What is Blackout Poetry?
Blackout poetry is an art form that combines elements of poetry, writing and mixed media. It involves taking words, phrases or even whole sentences out of a given text and rearranging them to create a new piece of poetry. The words are ‘blacked out’ of the text, making it a piece of visual art as well as a poem. Blackout poetry has been around for centuries, but the modern form has gained popularity in the last decade.
The Basics of Blackout Poetry
Creating blackout poetry begins with choosing a source text, like a newspaper article, book, magazine article or blog post. Once a text has been chosen, read it through carefully to find words, phrases or sentences that you think could be used in the poem. When you’ve identified some words or phrases that could be used, begin to ‘black out’ the text. This involves using a marker, pen or paint to obscure the words that you don’t want to include in the poem.
Once you’ve blocked out the words, start to rearrange them or remove some of them completely. As you’re working, think about the structure, rhythm and meaning of the poem. Are there any words that could be emphasized or repeated? Should there be any line breaks or white space? This is the most creative and interpretive part of the process, where you have the freedom to edit the words and create a unique poem.
Things to Consider
When creating blackout poetry, it’s important to consider the tone and the meaning of the poem. For example, if the source text is a newspaper article about a tragic event, the poem might reflect this darker sentiment. Similarly, if the source text is an article about a positive celebration, the poem might have a more upbeat tone. It’s also important to consider the emotional effect of the words and phrases. Are there any powerful words that can be used to evoke emotions like sadness, joy, anger or fear?
Adding the Finishing Touches
Once you’re happy with the poem, you can add the finishing touches. For example, you can frame the poem to make it into a work of art that can be hung on the wall. Alternatively, you can create a digital version of the poem and add it to a website or blog. There are also many online tools and apps that can be used to create blackout poetry.
Creative Freedom
One of the best things about blackout poetry is the creativity and freedom it allows the writer. It encourages the writer to be more imaginative and interpretive when crafting a poem. Unlike traditional poetry, it doesn’t rely on any preconceived ideas about what a poem should look or sound like. Instead, it allows the writer to experiment with words and phrases, in a totally unique and creative way.
Blackout poetry can be shared with friends, family and other readers through social media, blogs and other online platforms. It can also be entered into competitions and showcased at galleries and exhibitions. There are many online resources, tutorials and even books to help budding poets get started with blackout poetry.
Appropriate Source Text
When choosing a source text for blackout poetry, it’s important to choose a text that is appropriate to the purpose and theme of the poem. For instance, if the poem is going to be displayed in a public space, the text should be appropriate for that particular audience. Similarly, if the poem is being used as a teaching tool, the source text should be suitable for the intended students or learners.
Inspiration
When writing blackout poetry, it helps to draw inspiration from other poets and writers. It can also be helpful to read other blackout poetry, to get an idea of how the words have been arranged and what effect this has had on the poem. This can help to give the writer a clearer idea of how to craft their own poem.
Innovative Forms
Blackout poets can also experiment with different forms, such as looping, shuffling, shape poetry and haiku. These techniques can add an extra layer of creativity and interest to the poem. By using these techniques, poets can combine poetry and art to create a unique and innovative work.
Exploring the Possibilities
Blackout poetry is a unique and powerful art form, and a great way to explore the possibilities of poetry. As well as being a creative outlet, it has the potential to engage and inspire readers. It’s also relatively easy to get started with, even for beginners. So why not give it a try?
