Why Did the Internet Turn On Its Favorite Author? The Ocean Vuong Dilemma.

Comments · 1.2K

• DA

  @DanaeYounge · 3 weeks ago (edited) · pinned

  I want to clarify (as I do below) more specifically how I was using the word ‘celebrity,’ as I should have been more clear! I mean reaching the sheer level of media exposure that we see from other non literary celebrities, to the point of parasocial celebritism. That is, of course, influenced by the fact that we now have more constant and accessible exposure to media than ever. I should have briefly specified the effect our current digital world has on fame :) <br><br>Also <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voffV_AcqSA&amp;t=747">12:27</a> correction!! There have actually been a couple other poets invited on late night (as a commenter helpfully pointed out). I will be going to watch those interviews now. A win for poets 🎉🎉

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• KE

  @kelci9452 · 3 weeks ago

  A poet crying is considered performative? We’ve lost the plot.

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• AM

  @ambermiller3590 · 3 weeks ago

  Shocking someone who wrote emotional poetry is highly emotional

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• SO

  @sophiazanowick8205 · 3 weeks ago

  &quot;He&apos;s always crying, so cringe&quot; He&apos;s literally talking about his mother&apos;s death. Is this man supposed to be made out of stone? Why do people want artists who aren&apos;t passionate?

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• EL

  @ellebannana · 3 weeks ago

  It&apos;s disappointing to me that people feel a need to intellectualise their hatred and disdain for the way a person communicates.

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• GL

  @glocrowhurst · 3 weeks ago

  The last third broke my brain a little. Just let people write about their experiences? Why does he have to be the ambassador for the entire Asian American experience?

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• MA

  @marnenotmarnie259 · 3 weeks ago

  i don&apos;t get poetry so maybe i&apos;m missing something here but it seems to me like people hate seeing a man be emotional, and i think that&apos;s stupid. he just seems like a passionate and emotional guy. if that pisses you off that&apos;s probably something you need to examine

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• SO

  @sophie201201 · 3 weeks ago

  I think the tide turning on Ocean Vuong has less to do with his writing and more with the recent changes in the political climate. &nbsp;Cultural reception of an artist&apos;s work usually is not representative of the work&apos;s quality, but of how well it fits the culture&apos;s values.<br><br>Not long ago when the general readership was hungry for minority trauma narratives to feel morally good about themselves, Vuong was celebrated. Now that diversity, experimentation and not fitting gender stereotypes (such as men expressing their emotions) are out and conformity is in, he is heavily criticized.

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• TH

  @ThoughtsByMax · 3 weeks ago

  Do I get poetry? No.<br>But I will always be suspicious of a bunch of people suddenly, very loudly and publicly &quot;falling out of love&quot; with a popular marginalized person.

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• AR

  @areallyboredguy5825 · 3 weeks ago

  I love his work and have read his books but I never watched interviews or even knew he was so decorated. For me his works are amazing and there is no drama because I ignored all social media

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• AL

  @ally8340 · 3 weeks ago

  I am friends with a poet who I won&apos;t name but who is very also well regarded, has also won prestigious prizes. They speak in a similar way to Ocean Vuong. Perhaps even more so. At first I thought maybe it was an act, but I&apos;ve come to believe that gifted poets often think and speak in metaphors and poetic language. Both of them are expressing how they mentally move through the world. And I think it says something about our cultural moment that we&apos;re unable to tolerate this level of sincerity.

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• AS

  @astralanomaly42 · 3 weeks ago

  On Earth We&apos;re Briefly Gorgeous had me ugly crying at 6AM. It had my partner crying at work. Vuong is a beautiful writer.

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