April is National Poetry Month, and there are mixed reviews on the social media phenomenon Insta Poetry and its place in the celebration. Some judge the genre for its supposed lack of artistry, like traditional poetry. Others advocate for how it expands the boundaries of poetry and introduces it to an audience who might not otherwise read it.
Below are some insights about this debate and recommendations of some of Insta Poetry’s most notable figures.
Insta Poetry’s uproar
Insta Poetry is short, eye-catching poetry that attracts readers through its minimalistic presentation and readability. The genre was made popular by figures like Rupi Kaur and has been a source of heated debate across social media platforms since its rise around 2014-2016.
Timothy Yu’s 2019 article for the Poetry Foundation traces Insta Poetry’s momentum to Kaur’s debut collection, Milk and Honey (2014).
“It’s pretty difficult to have a neutral conversation about Rupi Kaur with other poets. If you don’t know, Kaur has 3.5 million followers on Instagram, and, it seems, about the same number of articles written about her.”
Timothy Yu
Kaur’s follower count has grown substantially since Yu’s article was published, and her work remains a trending topic in the media. Many praise her work’s aesthetics and emotional content, but others deny the validity of this kind of poetry. Which begs the question: What is real poetry, and why does Insta Poetry not fit into that category?
Aesthetic obsession or literary treasure?
Ironically, many refuse to consider Insta Poetry as real poetry, but there is still an overarching claim that it disrespects the poetry genre. As mentioned, Insta Poetry relies heavily on aesthetics, which makes some question its depth.
Yu claims that “the debate over Kaur reveals at least three different poetry worlds, which overlap to varying degrees.”
The first is academic, creative writing, the second is spoken word poetry, and the third is Instagram Poetry.
Also, two extremes characterize the Insta Poetry debate: its revival or diminishment of the poetry genre. Audiences are divided because of its strong focus on “marketing and self-promotion” that academic or spoken word poetry tends to engage with less.
“In the mainstream press, the primary theme has been “how Instagram saved poetry,” with a focus on how the medium is drawing new audiences to an ostensibly moribund genre; indeed, Instagram poets have been claimed as the driving force behind a resurgence in U.S. poetry readership. Other accounts have taken a dimmer view of this success; Claire Fallon, for instance, calls the world of Instagram poets a “huckster’s paradise” of self-promotion and media manipulation; Atticus, one of the most popular poets on Instagram, is ‘a brand, not an artist.'”
Timothy Yu
Academic poetry views publication as the most significant achievement and the criteria for being a “real” writer. Spoken word poetry holds the studying of poetry’s craft as the highest standard. Spoken word poets engage more with the media than academic poets but less than Insta Poets.
So, for Yu, Instagram poetry is not necessarily a step down from “traditional poetry.” As he says, “Poetry on Instagram has, without a doubt, developed its own aesthetic, but it is one produced by the particular demands of the medium and its position within the market, not one marked by a descent from other poetic traditions.”
Social media’s mixed emotions
The continual argument over Insta Poetry has been “art is subjective,” emphasized by the variation in social media users’ reactions to the genre.
While Yu takes on a broad view of the world of Insta Poetry connected to the other “poetry realms,” as he calls it, some still doubt that the genre deserves praise.
For instance, an article from Buzzfeed from earlier this year highlighted some disapproving readers of a certain Insta Poet:
This Twitter user had a more comedic response, but this still shows a question about the necessity for this kind of writing.
Reddit users have also dedicated threads to discussing the Insta Poetry genre and the mixed emotions surrounding it. One thread attempts to navigate poetry’s complex standards, while another shares the world’s varying opinions on poetry.
As proof that there are still quite a few fans of the genre, there is also an Insta Poet promotional thread.
Users in these threads have expressed positive and negative feedback for the genre, with some essentially claiming, “Why can’t we just agree to disagree!”
So is Insta Poetry invited to the party?
The short answer is yes. Everyone has their own way of celebrating, and the genre’s persistent popularity shows that it is not going anywhere anytime soon.
Unfortunately, though, the deep question of ‘What is real poetry?’ cannot be encapsulated in the concise and evocative form of the Insta Poet.
The long answer is that since the issue is inherently “subjective,” it is hard to reach a definitive conclusion. Insta Poetry, like any other form, allows artists to share their creations with the world. From there, the world will criticize where those creations fit, often based on individual criteria.
So whether you choose one side of the debate or are just curious about the world of Insta Poetry, it seems it offers something for just about everyone.
Here are some of the biggest Insta Poet names to kickstart your National Poetry Month reading
1. Rupi Kaur
A leading figure of the Insta Poet phenomenon known for her debut poetry collection Milk and Honey (2014), along with its companions the sun and her flowers (2017), and home body (2020).
2. ATTICUS
A pen-name Insta Poet and another leading figure of the phenomenon. Their new book LVOE is releasing April 2nd, just in time for National Poetry Month!
3. Amanda Gorman
A recent NAACP Image Award recipient and #1 New York Times Bestseller for her collection Call Us What We Carry (paperback published 2024).
4. Morgan Harper Nichols
This poet and digital creator is known for her inspirational illustrative poet books and interactive app experience.
5. Nikita Gill
Prominent Insta Poet and novelist known for her collection These Are The Words (2022), Newsletter, and picture book Animal Tales from India: Ten Stories from the Panchatantra (2023).
6. R.M. Drake
A New York Times Bestselling Author whose striking new Love Stories Suck collection is out now!
7. Lang Leav
An International Bestselling Author, some of her most recent poetry collections include The Gift of Everything (2021) and September Love (2020).
8. Instagram’s poetry anthology features various works and tips for growing one’s poetry account.
So, if you are still skeptical of Insta Poetry or think it might be worth the read, the genre’s reach is hard to deny. Social media users have engaged with it in one way or another since its start, and the conversation continues. What better time to test the waters of Insta Poetry than National Poetry Month?
Laura Pruitt
March 26, 2024 at 6:02 pm
The author makes great points here. Poetry is expression and shouldn’t be limited by elitism. Insta Poetry is part of the game in my book!