Evolution of Spoken Word Poetry Through Time
For your 3rd poetry
project, you will write and
perform
a SPOKEN WORD
POEM!
Spoken Word
Spoken Word
Poetry
Poetry
The Oral Tradition
The sound of the belch’d words of my voice, words loos’d to the eddies of the wind…
I am the mate and companion of people, all just as immortal and fathomless as myself…
In all people I see myself—none
more, and not one a barleycorn
less…
A call in the midst of the crowd;
My own voice, orotund, sweeping, and final.
My voice goes after what my eyes cannot reach;
With the twirl of my tongue I encompass worlds, and
volumes of worlds.
Characteristics of this tradition
and mode? No strict rules but may tend to be:
•
May be expansive.
•
Lends itself to PROJECTION; that is, to being
spoken loudly on a stage or outside or in a large
group
•
May be theatrical.
•
Communal and inclusive; tends to celebrate the
community, the whole, or public concerns.
•
And of course…IT CAN SOUND FLIPPING
FABULOUS. I.e., it’s a riot.
And this mode goes waaaaay
back…
H
e
y
,
D
a
d
d
y
-
o
•
Native performance since antiquity. Virtually
all primitive cultures world-wide have had some
type of spoken or sung poetry.
•
Homer
800 BC Poetry—even huge EPICS—in ancient Greece are wholly
memorized and often recited to the accompaniment of a lyre.
•
Old English poetry
400 AD Rustic, beautiful, accentual verse
•
The American Bard (Walt Boy!)
19
th
Cen. A complete original. His
poetry is often chant-like, using lots of anaphora, litany, cataloguing.
•
The Beats
1950s Get poetry out of academia! Take it back to its oral roots!
•
Slam Poetry
1980s to present A recent incarnation of “street poetry” or
performed work.
•
Ongoing efforts to keep
the oral tradition alive
R
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.
Hey, where
do you think
rhyme came from?
1950s and 60s Beat poet
Lawrence Ferlinghetti
(explore and sample)
www.ndsu.edu/pubweb/~cinichol/222/Ferlinghetti.docx
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-UPLxAq38A&spfreload=10
h
ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-FeqquMpPs&spfreload=10
https://www.youtube.com/watch
v=MJNhLWPEA_0&spfreload=10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKCC0qhhzS0&spfreload=10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ex_eCE0tUf8&list=PLSolE5-
AkmNkqCaDGU6Azz8bC9swYGWxa&spfreload=10
see near 20:57
Browse and sample:
1950’s and 60’s Beat poet Allen Ginberg’s
Howl
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/179381
The Beat Poets of Mid-Century
The bohemian coffee-house and jazz scene
Dissatisfaction with
“classroom poetry” or
academic approaches
to poetry. The beat
poets take their cues
from Father Walt!
Increasing alienation between
Increasing alienation between
parents and children; unease with
parents and children; unease with
American Dream, atomic age
American Dream, atomic age
Now leap yet again forward to…
1980s
New York City
The advent of the poetry slam at the
Nuyorican Poet’s Cafe! Came of age
around the same time as rap.
How do slams
work?
Poetryslam.com
A
B
r
i
e
f
G
u
i
d
e
t
o
P
o
e
t
r
y
S
l
a
m
s
Take a look at:
Taylor Mali
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxsOVK4syxU
Viggo Mortenson (the actor! He was Strider in
Lord of the Rings
. NOTE THAT USES BOTH MUSIC AND VISUALS)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mI7vPrDTEzQ&list=PL670974A66BBDCD7D
Jeffrey McDaniel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLviNr3Flto
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOYl5TFNEyE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqFcrvzIrgM
Blythe Baird
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vT74LH0W8ig
Erin May Kelly (courtesy Natalie Youngman!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pL9NYwsWfjE
Kevin Kantor
When My Rapist Showed Up In "People You May Know"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XI_i6_ekP4&feature=share
A Letter to Cancer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HxU58fvgYw&feature=share
Shane Koyczan "Move Pen Move"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLwrzT9Zkpw&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR3dgtT3iNZ17C4zb8y-a2Hp9oMLroUVr3uPXTsiTWl-
zL_MsUzkXQMYDPM
Harry Baker
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxGWGohIXiw
Shane Hawley
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kES2cS0tEtw
Billy Collins (not a slam poem, but good for contrast)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EjB7rB3sWc&feature=relmfu
check
these
out!
www.nuyorican.org/
www.poetryslam.com/
AND
There are no absolute rules, but here
are some guidelines…
•
Ritual presence of performer. Blurring the line between poetry and theater.
Performances can be like one-person, one-act plays or stand-up comedy.
Your
body should be part of the performance, however subtlely.
•
If you are only doing audio,
you should take care to project and modulate
especially well.
•
Heightened, clever, sometimes funny rhyme, not in any strict pattern (triple
rhymes, internal rhymes, slant rhymes, repeated words, etc. In video, “Lazarus,
Lazie, Lazy”).
•
Projection! Hearable broadcast and look at audience.
•
Getting into a groove.
•
Memorizing the material adds interest and LOTS of street cred.
•
Mixing genres: insert singing, use accompanying sound, provide props, etc.
Drawbacks to the Slam
•
Doesn’t the contest format make it into a game of winners and losers,
precisely what it SHOULDN’T be if its aim is to democratize poetry?
•
Rewards theatricality over other values. The performance can overpower
attention to words, language. Sometimes quiet, written poems are more
powerful and original. The slam, at worst, sometimes just promotes yelling
and histrionics.
