Unveiling the Secrets
Only You Can Prevent Stupid Poetry From Going Viral
I always love provocative titles, and provocative titles always love me back. Provocative titles are like mirages in the desert- they appear seductive and tantalizing, then evaporate without a trace leaving nothing but hot air behind. Provocative Titles drop catchy yet profound aphorisms into my field of vision with their sheer brevity. For example:
“The photography is dead, long live the AI art?”
When I read this, I say to myself. “What? Is photography dead? Long live photography! Long live art!” I feel like a ghost has just rolled into a room. “Who are you?” I ask.
“Oh, I’m a provocative title- the kind of title that never settles into one meaning and always seems to change with each subsequent reread.”
It’s like reading a text message in 140 characters, then hearing it read aloud.
“No, no,” I think to myself, “it can’t be.” Then second thoughts creep in, and I begin to wonder what that creepy guy who goes by the name of “AI” is trying to get at. Metaphorically speaking … maybe. More likely, he’s just getting some cheap laughs off of me because he sees how confused his statement makes me.
I was startled when my friend Eva Rtology’s devoted reader took offense to the title of her substack post. As a poet who has written a lot of provocative titles, I felt responsible.
I once made a remark about a provocative title, And all of the sudden there Was something that needed explanation. “A provocative title, you see,” My friend explained. “Makes things happen.”
And so, I ponder on the power of provocative titles and the responsibility that comes with them. We, as creators, must be mindful of the impact our words have on those who consume them. It is our duty to prevent stupidity from spreading like wildfire, to ensure that our art remains a force of illumination and exploration, and not a tool for triggering baseless reactions and empty controversies.
Only you can prevent stupid poetry from going viral, by cultivating the art of writing with intention and depth. In a world where AI-generated art challenges the sanctity of human creation, it is crucial to remember that our words carry the weight of our humanity. Our poetry is a reflection of our collective consciousness, our desires, and our fears. It is a testament to our resilience and our ability to love, despite the violence that surrounds us.
As artists, it is our calling to push the boundaries of the known and venture into the unknown. We must be unafraid to question the status quo and explore the depths of our emotions. We should not shy away from provocative titles, but instead, wield them as a powerful tool to engage our readers in meaningful conversations.
So, let us embrace the challenge of writing with purpose, and let us not forget that, in the end, the power to prevent stupidity from going viral lies in our hands. Our art, whether it be poetry, photography, or AI-generated creations, can be a beacon of light in a world filled with darkness.
Long live the art, long live the creativity, and long live the power that lies within each of us to make a difference. Stand tall, dear poets and artists, and remember that only you can prevent stupid poetry from going viral.
