Voices of Youth in Digital Age Poetry: Poetics, Attitudes, and Identities

Poetry is a vital form of self-expression for 21st-century Estonian youth, supported by new media. Alongside printed poetry (Värske Rõhk, Grafomaania), oral poetry (poetry slam, rap) and digital forms (social media poetry) have gained prominence. Youth create poetry in multiple languages (Estonian, Russian, English, dialects), often interweaving them to reflect cultural diversity. Despite this wealth of material, comprehensive studies on Estonian youth poetry and contemporary forms remain absent. The project explores youth poetics across platforms, mapping the boundaries and possibilities of digital-age poetry. Using corpus-based versification analysis, as well as discourse and content analysis, this study examines central themes, imagery, attitudes, and the cultural and social identities of young Estonian and Estonian-Russian authors. The project offers a fresh perspective on youth voices, self-definition, and cultural relationships in contemporary poetry.