Essay Questions

Why is “defamiliarization” such an important concept in Raine's Martian Poetry?

Martian Poetry is based off the concept of “defamiliarization”. The identity of the Martian allows the leader to detach himself or herself from normal life. The purpose of Martian Poetry is to analyze the world in a critical manner. The idea of a Martian as the speaker of the poem allows Raine to employ odd language and techniques. The subjects of the poems are very blasé but the descriptions are not. It is an attempt to bring a new perspective to what humans consider 'beautiful'.

In what ways do all of Raine's poems use “alien” language?

Raine's descriptions are always strange as to create a disconnect between image and reality. This is a theme from “A Martian Sends A Postcard Home” that carries over into the rest of his poetry. Descriptions such as “Rain is when the earth is television. / It has the property of making colours darker.” in “A Martian Sends A Postcard Home” becomes odd phrases like “Green, tacky phalluses curve up, romance / A gust—the old flag blazes on its pole” in “The Onion, Memory”. Both these descriptions employ incredibly odd comparison. Rain is like television and grass is “green, tacky phalluses”. Sometimes the image below the description is not entirely clear. This forces the reader to engage with the poem at a far deeper level.

How is word choice critical in the imagery of Raine's poems?

Many of Raine's word choices help to interest the reader in his poems. The phrase “The Oistrakhs bow and scrape / in evening dress, or Emi-tape”, at first, seems to mean almost nothing. That is until the reader understands that Raine is describing a dinner setting of some sort. The use of odd terms and esoteric phrases give Raine's poetry a unique tone. It is up to the reader to decipher the emotion below this cryptic language. This makes the poem stick in the reader's memory as they attempt to deconstruct it.