For the Soft Critics
What will my verse be?
Dead Poets Society is easily one of my favorite movies. I relate to John Keeting in a way that many wouldn’t believe a 21 year old Black girl could relate to a (now past mid-aged) white man. His lust for life is evidence of his infatuation with art and what else could summarize my life? I created this Substack months ago but kept thinking it wasn’t the right time to publish something. Maybe now still isn’t the right time, if such a thing exists. But I’m publishing this anyway.
It’s 00:11AM on a Saturday and I just thought of the name For the Soft Critics (which is not at all inspired by Dead Poets Society and The Tortured Poet’s Department). I think it fits so well for this publication because as much as I enjoy media (literature and film especially), I connect with it on a critical level. It was last year that I embraced the title of critic (those who can’t do I guess) but I realize now that my critique is of a softer type. I don’t dissect works of art because I want to be heard or because I want to ‘correct’ the works of an artist. I do it to refine my perception of ‘good work’ and what makes work good to me.
In Keeting’s words, ‘We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.’
Over the next couple weeks, the powerful play of life will continue and I, in my desperate greed for knowledge and escape, will read and watch and listen just to report back here to you. I’ll be vomiting thoughts that I have thought over and over again about different works of culture. And I’m very excited to do it. If you would like to read my verse, subscribe and buckle up.
Love it! I can't but wait and ache for your next post.