Origins of Blackout Poetry
Blackout poetry is a form of literary expression where the writer takes a page of text or an existing piece of writing and blocks out words with a black marker or pen to create a poem. It is a type of found poetry and visual art which has seen a surge in popularity due to its quickly graspable concept and its ability to show the power of simple words. But despite its current fame, the origin of this unique form is still a bit of an enigma.
It is not difficult to find poetic passages in various documents throughout history, sometimes even entire works. This is due to the nature of the written language. And while it is easy to find passages that has been blocked by people in earlier times, it is not easy to determine whether these blocks were intentional or purely random.
Interestingly enough, the origins of blackout poetry appear to be linked to the world of advertisement rather than literature. The first blackout poem of which there is traceable evidence was created by Bill Kochman in 1996. Kochman, who worked in advertising during the late 1990s, decided to transform a page from a local newspaper into poetry by blacking out certain words. He initially thought of it as a way of visualizing ideas for his advertising campaigns.
Linlis Zig and Dave Morice, two advertising industry professionals, then took the concept of blackout poetry further in 2017. They conducted experiments that took recycled advertising junk mail and transformed it into unique works of art. The experiment aimed to show what was possible when old and discarded messages were re-contextualized.
From there, blackout poetry gradually gained traction with regular people like poets and writers who wanted to create something new and unique. Instead of tearing out and rearranging blocks of texts, they now used markers, pens, and even pieces of tape to create their works.
The idea of transforming a block of textual information into a work of art was also quickly adopted by teachers as a way of making important things like history, science, and political science come alive to students.
Blackout Poetry in Schools
At the start of the 21st century, blackout poetry became increasingly popular in schools around the world. It is a great way to engage students and help them understand more complex subject matters. By blacking out words and phrases, students are able to bring to life text from literature, history and other specifics.
An example of this is students being asked to black out words from a Shakespeare text and transforming it into a poem. This process allows them to see the poetic structure behind the Bard’s work.
Adventures in blackout poetry can also be used to explore texts from other cultures. This can give students the opportunity to learn about the culture, politics and art of a different culture without having to use text. Through the exploration of different texts, teachers can give their students the tools to interpret facts, stories, and ideologies without relying on written language.
Blackout poetry can also be tailored to fit different learning styles. For example, if a student is more visual, they can be asked to transform a text into a visual poem, while auditory learners can be asked to create sounds or music from the words they black out.
A Tool for Creativity
Blackout poetry can also be a way of promoting creative thinking. By transforming a block of text into a work of art, the writer allows themselves to be creative and interpret the words personall in a meaningful way. It gives the writer an opportunity to be creative and interpret the text in a unique way.
This can be particularly helpful for writers who might be struggling to get their ideas across in written language. Most writers – particularly those with a long career – can have difficulty expressing their ideas and thoughts. Blackout poetry can help them to interpret their ideas and express themselves in a more visual manner.
Blackout poetry is also a great way to explore and express a wide range of feelings. The blacked out words can represent a range of emotions, such as joy, sadness, anger, and frustration. In fact, blackout poetry has become a popular form of therapy for those struggling with mental health issues. The combination of the visual and textual elements of poetry can provide an avenue for self-expression and creativity that allows individuals to express and process their emotions.
Popularity of Blackout Poetry
Blackout poetry is becoming increasingly popular, in large part thanks to the Internet. There are now a range of websites and blogs dedicated to the art form, as well as books and magazines that feature blackout poems. This has resulted in a growing number of people interested in creating and sharing their own blackout poetry.
Furthermore, social media platforms such as Instagram and Twitter provide perfect channels for blackout poets to share their work, as the art form is ideally suited for these fast and visual platforms.
There is also an increasing number of blackout poetry competitions, where poets can compete for cash prizes. This allows blackout poets to share and promote their work, while also getting some much-needed recognition.
Blackout Poetry and Literature
Blackout poetry is becoming increasingly popular amongst readers, as it provides a way to interact with literature – both classic works and contemporary literature – in a creative and visual way. Through remixing a text, readers are able to gain new perspectives on a work.
Furthermore, blackout poetry allows readers to “free write” with an existing text. This can make it particularly attractive for those who are struggling to find their own voice when it comes to their writing practice.
Blackout poetry can also be used to explore themes in literature, such as power and oppression or love and romance. The blacked-out words can bring such themes to life as the reader interprets the words and images used in the poem.
Transforming Language into Art
Blackout poetry is a unique way of transforming plain language into art. Through this art form, writers can explore ideas, feelings, and themes in creative ways. It is an ideal method for those wishing to explore their creative side and gain a fresh perspective on their own writing practice.
This versatile art form is also being used in schools, in advertising campaigns, and to explore literature. As blackout poetry continues to be embraced, more and more people will find new and exciting ways to use this art form.
Blackout poetry is a great way to take simple words and transform them into something creative and meaningful. It is a form of expression that shows how powerful simple words can be.