•
It quickly became as conventional as anything else—readers doing
predictable political material in a predictable voice and style, with
predictable and easy techniques, subjects, viewpoints. Advertised itself as
unconventional, but the slam scene quickly became formulaic.
•
Because it’s democratic, there can be a lot of mediocrity. If the slam poet has
not practiced or is simply not gifted as a performer—eek!!! Event can be
painfully embarrassing
.
Explore the rich history of spoken word poetry, from ancient oral traditions to modern slam poetry movements. Delve into the characteristics, influences, and notable poets like Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Allen Ginsberg. Witness the evolution of this dynamic art form that celebrates community, culture, and creativity across centuries.
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Presentation Transcript
The sound of the belchd words of my voice, words loosdto the eddies of the wind In all people I see myself none more, and not one a barleycorn less A call in the midst of the crowd; My own voice, orotund, sweeping, and final. Spoken Word Poetry The Oral Tradition My voice goes after what my eyes cannot reach; With the twirl of my tongue I encompass worlds, and volumes of worlds. I am the mate and companion of people, all just as immortal and fathomless as myself
Characteristics of this tradition and mode? No strict rules but may tend to be: May be expansive. Lends itself to PROJECTION; that is, to being spoken loudly on a stage or outside or in a large group May be theatrical. Communal and inclusive; tends to celebrate the community, the whole, or public concerns. And of course IT CAN SOUND FLIPPING FABULOUS. I.e., it s a riot.
Hey, Daddy-o And this mode goes waaaaay back Native performance since antiquity. Virtually all primitive cultures world-wide have had some type of spoken or sung poetry. Homer 800 BC Poetry even huge EPICS in ancient Greece are wholly memorized and often recited to the accompaniment of a lyre. Old English poetry 400 AD Rustic, beautiful, accentual verse The American Bard (Walt Boy!) 19th Cen. A complete original. His poetry is often chant-like, using lots of anaphora, litany, cataloguing. The Beats 1950s Get poetry out of academia! Take it back to its oral roots! Slam Poetry 1980s to present A recent incarnation of street poetry or performed work. Ongoing efforts to keep the oral tradition alive
1950s and 60s Beat poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti (explore and sample) www.ndsu.edu/pubweb/~cinichol/222/Ferlinghetti.docx https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-UPLxAq38A&spfreload=10 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-FeqquMpPs&spfreload=10 https://www.youtube.com/watch v=MJNhLWPEA_0&spfreload=10 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKCC0qhhzS0&spfreload=10 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ex_eCE0tUf8&list=PLSolE5- AkmNkqCaDGU6Azz8bC9swYGWxa&spfreload=10 see near 20:57
Browse and sample: 1950 s and 60 s Beat poet Allen Ginberg sHowl http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/179381
Now leap yet again forward to 1980s New York City
How do slams work? Poetryslam.com A Brief Guide to Poetry Slams
Take a look at: Taylor Mali https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxsOVK4syxU Viggo Mortenson (the actor! He was Strider in Lord of the Rings. NOTE THAT USES BOTH MUSIC AND VISUALS) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mI7vPrDTEzQ&list=PL670974A66BBDCD7D Jeffrey McDaniel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLviNr3Flto https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOYl5TFNEyE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqFcrvzIrgM Blythe Baird https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vT74LH0W8ig Erin May Kelly (courtesy Natalie Youngman!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pL9NYwsWfjE Kevin Kantor When My Rapist Showed Up In "People You May Know" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XI_i6_ekP4&feature=share A Letter to Cancer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HxU58fvgYw&feature=share Shane Koyczan "Move Pen Move" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLwrzT9Zkpw&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR3dgtT3iNZ17C4zb8y-a2Hp9oMLroUVr3uPXTsiTWl- zL_MsUzkXQMYDPM Harry Baker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxGWGohIXiw Shane Hawley http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kES2cS0tEtw Billy Collins (not a slam poem, but good for contrast) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EjB7rB3sWc&feature=relmfu
check these out! www.nuyorican.org/ AND www.poetryslam.com/
What makes a good spoken-word or slam performance? There are no absolute rules, but here are some guidelines
Ritual presence of performer. Blurring the line between poetry and theater. Performances can be like one-person, one-act plays or stand-up comedy. Your body should be part of the performance, however subtlely. If you are only doing audio, you should take care to project and modulate especially well. Heightened, clever, sometimes funny rhyme, not in any strict pattern (triple rhymes, internal rhymes, slant rhymes, repeated words, etc. In video, Lazarus, Lazie, Lazy ). Projection! Hearable broadcast and look at audience. Getting into a groove. Memorizing the material adds interest and LOTS of street cred. Mixing genres: insert singing, use accompanying sound, provide props, etc.
Drawbacks to the Slam Doesn t the contest format make it into a game of winners and losers, precisely what it SHOULDN T be if its aim is to democratize poetry? Rewards theatricality over other values. The performance can overpower attention to words, language. Sometimes quiet, written poems are more powerful and original. The slam, at worst, sometimes just promotes yelling and histrionics. It quickly became as conventional as anything else readers doing predictable political material in a predictable voice and style, with predictable and easy techniques, subjects, viewpoints. Advertised itself as unconventional, but the slam scene quickly became formulaic. Because it s democratic, there can be a lot of mediocrity. If the slam poet has not practiced or is simply not gifted as a performer eek!!! Event can be painfully embarrassing.
