Poetry Project:

[Si_UK]

Hi there,

I wondered if you guys would be so kind to help me out. I’m a Graphic Design student at the University of Chester in the UK. I’m currently involved in a project to get 18-35 year olds more involved in reading. Through research it’s clear that this age range are gradually becoming more distanced from literacy mainly due to time constraints and other distractions. A way I’ve identified to get this age range more aware of literature is to tap into their social environments. By printing short poems on a range of beer glasses/bottles and beer mats I’m hoping this will entice the consumer to read further.

(Similar to the Becks fusion campaign, but with poetry rather than art.)

This is where you come in. As I have little knowledge of poetry, I’m struggling to find something that’s really suited to the subject audience. I’m looking for something that will speak to this age range (18-35), grab their attention and make them want them to read further poetry. A subject that the audience would have experienced in their own life (love, loss, work ect). Has to relate to both sexes and not to long, as I don’t have a huge area to work with.

If anything springs to mind that would be a great help. Also feel free to comment on my idea, crit is all good!

Thanks

Si

[BenJohnson]

It's a good idea anything that gets poetry out there is good in my book. You might need to define your subject audience a little more narrowly though 18-35 is a huge range, are looking to interest both genders or just one? In that age range you will find individuals of all interests, so can you narrow down the interests of a single group.

As broad guidelines I would say you want to look for either short poems or good fragments of larger poems, in a age of tweets and text messages short and snappy tends to get noticed and read. Humour is fairly universal to all age groups and genders and will tend to grab peoples attention as will writing about universal truisms where people connect to what they are reading.

[Bel Esprit]

I would think a controversial poetry is one that is striking and popular.
Anything controversial works! =)

[Si_UK]

Really appreciate your input Ben & Bel. Thank you.

Yes it is a huge range to work with and that's my main problem. I have thought about narrowing the age range down but as larger appeals to a wide age range (over18) and both genders I feel the poem should work for all.

I've gone on to look at poetry about drinking. I'm trying to involve humour in this but I'm having to be very careful to not portray drinking in a positive light.

Here are a few I've picked out:

Too much work, and no vacation,
Deserves at least a small libation.
So hail! my friends, and raise your glasses;
Work's the curse of the drinking classes.
Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)

Drinking will make a man quaff,
Quaffing will make a man sing,
Singing will make a man laugh,
And laughing long life doth bring.
Unknown author

The thirsty Earth soaks up the Rain, And drinks, and gapes for Drink again; The Plants suck in the Earth and are With constant Drinking fresh and fair.

Abraham Cowley

Ode to Alcohol

Starkle, starkle, little twink,
Who the hell you are I think,
I'm not under what they call
The alcofluence of incohol.
I'm not drunk as thinkle peep,
I'm just a little slort of sheep.
Tee martoonis make a guy
Fool so feelish, don't know why
Rally don't know who's me yet
The drunker I stay the longer I get
So just one more to full my cup,
I've all day sober to Sunday up.

(love this but there's no chance I could use it.)

Thanks for reading, would really appreciate your comments.

Si

[BenJohnson]

That last one is a cracker :)

[Si_UK]

Really appreciate your input Ben & Bel. Thank you.

Yes it is a huge range to work with and that's my main problem. I have thought about narrowing the age range down but as larger appeals to a wide age range (over18) and both genders I feel the poem should work for all.

I've gone on to look at poetry about drinking. I'm trying to involve humour in this but I'm having to be very careful to not portray drinking in a positive light.

Here are a few I've picked out:

Too much work, and no vacation,
Deserves at least a small libation.
So hail! my friends, and raise your glasses;
Work's the curse of the drinking classes.
Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)

Drinking will make a man quaff,
Quaffing will make a man sing,
Singing will make a man laugh,
And laughing long life doth bring.
Unknown author

The thirsty Earth soaks up the Rain, And drinks, and gapes for Drink again; The Plants suck in the Earth and are With constant Drinking fresh and fair.

Abraham Cowley

Ode to Alcohol

Starkle, starkle, little twink,
Who the hell you are I think,
I'm not under what they call
The alcofluence of incohol.
I'm not drunk as thinkle peep,
I'm just a little slort of sheep.
Tee martoonis make a guy
Fool so feelish, don't know why
Rally don't know who's me yet
The drunker I stay the longer I get
So just one more to full my cup,
I've all day sober to Sunday up.

(love this but there's no chance I could use it.)

Thanks for reading, would really appreciate your comments.

Si