It Gets Bitter: Poetry by DarkMatter

by Alok Vaid-Menon, Janani Balasubramanian

DARKMATTER is a trans south asian performance art duo compromised of Alok Vaid-Menon and Janani Balasubramanian. Based in New York City, DarkMatter regularly performs to sold-out houses at venues like La MaMa Experimental Theater, Nuyorican Poets Cafe, and the Asian-American Writer's Workshop. DarkMatter was recently part of the Public Theater's Under the Radar Festival as well as the Queer International Arts Festival. Known for their quirky aesthetic and political panache, DarkMatter has been invited to perform at stages and universities across the world.

Genres: Poetry, Queer, LGBT, Gender, Race

37 pages, Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Alok is a writer and performance artist. They are the author of Femme in Public (2017), Beyond the Gender Binary (2020), and Your Wound / My Garden (2021). Learn more at www.alokvmenon.com

Reviews

[L. No Last-Name · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.7/5.0 Stars

I saw DarkMatter perform their #ItGetsBitter poetry in 2016. It was clear then that Alok was a gifted performer and talented writer. While Janani was clearly the personality and confidence of the duo. And while I don't personally care for Janani's poetry, it's not to say that it's not good, it's just that the quality of the works are very inconsistent and can't compete with Alok's writing; although 9/11: a love story was inspired. However, Alok's poetry isn't without its own faults. The prose at times are a bit cliched with queer stereotypes, and heavy handed with "woke" buzzwords. And yet, the artistry lies in how well they're used to affect the reader's sensibilities. I feel, for me at least, that if DarkMatter hadn't insisted upon becoming the voice of a BIPOC Queer/Trans generation, then they probably would have been.

And one last note, if you're white or identify yourself as white, regardless of where you land on the queer spectrum, don't bother reading this. This isn't for you nor will you be able to comprehend the nuances that this work is steeped in. In fact you'll probably get offended the moment you read, It Gets Bourgie Project (which is so on point that it transcends time and space itself, and is an instant classic of satirical work). Neither will you get any cool woke ally points. Somethings aren't for everyone and that's ok. And acknowledging and respecting that is even better.

[Lauren Mendez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful, authentic and vulnerable.

[Readingpanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful!!!! just as their Spoken Word Poetry.

[Nour · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every poem in this collection found some unspoken part of me and gave it words.

[Martina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the honour of seeing the duo perform their poetry in Brighton recently and it was one of the most overwhelmingly smart and emotional life inspirations I had so far. I got the poetry book from them afterwards and it's too real. Great for delving into ethnocentrism and cultural relativism of gender. <3

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw DarkMatter perform at the I-Hotel at a Kearny Street Workshop event in San Francisco. They were amazing.