“Smartphones are arguably the best thing to hit poetry” ?
What say you?
Shakespeare apps, spin the bottle for themed poetry, rhyme finders, Frostisms (Whitmanisms??) poetry readings “enhanced” by reading along on a glowing screen?
I don’t know, friends. Internet on the phone with fancy apps and whatnot makes me believe I would stray farther away from poetry than I already have. Basically, I’m unconvinced by Bob Tedeschi’s argument. To me, it’s just more portable internet.
The apps don’t seem that impressive, or maybe they feel more for people who spring breeze through poetry than people who grave dig for poetry.
Tags: poetry, smartphone
Sadly, this is because the vast majority of people think poetry is cutesy rhyming, and that’s who the article was directed toward. Anybody can write poetry! You just need a rhyming app for your iPhone!
Sorry that poetry as an art form gets so little credit. It’s almost like people think it’s a gimmick.
I would think that support from institutions and fellowships (and broader market distribution) would be the best thing to happen to poetry. Shows what I know.
I am completely addicted and dedicated to my BlackBerry, but use very few of the apps that are available for it. Instead it keeps me connected to all my various email accounts (work, personal, other personal one), gives me access to Facebook, keeps my calendar up to date, and allows me to text people when I’m running late—-which I always am. To me it’s a tool that allows me to manage the huge amount of information I’m supposed to keep up with while I’m in line at the grocery store, waiting for an appointment, or watching bad TV.
My students though, love, love, love apps. I think if this brings more people to poetry as readers, then it’s a very good thing. Not sure how much it would help with writing poetry, maybe song lyrics?
I would like an app that supplies me with Gary Snyder, Jimmy Dean Sausage jingles, and slant rhymes. Those things get caught in my inner ear, like the crazy Didion. Maybe a phone could suck them out?
I would also like to be able to enter lines and have the phone tell me the meter, because I’m terrible with feet… Or maybe I could practice.
Does Gary Snyder write slant-rhymed Jimmy Dean Sausage jingles? Because that would be awesome.
And yeah, there’s the practice option. But why learn how to do something when your magic phone can do it for you? (Okay, so that snarkyness doesn’t always apply. We can’t all be experts at everything.)
“The apps don’t seem that impressive, or maybe they feel more for people who spring breeze through poetry than people who grave dig for poetry.”
Nice. What about clam digging for poetry?
As for the controversy, yeah – what Marcus said. I suppose these apps could be good for turning young people on to poetry, much as Harry Potter did for those who didn’t read, but it also runs the danger of dumbing the art down, methinks.
I agree with ya’ll so far, and am interested in Amaris’ meter app. My fear about this advertising with smart phones is the same as my fear with “evangelizing” poetry in general. What do we advertise? Sure rhyme, but what else? Can we show a spectrum of this or do we just hope people get interested enough and investigate from there?
That’s what I want. Investigation. Advertising for contemporary (!) poetry should include a more complex range of examples.