Tao Lin @ KGB

[jarrettdew]

I always used to look at Tao Lin's work as being serious. But I talked to him on myspace a few years ago and he said that he tries to take on a fairly comedic tone. Only filthy hipsters take him seriously.

[jarrettdew]

@jarrettdew Not to say that his work isn't brilliant; because it is.

[ImStuckInStockton]

i think that just because people dont get out of his readings what somebody says the should doesnt mean that they didnt get something out of his readings

[bankyandbrodie]

its a funny poem. bukowski made me laugh too, does that make him less of a poet?

and arent all poets hipsters?

[lowohlevelowl]

@bankyandbrodie I really don't think he's a "poet" though. I think he's a gimmick...Mostly just bullshit. When I said it's a shame, I mainly mean because he's become the new "face" of poetry for the newer generations, and that's just depressing. I mean, depressing for poetry as an art. He's turned it into a joke. Not just because he tries to be funny, but because his poetry is awful.

[wonsly]

does Tao Lin have his own channel?

[lowohlevelowl]

i don't get why everyone is laughing at everything. i feel people who like him think of him more as a comedian rather than a poet. its sort of like hipster jerry seinfeld observations-gmail, twitter, AOL, end etc. it's a shame though, i mean, i don't like him that much, but i think most of his fans don't actually like his poetry, but rather this persona he's taken on. i feel when he says something serious it's overlooked because people just want him to say something silly rather than real.

[frenchkids]

@lowohlevelowl Completely agree.

[iheartyerfckngMakup]

@lowohlevelowl i think people feel like they need to react in some way, so they awkwardly laugh at everything.

[PercyMcQueen11]

@lowohlevelowl If he wants to be taken more seriously he has to do some sort of movie.

[here27]

haa. so good.

[HousePetMarla]

i absolutely positively adore tao lin.

[agriffina]

Tao Lin.  What a guy.

[TheSpiteHouse]

You know how I can tell this guy is good? I wish I had written that work.

[HousePetMarla]

@TheSpiteHouse you know how i can tell this commenter is good? i wish i had written that comment.

[Mesarphelous]

ching chong wing wong

[halnavel]

worthless hack

[EmyAugustus]

quite a feat to stay so emotionless and blase the whole entire time. He must practice that.

[jesussusej]

@EmyAugustus totally on purpose

[domakesaytravis]

it feels like an amazing person is licking my heart

[merrittfan]

I think Tao Lin is very funny. I laugh at his books all the time, anyhow. It's one of the things I love about him.

[braceatlj]

hipster

[sexlessparents]

i ate a hamster

with strawberry jam and soy sauce

i boiled it alive

then i put it in the microwave

[EmyAugustus]

please tell me you're serious and have proof. That would solve a big mystery for me.

[baronmorris]

@sexlessparents

he once received a gmail chat msg from Carles during an interview (he was on mdma)...

I think he may have contrived it as misdirection.  lol...

[AccentuateZPositive]

he reminds me of Ted Fu from Wongfu Productions

both funny

both geniuses in their own right

[mangashojo865]

i like his poetry. but i think the crowd laughed at a lot of stupid times at things that really weren't funny. do you ever notice how you can feel pressured to laugh with everyone else?

[NecrophiliaIsFun]

I don't think the crowd actually understands the tone of his poems, which is what prompts them to laugh at things that aren't meant to be funny.

It's disappointing.

[MargemontRobinson]

I think you are right.

BUT THEY KEEP LAUGHING

[NecrophiliaIsFun]

I actually asked Tao about it. It turns out that what he was saying was meant to be funny, but he wanted to say it stoically to make it funnier. Turns out I was mistaken, haha.

[milanorichie]

Oh I see :)

[milanorichie]

very disappointing. You are right!

[delbertgrady]

I don't think the commenters actually understand the tone of his poems, which is what prompts them to assume that Lin isn't trying to be funny.

It's disappointing.

[baronmorris]

@mangashojo865

I think the some in the crowd may have been on something. sounds like the laughing at the absurd awkwardness that results from tripping, for instance.

[starsareprojectors]

i didn't realize he was so awkward in person. maybe just nervous.