5. Instagram, Poetry and the Cult of the Amateur

This chapter reflects on the function and form of Instapoetry, and the benefits (and limitations) of instantaneous publication, in contrast to the cultural considerations and processes that have historically informed the production and publication of traditional poetry. It begins by considering the kinds of established poets who dominated the field at the start of the twenty-first century in the UK, in comparison to some of the most popular (Insta) poets today. The characteristics of both the figure of the poet and the format or platform upon which poetry is (most often) engaged with have shifted. This shift is evident in both the diverse backgrounds and entrepreneurial attitudes of contemporary Instapoets, many of whom acknowledge their personal brand as a contributing factor in their commercial success. Sales figures for some of the best-known Instapoets have served to buoy the market, with poet and scholar Timothy Yu noting that, “In the mainstream press, the primary theme has been ‘how Instagram saved poetry’” (Yu. Instagram Poetry and Our Poetry Worlds. Poetry Foundation, https://​www.​poetryfoundation​.​org/​harriet/​2019/​04/​instagram-poetry-and-our-poetry-worlds, 2019). The shift is also evident in the mode of address (from detached and formal to immediate and relatable) and the form of the poetry being published.