What is the Shortest Poem?

Summary

In this video, Michael from Vsauce explores the concept of the world's shortest poem, discussing various contenders like Hemingway's six-word story and Strickland Gillilan's 'Fleas.' He delves into the minimalist art of poetry, highlighting examples from Muhammad Ali and Aram Saroyan, whose one-word poem 'lighght' sparked controversy. Michael also touches on non-verbal poetry and the philosophical significance of brevity in art and expression. The video ultimately underscores the power of even the smallest forms of literary art to convey profound meaning.

Takeaways

• 📚 The script discusses the concept of poetry and its brevity, questioning how short a piece of writing can be while still being considered a poem.
• 🤔 It explores the definition of poetry, suggesting that it is a form of literary art that conveys more meaning than the language would normally express.
• 📝 Ernest Hemingway's six-word story, 'For sale. Baby shoes. Never worn.' is presented as an example of extreme brevity in storytelling.
• 🐚 The script mentions 'Fleas' by Strickland Gillilan as a contender for the world's shortest poem, highlighting the creativity in minimalism.
• 🏅 Muhammad Ali's four-letter poem 'me / we' is cited to show the power of language and leadership in a concise form.
• 🎨 Aram Saroyan's one-word poem 'Lighght' is discussed, emphasizing the controversy and fame it gained for its simplicity and artistic value.
• 🔠 The script ponders the inclusion of titles in the length of a poem, bringing up Geof Huth's two-letter poem as an example.
• 📖 It mentions the Guinness Book of World Records' cessation of tracking records for the shortest poem, reflecting on the trivialization of artistic brevity.
• 👤 The fingerprint poem by jwcurry is highlighted as an example of personalization and individuality in minimal poetry.
• 🎼 The script touches on the concept of silence in music and poetry, referencing John Denver's silent 'Ballad of Richard Nixon'.
• 🌟 Fernando Pessoa's 'The Book of Disquiet' is used to illustrate the power of narration and the importance of leaving a mark through one's words.

Q & A

What is the significance of the word 'alphabet' as mentioned in the script?

The word 'alphabet' is significant as it refers to a playful and poetic way of pronouncing the entire alphabet as if it were a single word, which is a neat trick mentioned by the speaker.

What is the shortest story attributed to Ernest Hemingway in the script?

The shortest story attributed to Ernest Hemingway in the script is 'For sale. Baby shoes. Never worn.', which is composed of only six words.

What is the title of the shortest poem mentioned in the script, and who is it attributed to?

The title of the shortest poem mentioned is 'On the Antiquity of Microbes' or simply 'Fleas', and it is attributed to Strickland Gillilan.

What is the content of Muhammad Ali's four-letter poem?

Muhammad Ali's four-letter poem is 'me / we', which poignantly encapsulates the idea that as one person climbs, the rest are lifted up.

What is the controversy surrounding Aram Saroyan's one-word poem?

The controversy surrounding Aram Saroyan's one-word poem, 'Lighght', is that the NEA paid him $500 for it, leading critics to berate it for its simplicity, but also making it more famous and popular.

What is the significance of the poem composed of the letter 'i' dotted with a fingerprint?

The significance of the poem composed of the letter 'i' dotted with a fingerprint is that it personalizes the universal pronoun 'I' to represent the individual, jwcurry, making it mean only him.

What is the role of silence in the script's discussion of poetry and music?

Silence plays a role in the script as it is presented as a form of empty musical composition or a song that is simply silence, suggesting that even the absence of language can be poetic or musical.

Why did the Guinness Book of World Records stop compiling records for artistic briefness?

The Guinness Book of World Records stopped compiling records for artistic briefness because they believed that competing to make something the 'shortest' trivializes the activity.

What is the shortest concert ever put on by the White Stripes, and how long was it?

The shortest concert ever put on by the White Stripes was in Newfoundland in 2007, and it was so short that it was over before it really began, as mentioned in the script.

What is Fernando Pessoa's view on the power of narration compared to simply existing?

Fernando Pessoa believed that to narrate is to create, while to live is merely to be lived. He suggested that direct experience is an evasion for those without imagination, emphasizing the importance of narration over mere existence.

What is the philosophical implication of even the world's shortest poem being a form of narration?

The philosophical implication is that even the briefest form of expression, such as the world's shortest poem, carries meaning and commentary, suggesting that the act of creating or narrating holds significant power regardless of its length.