Walt Whitman was an American poet, essayist, and journalist during the 19th century who is widely acclaimed for his creative works and powerful revolutionary spirit. His writing broke traditional ideas and presented radically humanistic ideas to the world. He is credited with the invention of free verse and is often dubbed the “Father of Free Verse”. While his works received widespread acclaim, he never got an award during his life.
During Whitman’s lifetime, there was a minimal awards system in place which favored accomplished yet unpopular figures. This was also mirrored in the literary industry as traditionalism reigned supreme– poets who followed the conventional style were viewed more favorably. As Whitman embraced unconventionality and idiosyncrasy with his works, it was no surprise that he was marginalized.
However, in the modern era, academic communities here and abroad have exalted Whitman and his works, and retrospectively paid tribute to him. He has received numerous awards including the Pulitzer Prize Special Citation in 1996 and the Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album nomination in 2001.
In addition, several universities have created awards in his honor, such as the Walt Whitman Citation of Merit. This prestigious accolade is awarded to individuals who have made outstanding achievements in the fields of literature and cultural exchange. Some of the past winners include Nobel Literary Laureate Seamus Heaney and Academy Award Winner Paul Scofield.
The Walt Whitman Award is well-known in the contemporary literary world as it is granted annually by the Academy of American Poets. Inaugurated in 1975 as a means to nurture emerging poets, the Award is accompanied by a prize of $5,000 and the honor to be published in the Academy’s journal.
Walt Whitman has been a pervasive influence on modern American poets, with his impact felt for more than a century since his works first appeared. His writings are now examined through a new lens, and despite Whitman winning no awards himself during his lifetime, his works and influence carry on in our cultural conversations.
Whitman and his Creative Legacy
The enduring legacy of Whitman is evident in the works of many contemporary writers, poets and essayists. This includes Pulitzer Prize winners such as Jack Gilbert and Robert Hass, who have acknowledged that their own works and style are deeply rooted in Whitman’s language.
American Poet Laureate Billy Collins has expressed his admiration of Whitman’s works in various poetry exchanges over the years. Collins wrote a poem in 2005 titled “The Novelty of Whitman” that expressed his admiration of Whitman’s use of language and his refusal to conform to poetic conventions.
Conversations about Whitman may also be sparked by modern works which allude to him such as Uzo Aduba’s performance of Leaves of Grass in the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black. Aduba’s portrayal of Whitman’s creative journey encourages conversations around free verse and the use of alternate forms of expression.
To keep Whitman’s works alive for generations, the Academy of American Poets created The Walt Whitman Award for a Student Poet in 1975. This award seeks to encourage young poets by providing a platform for them to showcase their work, not just in the U.S. but in other countries too.
The Academy also sponsors various national Reading & Learning Programs on Whitman throughout the year to promote his works and philosophy through educational opportunities. Through this, public and private schools have access to Whitman’s works, allowing the revolutionary poet to live on in the hearts of numerous individuals around the world.
Recognition at Special Events
In several instances, renowned figures have held special readings and homages to Whitman’s works at special events. These include the Walt Whitman Bicentennial Memorial Reading, which featured contributions from American Poet Laureate Ted Kooser and well-known American poet, Dave Smith.
In the same spirit, renowned actors and contemporary poets have joined together for readings of Whitman’s works to celebrate the poet’s life and works. One example is the Walt Whitman Award Ceremony from 2012, which featured acclaimed American poet, Galway Kinnell, poet laureate and Pulitzer Prize winner, Robert Olen Butler and Academy Award winning actor, Mary Steenburgen.
These events offer much-needed recognition of Whitman’s legacy and contributions to modern literature, although Whitman never got the chance to award himself the honors of his lifetime.
His Legacy In Museums and Memorials
Whitman’s work was not limited to artistic expression as he wrote extensively on social issues. These ranged from feminism to anti-slavery, aiming to give voice to the marginalized.
The Walt Whitman Initiative at the Walt Whitman House in Camden, New Jersey, is a special tribute to the poet. Established in 1977, the Initiative engages in engaging new audiences by visiting prisons, hospitals and classrooms and providing vast amounts of educational material such as textbooks and textbooks containing the poet’s works.
A closer celebration of Whitman can be found in New York City, where a figurative statue of Whitman’s head has been erected in the city’s namesake, Washington Square Park. The plaque at the base of the statue reads, “I believ in you my soul the other I am must not abase itself to you”. This serves as both an homage to and a reminder of Whitman’s writings and thought, emphasizing his importance and staying power in the modern world.
Walt Whitman also inspired numerous bronze and stone memorials, such as the Walt Whitman Memorial in Washington DC, which stands in front of the Library of Congress. This monument recognizes the poet and honors his struggle, strife and growth as a creative person and an American citizen.
His Influence on Contemporary Creative Arts
Walt Whitman’s influence was not limited to his own lifetime. Modern day filmmakers and painters pay homage to the poet by depicting their hopes, dreams, and understanding of Whitman’s works in their art.
One example is the film O Captain! My Captain! (1993), directed by Richard Linklater and loosely based on Whitman’s life and works. This film received huge praise, with many lauding its adaptation of Whitman’s works and its direction.
The poet is also celebrated by the visual arts industry, most notably by photographer Robert Frank, who was inspired by Whitman to captures with honesty the common human condition in his art.
The Whitman Issue is the world’s first literature magazine to be devoted exclusively to Whitman and his ideas. Published from April 2015 to April 2017, the magazine explored the timeless values of Whitman’s creative works and collected the works of many modern creative practitioners on the poet and his poems.
Whitman in Literary Theory and Criticism
Whitman’s works have been studied extensively by literary critics from around the world. The influence of Whitman’s works can be seen in many forms and in many genres.
Writers, thinkers, and scholars from various disciplines have used Whitman’s works as a platform to explore the complex nuances of the American experience while simultaneously offering critiques of power and inequality. Some of the most renowned academic works on Whitman’s works include Gayatri Spivak’s A Critique of Postcolonial Reason (1999) and Whitman in the Critics by Stephen Railton (1996).
Fiction writers and poets continue to take their cues from Whitman’s works, often finding inspiration in the poet’s humanistic approach and the unique structure of his verse. This includes the works of modern storytellers such as Toni Morrison, who has been inspired by Whitman’s democratic vision and his notion of a shared poetic identity.
His Legacy as a National Treasure
Walt Whitman’s influence has extended far beyond the realm of art and culture, entering America’s collective consciousness as a national treasure. The poet is celebrated through statutory holidays such as “Whitman Day” in the state of Louisiana, which was declared on May 31, 2016. The state of New Jersey has also decreed May 31 as “Whitman Day”, which is celebrated annually in conjunction with Whitman’s birthday.
Cities such as New York have also decided to honor Whitman by declaring him as a special citizen and rewarding him with several honorary degrees. For example, Columbia University granted him an honorary Doctor of Letters in 1959 and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in the Bronx in 1962, around three decades after his death.
Although Walt Whitman won no awards during his lifetime, his works and spirit will continue to inspire many, creating an everlasting legacy of originality in the 21st Century.
