Instagram Poetry: Fab or Fad?
We’ve all scrolled through Instagram and stumbled upon the familiar, bite-sized verses typed in Sans Serif font, slapped on a white background and called poetry. While its origins are unclear, some have theorized that the rise of social media motivated poets to adapt their poetry to users’ content preferences — visually pleasing, easy to read and straight to the point — to maintain the genre’s relevance in the new age. Hence, it gave birth to “Instapoetry.”
Instapoetry, besides the general standards outlined above, is usually no more than one or two sentences broken into a few lines of words with minimal punctuation. Rather than utilizing literary devices to construct nuanced poems that intentionally bury meanings for readers to unearth, Instapoetry delivers the poem's message through bare platitudes for a quicker punch.
But this modern form of poetry has received criticism from traditional and academically trained poets and turned into a meme across social media for its aesthetic-driven, overused truisms. Even mainstream audiences unacquainted with poetry’s nuances have pointed out that these Instapoems achieve the bare minimum for a cheap, emotional reaction.
Of course, poetry does evolve, and Instapoetry might be the natural product of shifts in the English language. That’s why a poem from Emily Dickinson (19th century) sounds different from a poem from Sylvia Plath (20th century).
But how do we distinguish poetry from derivative platitudes and superficial musings? Is the worth of a poem now being judged by its aesthetic and readability rather than its novelty and wordsmith? Poetry challenges writers to venture beyond what is readily discernible to express concepts in ways that provoke readers to reevaluate them, which makes a good poem leave us breathless and enlightened.
Just like English philosopher John Stuart Mill famously said, “If a poet is to describe a lion, he will not set about describing him as a naturalist would … who was intent upon stating the truth. He will describe him by imagery, that is, by suggesting the most striking likenesses and contrasts [and] in the state of awe, wonder or terror.”
To poets who have spent years studying in school to hone their craft, Instapoets seem like sellouts who rely on visual appeal and digital marketing to fluff up their lackluster poetry. It also forces poetry into a singular formula for it to be successful among mainstream audiences.
But Instapoetry is a booming business. Rupi Kaur and Atticus, two of the most famous Instapoets, have enjoyed worldwide success with their bestselling, chart-topping books and cult Instagram followings, which have earned them recognition as the pioneers of the subgenre.
Instapoetry makes it easy for anyone to break into the world of poetry by uploading a few words on a solid color background, thanks to the accessibility of social media. If you don’t believe me, read this article about a journalist who opened a fake Instapoetry account and enjoyed substantial success by the end of week one. This means today’s poets can attain success more easily than before the internet existed as long as they market themselves well online and stick to the popular structure.
Instapoetry is also one of the primary forces for renewed interest in poetry in the 21st century, and it might have acted as a gateway for many current students who are learning the subtleties of poetry and perfecting their craft in university writing programs. It might even help expand access to poetry through its uncomplicated language and digital accessibility, compared to traditional poetry, which could require a more complex understanding of the English language and is often limited to physical books.
Arguments about whether this form of writing deserves to be celebrated and called poetry remain tense and unresolved. But there’s one detail that we can all agree on: Instapoetry’s impact on poetry, whether positive or negative, has helped draw attention to the literary genre after despairing forecasts that poetry would die in the 21st century.
However, Instapoetry does not group all modern poets. If you’re interested in reading works by contemporary poets, check out Sharon Olds, Ada Limón, Ocean Vuong and Amy King. And if you’d like to check out Instapoets to see how they compare to contemporary poets, search Nikita Gill, Atticus and Cleo Wade.
Strike out,
Writer: Daniella Alfonso
Editor: Denisa Fluturas
Gainesville
Daniella Alfonso is a features writer for Strike Magazine GNV. She can often be found drinking Cuban coladas, buying blind box toys, reading birth charts and listening to the same songs for years. You can send questions or rock and 80s music recs to her Instagram, @daneillas, or her email, daniellaalfonso143@gmail.com
