Under the intellectual guidance of philosopher Mortimer J. Adler, the 'Encyclopædia Britannica' completely overhauled its format to release the 15th Edition in Chicago, Illinois, United States. This radical restructure divided the encyclopedia into three distinct parts: the 'Propædia' (an outline of knowledge), the 'Micropædia' (short articles for quick reference), and the 'Macropædia' (in-depth academic treatises). This design attempted to adapt the traditional print encyclopedia to an increasingly fast-paced information economy.

Adler's systematic restructuring of knowledge reflected the post-modern obsession with organizational systems and structuralism. This intellectual shift influenced language poets and experimental writers who began exploring the fragmentation and categorization of text within their poetry.