Dialogue among Civilizations through Poetry - "On Dialogue".

On Dialogue

A Critical Examination of the Spirit of the Event

Erminia Passannanti

Noam Chomsky posits that linguistic knowledge is both innate and learned, suggesting that our acquisition of language inevitably integrates us into the intricate network of cultural conventions that define meaningful communication. Through language, individuals assimilate into the richness of their civilization while simultaneously contributing to it by expressing thoughts, emotions, and judgments. Dialogue, therefore, emerges as a fundamental social practice, as its etymological roots in the Greek "diálogos" ("speech among people") suggest. However, the effectiveness of dialogue is contingent upon the mental disposition and effort invested in engaging with others. Given the complexities of human interaction, achieving an authentic and sincere form of dialogue may often appear to be an unattainable ideal.

Luigi Pirandello, in Six Characters in Search of an Author, explores the artificiality of communication by portraying individuals as constrained by socially imposed roles, performing formulaic speech acts that lack authenticity. The six characters, feeling stifled by the author's ideological imposition, seek to reclaim agency over their own identities and communicative expressions. Yet, even when granted autonomy by the stage director, their attempt at dialogue fails, underscoring Pirandello's pessimistic assertion that language, rather than revealing an authentic self, functions as a socially imposed mask. His modernist critique suggests that human beings are condemned to misinterpretation, unable to generate meaningful communicative exchanges. However, this skepticism is not purely nihilistic; rather, Pirandello systematically dismantles conventional notions of dialogue to expose the inherent challenges of authentic communication, thus stimulating reflection on the possibility of achieving a truly dialogic civilization.

Eugène Ionesco and Samuel Beckett extend this critique through their respective dramatic works. Ionesco's The Bald Soprano highlights the vacuity of formulaic conversation by presenting a series of mechanical and nonsensical exchanges between characters, ultimately culminating in a parody of linguistic conventions. The dialogue, lifted from an English language textbook, underscores the absurdity of communication devoid of intention or substance. Similarly, Beckett's Endgame and Krapp's Last Tape interrogate the limitations of dialogue. The former employs the metaphor of a chess game to illustrate the performative nature of verbal exchanges, while the latter constructs a fragmented monologue that simulates a dialogue between past and present selves through the use of a tape recorder. Beckett's dramaturgy suggests that soliloquy, whether voluntary or imposed, may serve as a substitute for interpersonal communication, yet it simultaneously exposes the inherent isolation and disjunction of linguistic expression.

The implications of this critique extend beyond the realm of theatre into the domain of poetry, where communication is not always the primary objective. Poetic language, often intimate, opaque, and synthetic, resists straightforward interpretation and yet retains an inescapable dialogic element. Twentieth-century Italian Ermetismo and James Joyce's stream-of-consciousness narrative techniques exemplify this tension between incommunicability and the search for dialogue. Even when poetry appears solipsistic, it remains an engagement between the self and its many internal interlocutors, reflecting an intrinsic dialogic impulse.

In light of these theoretical perspectives, the "Dialogue Among Civilizations Through Poetry" initiative presents a compelling platform for reevaluating the role of dialogue in both artistic and societal contexts. The internet has facilitated new forms of poetic engagement, with over 230,000 poetry websites and major initiatives such as the Academy of American Poets receiving millions of visits annually. The upcoming 31st Poetry International Festival will incorporate discussions on the intersection between poetry and cyberculture, with the aim of establishing a global poetry magazine accessible in multiple languages.

The Dialogue Among Civilizations Through Poetry program, spearheaded by Ram Devineni and supported by Poetry International-Rotterdam, Rattapallax Press, and the United Nations Society of Writers, seeks to foster cross-cultural exchange through poetry readings and online collaborations. The culminating events, including a major reading at the United Nations headquarters, will bring together distinguished poets such as Yusef Komunyakaa, Joyce Carol Oates, and James Ragan, alongside a multitude of international participants. The Oxford event, featuring poets such as Tom Paulin, Bernard O’Donoghue, Andrew McNeillie, and Lucile Desligneres, will further contribute to this initiative by engaging with the philosophical dimensions of dialogue through the lens of literature and critical thought.

The overarching objective of these global events is to reassert the significance of dialogue, despite the challenges highlighted by modernist critiques. By leveraging the internet’s potential for inclusivity and interconnectivity, the Dialogue Among Civilizations project aspires to cultivate a renewed understanding of poetic discourse as a mode of meaningful exchange. In doing so, it challenges the prevailing skepticism surrounding the efficacy of communication and underscores the enduring necessity of dialogue as a means of cultural and intellectual engagement.