Krista Franklin

Jan 26, 2024 | theoffingmag.com | Emily Alesandrini |Krista Franklin

A solitary Black female figure appears from the waist up amid a blaze of fire and an archway of cotton left on the vine to bloom into luscious yellow flowers. Unperturbed by the roaring flames or the gaze of her onlookers, the figure looks out of the frame as she lifts a handful of popcorn to her neon purple lips, her pink and green striped dress a provocative yet subtle nod to the color of watermelon.

Apr 17, 2023 | poetryfoundation.org | Valzhyna Mort |José Olivarez |Krista Franklin

When I think of the ars poetica, I think often of TV shows that break the fourth wall. Older examples like The Office and Modern Family, and more recently, Fleabag and Abbott Elementary, where characters take turns talking to the camera in the style of a tell-all interview or a reality show confessional cam. Sometimes, it’s just a split-second knowing look, a nod to us as audience members at home.