Poem [Lana Turner has collapsed!] Essay Questions

What role does humor play in "Poem [Lana Turner has collapsed!]"?

O'Hara's poem is filled with comedic extravagance, ranging from the speaker's description of the weather to his own "perfectly disgraceful" behavior at parties. The speaker's humorous tone cues the reader to be skeptical of the severity of the events he describes, while also suggesting that there is more to the story than his lighthearted approach indicates. By using humor, O'Hara creates two dimensions of meaning: first, the sensational and superficial nature which comments upon the ways in which celebrity news is digested by the American public, and second, a deeper commentary that hints at the serious consequences of a life in the spotlight.

On the surface, "Poem [Lana Turner has collapsed!]", is a quick, playful response to a sensational news headline. However, beneath this, the poem speaks to the distance from which celebrities are regarded by the American public, and the ways in which celebrity identities are constructed through media outlets. In the poem, Lana Turner is an image for popular consumption: the speaker's humor, combined with the poem's undertones, allows both angles of celebrity culture to be explored.

How could we use "Poem [Lana Turner has collapsed!]" to think about celebrity culture today?

At places like grocery stores and gas stations, you may have noticed newsstands filled with weekly publications near the check out line. These magazines are usually bright, flashy, filled with paparazzi photographs, and plastered with bold, sensational headlines on their covers. Today, most of us probably hear about celebrity news through social media. Even though newspapers and magazines may no longer be our top source for celebrity gossip, sensational news remains present in our lives.

We could think of O'Hara's news headline as a parallel to what we would now call a "trending topic," a "breaking news" ribbon at the bottom of our television screens, or a social media post shared by a person we follow. Like O'Hara's speaker, we may feel close to celebrities who heavily document their lives on social media, or who regularly appear in the news for one reason or another. However, the identity presented by a social media account remains a filtered, curated construction. Even though someone may be sincere in the images they post, following this person on social media is not the same thing as knowing them in person. This proximity, ultimately, is an illusion.