Evolution of Spoken Word Poetry Through Time
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.
Download Presentation
Please find below an Image/Link to download the presentation.
The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author. Download presentation by click this link. If you encounter any issues during the download, it is possible that the publisher has removed the file from their server.
E N D
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.
