#Instapoetry in India: the aesthetic of the digital vernacular

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article will study the evolution of Instapoetry within the Indian digital sphere and trace its trajectory of growth and development. It will take a close look at how local and historical issues find expression in a global, digital mediascape through this emerging body of writing. The article further argues that Indian Instapoetry is characterised by a peculiar aesthetic shaped by a combination of ancient traditions of oral poetry and digital affordances of a platform like Instagram. The merger of these influences results in the formation of a digital vernacular mode of expression constituted by a set of thematic and formal poetic devices. Owing to these features, Instapoetry comes into its own as the poetry of the people which echoes their concerns, anxieties and aspirations. At the same time, the digital vernacular facilitates the creation of radical spaces where novel forms of poetic expression and affective engagement are made possible.