LARSEN | KEYS – Page 6 – writer | rabble-rouser

Poems, place and digital space: online poetry in Australia, China and Hong Kong

<content>
<hidden>
<code>
<delete> <delete>

Over the past three decades, digital platforms have become a significant global player in the development and dissemination of poetry.

Variously referred to as e-poetry, electronic or cyber poetry, digital poetry, social media or Instapoetry and more, Australian digital poet and Professor of Electronic Literature Jason Nelson defines the artform as ‘the combination of technology and poetry, with writers using all multi- media elements as critical texts. Sounds, images, movement, video, interface/interactivity and words are combined to create new poetic forms and experiences’.

Like other online art forms, the creation and consumption of digital poetry has grown further and faster since the COVID-19 pandemic—as more people turned to poetry to make sense of the changing world and shared that poetry through one of the only platforms available to them during that time. ‘Poems are ideally suited to social media,’ New York journalist Michelle Dean writes, ‘because they pack so much meaning into so little language.’

However, this coming together of digital and poetic culture is different for poets in different countries, depending not just on geographic and internet access but language use and platform preferences, as well as the degree to which online activity is monitored, censored or controlled.

The Relationship is the Project is out now

Huge thanks to all who came out (or logged on) for last night’s Naarm/Melbourne launch of The Relationship is the Project. So grateful. So proud. You can now ask for a copy at your local library or bookshop, or order one online.

And another thing: governance and menopause

For International Women’s Day 2024, my ‘and another thing’ vlog talked about menstruation and menopause in the context of governance and duty of care, as well as a logical extension of occupational health and safety.

The power of digital poetry

At last month’s Perth Festival Writers Week in Boorloo/Perth, I began my Tiny Little Digital Poetry workshop with the following:

Given Perth Festival Writers Weekend brings writers and readers together in a colonial city built on unceded Noongar Boodja, it’s impossible as a guest writer not to acknowledge that our writing colleagues here and overseas are currently being killed, threatened and censored at unprecedented rates.
Continue reading “The power of digital poetry”

Dear arts organisations

Amongst everything else, the last several months have been a crash course for boards, leaders and organisations in risk and reputation management, crisis communications and duty of care from the pointy intersection of arts and human rights advocacy.

Inspired by my recent vlog series on why boards need to talk about Palestine (but applicable more broadly), here’s my attempt at framing the sorts of conversations going on amidst the hurt and panic, best and battered intentions, solidarity and silences right now.

News from The RITP team

We are THRILLED to reveal the beautiful new cover design for the second edition of The Relationship is the Project, designed by the amazing Reg Abos of Studio Regina.

My 2023 writing year

In a nothing-short-of-extraordinary writing year, 2023 included the launch of my debut poetry collection, completion of the next edition of The Relationship is the Project, self-publication of my grandmother’s memoir, neiphling’s picture book and family musical, articles in three literary journals, new poems in print and online, and more.

Have your say on the arts in SA

The South Australian Government has announced plans to redevelop its long-term vision for the state’s arts, culture and creative sector. SA artists, arts workers, arts lovers and audiences are encouraged to have your say.

Reading in 2023

With my own book hitting bookshelves and another one in production, I really thought I’d read fewer books in 2023. I was wrong.

In fact, I blew my personal reading record out of the water by getting through 236 books last year (exceeding the 212 I read in 2022).

But let me be clear: READING IS NOT A COMPETITION.

And another thing: the politics of publishing

As I mentioned at my Warrane/Sydney launch of Public.Open.Space. in November 2023, the sad state of the world makes it uncomfortable to talk about book stuff right now, which has made me even more grateful that my book is about control and protest, silencing and speaking up.

Because writers, artists, anyone with a platform, and anyone living on or benefiting from unceded land have an obligation to use our platforms to do so, to listen, learn, interrogate that learning, insist on media justice and speech free of bias and hate, and to recognise and act on our responsibilities.