Whitney Hanson, ‘Pop Poet’

“Verse on the Verge: Crafting Pop Poetry in the Digital Age”

In the vast virtual landscape of TikTok, where the #poetry tag resonates with a staggering 89 billion hits, we stand at the threshold of an extraordinary revival. Here, we bear witness to a full-fledged renaissance of the spoken word, a return to the visceral art of oral poetry that has long been overshadowed by the written form.

“Pop Poetry” — a term we’ve embraced — encapsulates the spirit of this new wave, marrying the simplicity of language with the depth of human emotion, all while set against the beat of youth and the relentless rhythm of the algorithm. It’s a movement defined by immediacy and intimacy, delivering verses that are as catchy as they are cathartic, crafted for the heart and built to loop endlessly in our minds. This is where we’ve seen the emergence of a poetry that’s accessible, relatable, and profoundly viral, building upon the foundation laid by Insta-famous poets like Rupi Kaur (rupikaur_), Diego Perez (@yung_pueblo), Atticus (@atticuspoetry), Cleo Wade (@cleowade), Lang Leav (@langleavor), or even Amanda Gorman (@amandascgorman) who became a worldwide icon upon reading her poem “The Hill We Climb” at the 2021 inauguration of U.S. President, Joe Biden. TikTok has now amplified the form to an entirely new level, bringing forth a resonance that reverberates with a universality that’s undeniably viral.

At the center of this poetic pulse is Whitney Hanson, whose work taps into the collective heartbeat with themes that bind us all — the agony of loss, the complexity of love, and the nuanced dance of life. Her words envelop millions in a shared embrace, making the personal plights of heartbreak universally comforting. “I want them all framed,” says a fan, “to be absorbed, reflected upon, and to echo back in moments of solitude.” As we once listened to heart-break lyrics on repeat in our bedrooms, a new generation is consuming these poems in droves on their feeds, finding solace in a quick moment of profound connection on their feeds.

In collaboration with Garen Barsegian, whose expertise spans from high-profile music videos to major brand campaigns, Whitney has transformed her poetry into a visual odyssey. Together, they’ve captured the “Untitled” film, a visual poem that is as evocative and layered as the Provencal setting itself. This film, and Whitney’s journey here, is distilled from the essence of collaboration — shaped by shared meals, nurtured by the robust wines of the region, and inspired by the quest for the perfect poppy field that mirrors the vibrancy of her words.

It is here, in the communion of art and experience, that the story of “Untitled” unfolds. It’s a narrative that transcends the art, celebrating the richness of the journey — marked by the laughter, the creative exchanges, and the toast of glasses amidst the sun-kissed vistas of Provence. In this shared space, Whitney’s Pop Poetry resonates not just as an art form, but as a lived, communal experience, echoing the timeless dance of creation itself.

Writer & Talent: Whitney Hanson
Director / Producer / Cinematographer / Editor: Garen Barsegian
Producer: Kim Buisson
Creative Studio: Whooden/Studios
Stylist: Myssia
Production Coordinator: Benjamin Daugeard
Color Correct: Kath Raisch
Sound Mix + Design:
Music: Vincet Peirani – Egyptian Fantasy
Titles: Nao Endo