About six years ago, I had an argument with my friend about Instagram poetry.
If you don't know what Instagram poetry is, well, it's not exactly what it may seem from the title. Basically, it's a poetry style that is made to be easily accessible on social media platforms like Tumblr, TikTok, Twitter, and, of course, Instagram. Its features are typically described as simple, short, and aesthetically pleasing, sometimes accompanied by little drawings. The genre started with certain authors posting their poetry on social media, particularly on Tumblr and Instagram. With time, their personalities became more known, they gained more audience, and their texts became more popular, allowing them to publish their poetry books. You've probably heard of one of the most famous ones, like, Rupi Kaur, and her book "milk and honey".
So, onto the argument. I know it sounds snobbish, but bear with me. As someone who studied literature and journalism, I just wasn't able to agree with my friend that this type of poetry is "good” (what is good anyway, huh?). My arguments were about lack of depth and intensity, how the popularity of “this” kind of poetry is ruining the traditional poetry publishing industry, and that not understanding the rules of punctuation, font style, and literary devices, and using them for good-looking purposes, were driving me insane. The conversation ended when she told me that everyone can be a poet and the most important factor is that poetry should make you feel something. I had to crawl away with my literary-intensity arguments because she was right.
Later on, I had another discussion with a different friend who said that it is a privilege to be able to study literature and be published without a certain degree or knowledge. And so I decided to dive deep into the instapoetry genre because I no longer wanted to be a trite critic anymore. I explored the works of Rupi Kaur, Lang Leav, Amanda Lovelace, r.h. Sin, Orion Carloto, and even some celebrities such as Lili Reinhart with her book "Swimming Lessons". I listened to podcasts, watched some video essays, read articles, and, well, I learned something:
1. Many of these poems address important topics, such as traumas, social injustice, inequality, poverty, climate change, and, more importantly, different personal experiences. Their accessibility through social media allows them to break down many walls between people from different backgrounds. I fell in love with the idea of how crucial it is to be able to hear different voices and provide a platform for people to speak. Plus, not surprisingly, the vast majority of writers and readers of this genre are women. And the way of sharing these experiences can lead to connecting and uniting for different causes.
2. One of the main features of the genre is indeed its simplicity. But simplicity doesn't mean a lack of depth. Of course, knowing how to do literary craft comes with experience and would only improve the poems of everyone writing them. But being able to write something that heavily resonates with many people and makes them feel seen is so fulfilling for both authors and readers.
3. I've come to realise that focusing on the literary significance of each poem reproduces the misconception that poetry is exclusive and difficult to understand—which is simply wrong. Poetry is for everyone, and amazingly, there are so many styles that everyone can themselves in.
4. Instapoetry has undeniably elevated poetry's status as a genre. The surge in poetry readership in America from 2012 to 2017 underscored its growing popularity. It's not a replacement for traditional poetry but rather a fresh perspective, opening doors to a new way of artistic appreciation.
5. The landscape has changed even in these six years. Publishing your art on social media now has significant benefits, opening up access to new audiences and providing a platform for self-expression. Publishers these days are also increasingly paying attention to author presence in media, recognizing the power of online platforms to amplify voices.
6. I actually liked it! I sure reblogged a hundred of those poems during my Tumblr years but just never thought of it as "instapoetry" before because the term didn't exist back then. I needed some time to find my niche within the genre, and now I am a proud follower of some authors on Instagram. Here's a list of my favourites: zainab, sunsetsnoranges, mikhaelart, riptdes.
YouTube creator Roughest Draft said something in one of their videos that resonated with me. It's that uneasy feeling you're left with after reading a poem of “so what” or “what was the point of that.” And while I couldn't agree more, the interpretation of this “so what” feeling varies for each person. You might appreciate a poem simply because it stirs something within you. And we also should make a distinction between personal preference and objective analysis. For instance, I don't particularly enjoy the poetry of Alexander Pushkin; it rarely speaks to me. Yet, I acknowledge its importance in history and cultural influence. Similarly, someone might not fancy the style of Instagram poetry, but dismissing its impact would be a mistake
In conclusion, I gladly no longer approach Instagram poetry with prejudges. I believe this genre deserves all the attention and its place in the poetic landscape. Despite any criticism it receives, it has its audience and distinctive qualities. It helps people connect and relate to each other. And we cannot deny its role in drawing attention to the poetry industry as a whole.
And I agree with my friend that the most important thing is that art makes you feel something. And if it does, nothing else matters.
