Hello, and welcome to the Bee’s Knees! This week’s special is something that puts a spin on both words and pictures to create something truly memorable—motion poetry. As in, motion poetry. Poetry in motion.
What does this mean? Well, for one thing, it means that the war between whether the book or the movie is better can have a truce for once, because now we can have the best of both at the same time. At least, as far as poetry is concerned.
Back in 2008, inspired video artist Angella Kassube took a poem that she liked by contemporary poet Todd Boss and turned it into an animated and artistic film adventure. The result? Amazing.
Since then, Angella and Todd have teamed up to put together Motionpoems, a site where poets and film artists can team up to create new motion poetry. Every month, a new poem is released, and brought to life by the work of the film artist. Anyone can join in the fun, and poetry aficionados will love the way the poems can be interpreted through pictures and colors. Likewise, those of us who are more visually stimulated can come to a new understanding of poetry by enjoying these motion poems.
The idea of motion poetry is not strictly defined, and so the short films range from a series of animated illustrations for the poem to a more cinematic approach, depending on the artist at work. It may be a literal interpretation of the poem, or it may be an abstract representation of the ideas presented. Either way, motion poetry provides a fresh new way to enjoy poetry by transforming it into a one-of-a-kind film adventure.
Motion poetry can be found on the regular site, www.motionpoems.com, on YouTube, or on Vimeo. Poems are worth watching more than once so that they can really sink in with all their beauty . Every month, a new poem is released on the site. This month’s is “The Pilgrim is Bridled and Bespectacled” by Bridget Lowe and illustrated by Kassube:
THE PILGRIM IS BRIDLED AND BESPECTACLED: a poem by Bridget Lowe from Motionpoems on Vimeo.
Motion poetry is amazing, and that’s the Bee’s Knees for this week! Come back next Friday for yet another way to blend words and pictures to get something beautiful. Is there anything you want me to feature? Any lovely blending of words and pictures that I haven’t already presented? Please let me know in the comments section! I’d love to check it out.
