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The creative arts is a field that unfortunately, has never quite received the recognition it deserves. Few artists- like writers and painters- have ever been able to make a living out of their art, regardless of their skill level. Even legendary poets such as William Carlos Williams and Charles Bukowski had to take second jobs alongside writing their poetry to survive.
However, with the rise of ‘instagram poetry/insta-poetry,’ it’s become a main career for many people. Instapoetry, by definition, is a term used to describe poetry written with the intention of being posted on social media platforms, especially instagram. It has a distinct style when compared to the work of poets from the past, or even the poetry taught in schools.
One of the most notable poets who emerged using this style would be Rupi Kaur, author of ‘Milk & Honey.’ She began by posting her poems on tumblr back in 2012, switched to instagram, and eventually published her collection of poems as a book in 2014. By 2016, the book had made it onto the New York Times bestseller list, and her success continued to grow. The rise of Rupi Kaur helped the entire genre of poetry gain recognition once again; from an under-valued, under-appreciated art form to one that was in the front shelves of bookstores.
Since Rupi Kaur, more and more insta-poets have begun to enter the spotlight, including many celebrities who decided to branch out into poetry. Cleo Wade, Atticus, and R.M. Drake are just a few who have been successful. This style of poetry’s success is likely due to how accessible and understandable it is to most consumers. The poems are typically quite short, aesthetically-pleasing to look at with drawings to accompany them, and are usually blunt and not heavy on literary devices or techniques. It also has a proven history of encouraging more people to engage in writing poetry, helping it stay relevant and brought into the changing world. Further, it provides more room for experimentation and freedom than typical poetry, which makes it more appealing to the majority of the population.
However, there’s another side of people who hold a different viewpoint. It’s often argued that insta-poetry is an invalid style of poetry, and is rather leading to the death of true, authentic, and meaningful poetry. Some claim that it’s nothing but shallow, artificial, ‘shower-thought’ lines that don't require any analysis or interpretation, with the only method of conveying meaning being line breaks.They say it focuses more on looking aesthetic and pretty instead of holding any substance, which leads to the demise of good quality literature in the modern world. Rebecca Watts, a British poet, wrote an essay in which she criticized the craft of insta-poetry and some of the poets themselves, writing it off as ‘amateurish’ and something that solely propagates the culture of instant gratification.
According to them, the issue does not lie with enjoying insta poetry- the issue is what its success shows us about society. It shows us society’s addiction to simplicity, and their interest in things that do not require them to think or have background knowledge about a certain topic. It’s also a testament to the steadily decreasing attention spans of people- nobody has the patience or energy to read the work of someone like Robert Frost and analyze the meaning behind his writing. The work of poets such as Rupi Kaur is much more immediately relatable and understandable, due to its simplicity, and that’s what sells.
Further, most of these poets had no formal education regarding writing poetry. Those against it argue that people publishing works of poetry without having the proper knowledge are stripping the art form of its complexities, and making it seem like an easier task than it is. Writing is a learned, complicated craft, and many insta-poets are self-publishing collections of poetry as a side-job to their already famous profession. Simultaneously, many writers working on honing their skills and trying to publish poetry are hardly getting recognition, angering many supporters of poetry.
In conclusion, insta-poetry may be a new arrival, but it’s evidently one that’s staying. It’s a double-edged sword, and it’s up to us to choose which side to focus on.
hi guys!!! i wrote a poetry book that came out today. it’s called roaring twenties (by taylor c milnes) and it would mean so much to me if you guys would check it out. it’s on amazon in paperback, ebook, and free on kindle unlimited!!!!!