trochaic meter along with a few metrical variations.
Literary Devices
The first literary device that comes to attention, is a metaphor. Readers can find this device in the title and it seems to be a reference to racism or capitalism. In the first line, Coleman uses inversion or hyperbaton.
The most important literary device of this piece is enjambment. This device can be found throughout the text. As an example, in the first two lines, readers can find this device that is used to connect these lines internally.
There is a personification in the line, “strolls along with me/ down supermarket aisles.” The last two lines contain irony.
Detailed Analysis
Lines 1–6
tired i count the ways in which it determines my life
(…)
down supermarket aisles
Wanda Coleman’s ‘the Ism’ begins directly. The speaker is tired. She counts how a specific concept determines her life. Coleman does not clarify what the concept is. Readers can take it as racism or capitalism. The most appropriate concept seems to be capitalism or materialism.
Whatsoever, the idea permeates everything. The speaker says, “it’s in the air.” In this quoted line, the “air” is a metaphor for the idea mentioned in the poem. When her neighbors living next door stare at her, she can sense that they are also looking at her from that perspective. Through this line, it seems the speaker is referring to racism or colorism.
In her office, her colleagues also treat her in that manner. Even in the music that comes from the radio of her car, there is either some lines promoting colorism or capitalism. While she strolls down the supermarket aisles, she can see how materialistic modern people are.
Lines 7–11
it’s on television
(…)
when i would speak of other things
In this section, the speaker refers to the television shows or films promoting capitalist ideas implicitly or explicitly. Nowadays nothing related to this is shown implicitly. Readers can easily understand the hint.
When she walks casually in the streets, the ideas impregnated on her mind from external sources, keep revolving. On the banners over the flashing street lights, the advertisement reminds him the materialistic aspect has become a part and parcel of modern life.
Due to such manifold influences, Coleman later discovers that she is also speaking their language. When she speaks of other things, her subconscious comes into play. It unknowingly makes her think in the way the consumerist market wants.
Historical Context
Wanda Coleman’s ‘the ISM’ was published in her poetry collection “Imagoes”. It was published in 1983. Through her writing, Coleman talks about social inequalities. In this poem, she presents a modern picture. How the concepts such as colorism, materialism, capitalism, and consumerism play with human minds, get featured in this piece. Besides, the poet depicts the transformation of the mind due to the constant influence them. In modern times, if a person daily sees, hears, and thinks about how the world is acting, it is natural that the mind starts to adapt to the setting. In this way, the thinking-process is shaped. The speaker’s evolution depicts this epigrammatic idea.
Similar Poetry
Here is a list of a few poems that are similar to the themes and subject matter of Wanda Coleman’s ‘the ISM’.
- A Consumer’s Report by Peter Porter – This poem contains a report of the product (a reference to his own life) that the poet is using for a long time. It explores the theme of consumerism. Explore more poetry of Peter Porter.
- Hitcher by Simon Armitage – In this poem, the poet laureate of the UK, Simon Armitage talks about an act of violence against a hitchhiker. It similarly revolves around consumerism. Read more Simon Armitage poetry.
- This Is a Photograph of Me by Margaret Atwood – It’s one of Atwood’s best poems and deals with the materialism of contemporary times. Explore more poems by Margaret Atwood.
- The Woman Who Shopped by Carol Ann Duffy – It’s one of the best poems of Carol Ann Duffy and comments on the objectification of women. Read more Carol Ann Duffy poetry.
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