If you think poetry is just about dusty old books, Button Poetry is here to blow your mind. Established in 2011 by a group of passionate poets, Button Poetry is a multimedia production company headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota. They had a simple but powerful goal: to showcase diverse voices and make performance poetry accessible to the mainstream. Since then, Button has transformed spoken word into a viral sensation, bringing poetry right into the digital age.
Button Poetry isn't just any poetry platform. It began as a humble YouTube channel, but its growth has been nothing short of remarkable. The founders saw spoken word as an avenue for deep connection and emotional engagement. They wanted to amplify voices that were often marginalized, from all walks of life and experiences. What makes Button special is its ability to harness the power of the internet, thus reaching millions of viewers worldwide.
The company promotes poets through its vibrant YouTube channel, while also publishing books and running poetry contests. They allow young poets to share their stories and fight the stereotypes of poetry as an elitist domain. The best part? Anyone with internet access can watch and be inspired by poignant, powerful performances, all with just a click.
The content on Button Poetry covers a wide range of topics. Poets speak candidly about identity, love, trauma, and social justice, reflecting the myriad experiences of our times. These are stories that resonate with many Gen Zers, who grew up in a rapidly changing social landscape. Each video is a narrative that speaks to viewers, often presenting perspectives they might not encounter in their everyday lives.
Yet, Button Poetry isn’t just about highlighting diversity. It's also about the art of performance itself. The emotions conveyed on stage can be electric, transforming written words into visceral experiences. It's a reminder that poetry is not just the rhythm and rhyme but a live experience, a shared moment between poet and audience.
As for the critics, some might argue that Button Poetry waters down the art by embracing the digital and popular arena. They might see it as straying too far into the realm of performance at the expense of the written word's depth. However, supporters believe that Button is democratizing poetry. It's pulling it out from the dusty tomes to be enjoyed during a bus ride home or in the comfort of one's bedroom.
This embrace of social media and digital technologies seems essential in today's world. Generation Z is arguably the most connected generation, and their understanding of content is deeply tied to platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. Button Poetry’s online presence meets them where they are, offering a platform for both consumption and creation.
Performance poetry also plays a significant role in activism. It's raw, direct, and deeply personal, sometimes serving as a catalyst for change. Spoken word provides an outlet for expression that taps into listeners' empathy by putting real names and faces to issues like racism, sexism, mental health, and inequality. Button Poetry brings this activism into living rooms, bridging gaps between individuals' lived experiences and the broader societal narratives.
For skeptics who see this as too uninhibited or chaotic, it should be noted that art forms have always evolved. Button is just the natural progression of poetry adapting to the 21st century. It reimagines what poetry can be and challenges those boundaries. Understandably, this may not appeal to purists who cherish the rigidity of traditional forms.
Button Poetry acknowledges that poetry, at its core, is about connection. By lifting diverse voices, the platform crafts a tapestry of human experience that is incredibly rich and relatable. While critics and traditionalists may view it as overly commercial or mainstream, supporters see it as breathing new life into a cherished form of expression.
Button Poetry stands as a beacon of creativity and innovation in an art form that stretches back centuries. Whether viewed from the perspective of a skeptic or a champion, it undeniably offers something unique to the modern literary landscape.