Back in 1916, the poetry scene was buzzing with new 'isms'—Imagism, Vorticism, you name it. Two established poets, Witter Bynner and Arthur Davison Ficke, got tired of the pretentiousness. So, they hatched a plan: they would invent their own, completely fake movement called 'Spectrism' and publish a book of its 'masterworks.'

The Story

They created alter egos—'Emanuel Morgan' and 'Anne Knish'—and wrote a manifesto full of pompous, meaningless rules. The poems in Spectra were deliberate nonsense, stuffed with over-the-top imagery and hollow philosophical musings. Then they released the book and sat back. To their shock and delight, most critics and fellow poets took it completely seriously. They were hailed as avant-garde geniuses! The hoax lasted for years, exposing how eager the art world can be to embrace the next big thing, even if it's a total sham.

Why You Should Read It

Reading Spectra today is a blast. You're in on the joke from page one. The poems are funny and bizarre, but the real magic is seeing the earnest, glowing reviews reprinted in the book. It makes you laugh, but then it makes you think. How much of what we call 'high art' is just us being told it's important? Bynner and Ficke weren't just making fun of critics; they were holding up a mirror to our own willingness to be impressed by something we don't understand.

Final Verdict

This is a perfect pick for anyone who loves a good literary scandal, enjoys satire, or has ever side-eyed a modern art exhibit. It's for readers who like their history with a big dose of humor and their poetry with a wink. If you've ever wondered whether the emperor has new clothes, Spectra is the book that proves sometimes, he really doesn't.