Dirty Pretty or Disgustingly Petty?

A column about Dirty Pretty, those who swear by it, and it's origins (which aren't allpoetry).

Recently I ran across a comment by someone who blasted another writer for trying (and failing) to write dirty pretty. It was rather petty and demeaning, and honestly, quite rude. So, without further delay:

What is Dirty Pretty?

Dirty Pretty is the use of typography to accentuate a written work.

Where did Dirty Pretty come from?

The term Dirty Pretty came from all poetry and a few poets therein, however, the actual writing style has been around much longer. There are a few on this site who claim to be the source of Dirty Pretty, but they are sadly and pathetically mistaken. There is no Oracle of Dirty Pretty on this site or anywhere. Dirty Pretty is merely a writing style ripped from classical works and used by those who want to seem important.


One definition of Dirrty Pretty as defined by the Urban Dictionary is:


"A style of poetry that is written deep from within the soul. Mostly known for its sporadic punctuation & shown through metaphors of eating disorders, and Selling yourself. Whether it be body or soul. Dirrty Pretty, is more of a passion lived by its writers, the few that actual know how to write it. This form is now becoming a trend and is being over used. Many people are attempting to write & they fail miserably. If you cant breath it, don't write it.Its roots are linked To allpoetry where it is now been mainstremed though a few only know how.

If you ever try to seek out Dirrty Pretty look for users on Allpoetry.com such as
Brokenwindupdoll, Blemished Irisis, Glitter-Trash, Sweet-Catastrophe, Hell in Harmony, these are some of the Actual Dirrty Pretty poets.
Dirrty Pretty
Can be used as a noun or an adjective"

Absolutely ridiculous. That's like saying that The Ramones invented Punk Rock or that Al Gore invented the internet.

If you need further proof, consider the writing styles of e.e. Cummings, a poet who died in 1962 I might add.

In his piece titled "she being Brand" e. e. writes:

"she being Brand

-new;and you
know consequently a
little stiff i was
careful of her and(having

thoroughly oiled the universal
joint tested my gas felt of
her radiator made sure her springs were O.

K.)i went right to it flooded-the-carburetor cranked her

up,slipped the
clutch(and then somehow got into reverse she
kicked what
the hell)next
minute i was back in neutral tried and

again slo-wly;bare,ly nudg. ing(my

lev-er Right-
oh and her gears being in
A 1 shape passed
from low through
second-in-to-high like
greasedlightning)just as we turned the corner of Divinity

avenue i touched the accelerator and give

her the juice,good

(it

was the first ride and believe i we was
happy to see how nice she acted right up to
the last minute coming back down by the Public
Gardens i slammed on

the
internalexpanding
&
externalcontracting
brakes Bothatonce and

brought allofher tremB
-ling
to a: dead.

stand-
;Still)"

Now Dirty Pretty may be a slightly evolved form of his writing style, but it cannot be claimed as an original creation by anyone alive today. If I wrote a sonnet and called it a Lokism, it would be laughable, and still a sonnet.



There are many people on this site, who use it as a means to boost their own ego, and Dirty Pretty seems to be a vessel through which the accomplish this. Just like bullies in high school, some people must make themselves feel more important by picking on others.

If someone judges your poem as being fake or harps on you for not writing in Dirty Pretty, simply send them a link to this article.