Apt. 64 W11

I am a serious beat fan. I’ve read countless biographies (including the new graphic novel).  I am fascinated by the motives behind their becoming, their lives,  and the later work in literature, music and fine art, in particular Jay de Feo’s “The Rose” - one incredible and complex painting created over a series of years with things disposed by everyman.

Lately, I have been reconnecting with Ginsberg’s “Kaddish and other Poems”. Poetry takes a special space and time to fully engage in it. To find meaning in a poem you need to connect deeply with the words. Once it happens visions become very clear.

His poem “Poem Rocket” seems to be about finding earthly problems and cosmic solutions in the outer layers of space. Think of it as an ode to Pluto (a real planet then) where unlike Earth nothing (bad) happens.  In this poem he talk about hyper stimulations as he travels through space, and uses the verse:  ”Which way will the sunflower turn surrounded by millions of suns?”

This almost prophetic discourse rings very true today when media fragmentation and the shift in power from advertisers to consumers have given audiences so many choices. They can’t attend to all.  So this “star wars” is about  radiation.  Allow me to explain:  Media channels and messages (the suns) must radiate the right amount of light at the right moment to make the consumer (sunflower) look their way and leave a mark.  

Understanding how to fragment advertising messages through the right channels becomes EXTREMELY important.  Messages should complete and support each other. Together they provide one single story. This implies deep understanding of the constant changing behavior of consumers as it is exposed to trillions of messages and countless new platforms.  

Thanks Allen.