This wildly satirical collection of poems by Ryan G. Van Cleave immerses itself in pop culture almost to the point of absurdity, but grounds itself in a poignant humor that both dazzles and enlightens.
Though a focal point of the collection is Britney Spears, the subject matter touches on myriad aspects of post-modern American life with a direct approach hidden beneath far-fetched scenarios like A Love Story Between Britney Spears and Animal from The Muppets or Counter-Terrorist Barbie.
Van Cleave, who teaches English at Clemson University, occasionally inserts himself into semi-autobiographical, self-deprecating works, which are slightly more interesting and loftier than his other pieces.
His ability is not rooted entirely in farce: he has a clear aptitude as a poet, and readers will not be caught on antiquated words or an overload of Greek mythology references. He uses the pop-culture language to show deeper meanings behind things most people take for granted.
Just as Spears will someday fade away, this collection will not stay relevant for long. The references will lose their power and their meaning, though, with any luck, Van Cleave will release his next collection before this one matures.Retro Pick of the Week: Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters (1916)
Edgar Lee Masters' masterpiece of middle-class suburban hypocrisy is written in the form of poetic epitaphs for the residents of this supposedly innocent town. Adulterous husbands and wives, abandoned children, nihilist townsmen with a penchant for drunkenness ' Masters writes in the voices of the deceased with a spectacular believability. Though this work explores the underside of suburban life before the Jazz Age, it still resonates with the blunt honesty and astounding literary prowess it had when first published 90 years ago.
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Justin Thompson
