ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Rives - Performance poet, multimedia artist
Performance artist and storyteller Rives has been called "the first 2.0 poet," using images, video and technology to bring his words to life.

Why you should listen

Part poet, part storyteller, part philosopher, Rives is the co-host of TEDActive as well as a frequent TED speaker. On stage, his poems burst in many directions, exposing multiple layers and unexpected treats: childhood memories, grown-up humor, notions of love and lust, of what is lost forever and of what's still out there waiting to unfold. Chimborazo.

A regular on HBO's Def Poetry Jam, Rives also starred alongside model Bar Refaeli in the 2008 Bravo special Ironic Iconic America, touring the United States on a "roller coaster ride through the eye-popping panorama of American pop culture." Flat pages can't contain his storytelling, even when paper is his medium. The pop-up books he creates for children unfold with surprise: The Christmas Pop-Up Present expands to reveal moving parts, hidden areas and miniature booklets inside. 

His latest project—the Museum of Four in the Morning—is an ode to a time that may well be part of a global conspiracy. In a good way.  

More profile about the speaker
Rives | Speaker | TED.com
TED2008

Rives: A story of mixed emoticons

Filmed:
1,901,865 views

Rives tells a typographical fairy tale that's short and bittersweet ;)
- Performance poet, multimedia artist
Performance artist and storyteller Rives has been called "the first 2.0 poet," using images, video and technology to bring his words to life. Full bio

Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.

00:21
This means, "I'm smiling."
0
3000
3000
00:24
So does that.
1
6000
3000
00:27
This means "mouse."
2
9000
2000
00:29
"Cat."
3
11000
2000
00:32
Here we have a story.
4
14000
2000
00:34
The start of the story, where this means guy,
5
16000
3000
00:37
and that is a ponytail on a passer-by.
6
19000
5000
00:44
Here's where it happens.
7
26000
3000
00:47
These are when.
8
29000
2000
00:49
This is a cassette tape the girl puts into her cassette-tape player.
9
31000
3000
00:52
She wears it every day.
10
34000
2000
00:54
It's not considered vintage --
11
36000
1000
00:55
she just likes certain music to sound a certain way.
12
37000
2000
00:57
Look at her posture; it's remarkable.
13
39000
2000
00:59
That's because she dances.
14
41000
2000
01:01
Now he, the guy, takes all of this in, figuring,
15
43000
2000
01:03
"Honestly, geez, what are my chances?"
16
45000
4000
01:07
(Laughter)
17
49000
1000
01:08
And he could say, "Oh my God!"
18
50000
3000
01:11
or "I heart you!"
19
53000
2000
01:13
"I'm laughing out loud."
20
55000
2000
01:15
"I want to give you a hug."
21
57000
2000
01:17
But he comes up with that, you know.
22
59000
2000
01:19
He tells her, "I'd like to hand-paint your portrait on a coffee mug."
23
61000
4000
01:23
(Laughter)
24
65000
2000
01:25
Put a crab inside it.
25
67000
2000
01:27
Add some water.
26
69000
2000
01:29
Seven different salts.
27
71000
2000
01:31
He means he's got this sudden notion to stand on dry land,
28
73000
3000
01:34
but just panhandle at the ocean.
29
76000
2000
01:36
He says, "You look like a mermaid, but you walk like a waltz."
30
78000
6000
01:42
And the girl goes, "Wha'?"
31
84000
4000
01:47
So, the guy replies, "Yeah, I know, I know.
32
89000
2000
01:49
I think my heartbeat might be the Morse code for inappropriate.
33
91000
3000
01:52
At least, that's how it seems.
34
94000
2000
01:54
I'm like a junior varsity cheerleader sometimes --
35
96000
4000
01:58
for swearing, awkward silences, and very simple rhyme schemes.
36
100000
5000
02:03
Right now, talking to you, I'm not even really a guy.
37
105000
5000
02:08
I'm a monkey --
38
110000
2000
02:10
(Laughter) --
39
112000
1000
02:11
blowing kisses
40
113000
2000
02:13
at a butterfly.
41
115000
2000
02:15
But I'm still suggesting you and I should meet.
42
117000
3000
02:18
First, soon, and then a lot.
43
120000
5000
02:23
I'm thinking the southwest corner of 5th and 42nd at noon tomorrow,
44
125000
4000
02:27
but I'll stay until you show up, ponytail or not.
45
129000
4000
02:31
Hell, ponytail alone.
46
133000
2000
02:33
I don't know what else to tell you.
47
135000
2000
02:35
I got a pencil you can borrow.
48
137000
2000
02:37
You can put it in your phone."
49
139000
3000
02:40
But the girl does not budge, does not smile, does not frown.
50
142000
8000
02:48
She just says, "No thank you."
51
150000
4000
02:52
You know?
52
154000
2000
02:56
[ "i don't need 2 write it down." ]
53
158000
6000
03:02
(Applause)
54
164000
10000

▲Back to top

ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Rives - Performance poet, multimedia artist
Performance artist and storyteller Rives has been called "the first 2.0 poet," using images, video and technology to bring his words to life.

Why you should listen

Part poet, part storyteller, part philosopher, Rives is the co-host of TEDActive as well as a frequent TED speaker. On stage, his poems burst in many directions, exposing multiple layers and unexpected treats: childhood memories, grown-up humor, notions of love and lust, of what is lost forever and of what's still out there waiting to unfold. Chimborazo.

A regular on HBO's Def Poetry Jam, Rives also starred alongside model Bar Refaeli in the 2008 Bravo special Ironic Iconic America, touring the United States on a "roller coaster ride through the eye-popping panorama of American pop culture." Flat pages can't contain his storytelling, even when paper is his medium. The pop-up books he creates for children unfold with surprise: The Christmas Pop-Up Present expands to reveal moving parts, hidden areas and miniature booklets inside. 

His latest project—the Museum of Four in the Morning—is an ode to a time that may well be part of a global conspiracy. In a good way.  

More profile about the speaker
Rives | Speaker | TED.com
THE ORIGINAL VIDEO ON TED.COM