Man in Contemporary Poetry

Man in Contemporary Poetry is a brilliant work by the esteemed writer Mohammad Mokhtari, first published in the 1990s. In this book, contemporary poetry is examined through the lens of poets Mehdi Akhavan Sales, Nima Youshij, Ahmad Shamlou, and Forough Farrokhzad. Mohammad Mokhtari explores the imagery and perception of humans in Iranian poetry from ancient times to the present. He discusses both the similarities and differences in how contemporary poets perceive humanity and analyzes the evolution of modern thought globally. Classic poets and the four mentioned contemporary poets are scrutinized, highlighting themes of otherness, diverse human issues, and collective and individual values as inseparable elements of contemporary poetry. Despite Persian poetry sometimes grappling with paradoxical and restrictive challenges, there is a persistent emphasis on individual human values and a clear understanding of otherness, often more pronounced than in other intellectual fields. According to Mohammad Mokhtari, recognizing the presence of the other is natural, and its absence leads to human degradation. Consequently, one notable achievement of contemporary poetry is its proud contributions to new ideas concerning human rights, dignity, and presence.