the 21st portfolio

musings of creatives and literary critics of the 21st century.

Author: Ben Targett

  • The Monstrous Paternal in Gothic fiction

    A brief exploration of the theme of paternal failure in contemporary and classic Gothic fiction

  • In the Ink Well

    A long form poem inspired by Kae Tempest’s Brand New Ancients about the futility of preserving human culture.

  • Twine of Death

    A short poem about death, inspired by HBO’s incredibly emotive TV adaptation of The Last of Us and its horrifying Cordyceps.

  • Who

    A short poem about forgetting someone, and how comedy affects our emotional perception of people.

  • Wallpaper

    A poem I wrote as part of my university coursework portfolio last year.

  • About me

    About me

    I’m Ben Targett, the owner of this blog and the latest adopter of the Creative Writing Society at Staffordshire University. Recently I have been inspired by music, and I typically specialise in writing emotional freeform poetry, but also occasionally post witty reviews, hoping to capture the signature deadpan style of the greatest British comedians. Here’s…

  • Moses

    Backlit like a stained glass art piece,The spirit splits from the vessel, itorchestrates the ebb and flow of a cheering crowd. Chanting as they melt into one pulsating entity, free from their ball-and-chain souls and living only to drink in the music. It is then that my strobing shadow, in a single gesture, swiftly tames…

  • Review: Never Let Me Go

    Review: Never Let Me Go

    A review of Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel “Never Let Me Go” by Ben Targett

  • Instant

    Instant

    A short story written from the perspective of a homeless man who enters a coffee shop.

  • Stoke

    Stoke

    I wrote this poem inspired by conversations about Stoke-on-Trent’s atmosphere, with its trademark neglected and historical feel.