That the powerful play goes on and that you may contribute a verse

Apple's adverts often show sweeping vistas of human endeavour that are only enhanced into creative genius by their products. Maybe I'm being cynical but it is true. Their adverts are so clever because they make you want to jump out of a plane, trek through jungles and tame wild cats (well not quite) but they do speak to that natural human desire for adventure. They dangle this wild adventurous life in front of you by showing magnificent storms and incredible waterfalls, suggesting with their product you could be out experiencing all these exciting beautiful  moments. Of course it's utter nonsense, the iPad air will be bought, but your life will not be thrust into adventure but settle into the monotony of scrolling through Facebook and playing flappy bird until you want to throw it out the window. But the truth doesn't matter, only the fantasy that your life could be incredible if only you had an iPad air to facilitate it. Apple has moved one step further by appealing to the romantic poet in us all by using an excerpt from the film Dead Poet's society which includes Walt Whitman's 'O me! O life!' :

"We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering – these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love – these are what we stay alive for.

To quote from Whitman,

“O me, O life of the questions of these recurring. Of the endless trains of the faithless. Of cities filled with the foolish. What good amid these, O me, O life? Answer: that you are here. That life exists and identity. That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.”

“That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.”

What will your verse be?"

 This poem is incredible as is the film, and it is truly empowering, the idea that in the whole of creation you are unique and have something original to contribute. The phrase 'powerful play' sounds incredible but the choice of 'powerful' is perfect because life is a headstrong, thrashing, writhing thing that bounds and leaps on. Life is powerful, not only in what it bestows in our capacity to love and hurt but also the feeling of vitality, continually coursing through our veins. These words paired with the usual powerful imagery is the perfect combination for an effective advert. It just shows the power and effect of poetry when visualised with such inspiring imagery. Apple is doubly clever because this advert appeals to many, those who studied Walt Whitman at school, people who watched the film when it was first released and the new fans following it's popularity on tumblr. Their target audience is ridiculously large due to pulling together three separate groups.

Here is the clip from the film which the speech is lifted from, I recommend everyone to watch this film I think it is a very important film as it shows how adolescents need that creative output which is so often neglected in school in order to create conformists. Individuality is so often squashed and not celebrated.