Talk:Slam poetry
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There was a comment at the end of the "Competitions Types" that should have been posted here.
please fill this out a little bit
Slam is not just based on the performance of the poet, but in as well its "content". its like doing something ordinary in an extraordinary way. Slam poetry penetrates deeper than the definition given. its roots go as far forward to African oral tradition.
So I added a whole lot of details, mainly about the technical workings of the slam. What I'm missing is: more information on Slam Poetry, Inc., their certification process, a link to the official spiel, the technical workings of nationals, more types of slams, more information/sources/references to the slam/academia face-off, a more explicit history of slam, a small list of major figures in slam history, comment on the 60 minutes special on slam, more external links
- Maybe some links to slam performers and venues? Some examples (writen or audio sample, or links thereto) are in order.
Here are the two deletions I've done and my explanations
in as nuanced a performance as the performer can muster and as the material can bear - with an eye to the audience who vote on such things.
--seems to make the assumptions that slammers stop at nothing to make their performances over the top. While this may be true in a few extreme cases, I think this is too strong of a generalization.
"Critics of Slam poetry say that the quality of the performer often wins the day irrespective of the quality of the poetry. Its defenders say that this is like saying a poem printed in the finest type on the most exquisite paper will win the Pulitzer Prize for poetry."
--edited out "for poetry" -- redundant
--Dr. Spork
--I added reference to the Individual Worldwide Poetry Slam and changed the description of the National Slam to its actual name, National Poetry Slam. Also changed it to reflect the current entrant's requirement of 3-5 member teams, as opposed to the older requirement of 4 mamber teams.
--hellslam
Contents |
[edit] Slam Venue List
There are hundreds of Slam venues listed with PSI (Poetry Slam Inc.) on their website alone. Any list in this article would need to be restricted to the most significant venues. That could open up a heated debate about what can be considered significant. Perhaps it might be best to leave the management such lists to PSI.
[edit] By the bye
The Sunday Times has two magazine supplements each week; one called Culture (film, media, music, performance and book reviews mainly) and one called Style (clothes, makeup, etc). Yesterday, they ran a story on the increasing popularity of Slams. It was in the Style supplement. I'm not sure exactly what this means, but it means something. Filiocht | Blarneyman 10:03, May 16, 2005 (UTC)
[edit] Bloom and politics
The contrasting quote used to state that Bloom's "anti-political" position is infact a political position is rather inaccurate to his stance. It's similiar to those silly quotes people use for absolute truth that says to say there is no truth is a truth statement. These kind of quotes are highly inaccurate. I move to take this quote off the page.
[edit] Postmodern?
while it is true that the norton anthology of postmodern poetry lists "performance poetry" as a postmodernist genre, i don't think it's appropriate to describe slam as such. for one, what little literary theory that there is justifying slam as it is practiced takes an overtly populist stance. Slam poetry is considered by most of its practitioners to be an outgrowth of an oral folk tradition. Postmodernism, in so much as it can be defined, is most definitely a reaction to modernism, and an awareness of modernism is not something that can rightly be attributed to an oral folk tradition, as it familiarity with modernism requires assimilation of a large amount of written material which is not what an oral tradition is by definition. Hence, i'm removing the word postmodern from the first sentence.
response
You've provided a basic and problematic definition of postmodernism. Aside from the consideration of forms, slam poetry occurs in the context of postmodern culture and results directly from it. Thus, I move to readd the term postmodern. If needed I can provide a good amount of information to back up this claim. thanks. dante danti q
response
It is an interesting and controversial claim. I would be trully excited to read your argument. Considering the formalist context associated with postmodern art and the loud claims of informalism and genre defiance from various slam poets, I think you will need to provide the backup you suggest.
response I am unsure of what you mean by formalist context, nor do I agree at all that my claim is a controversial one. grading papers and getting ready to travel to Italy is taking up my time at this moment...however, let me know what you mean by formalist context and some examples of this formalist context that postmodernism takes place in. we could say, using your terms, that postmodernism is informal and genre-loathing. let me know. DanteDanti
[edit] Bloom and politics
I removed the uncited quote about Bloom's anti-political position. The quote was a bit inaccurate. Anyone gots any problems lets me know cracka. dante danti.
[edit] revert of vandal
Discuss issues before changing. thanks
[edit] hiphop
"Beginning in the mid-90s, slam poetry became more and more closely associated with the vocal delivery style found in hip-hop music, to the point that currently (2005) it is almost unheard-of for the winner of a slam to not use said style. It should also be stated that the 2005 Individual World Slam Champion, Buddy Wakefield, is not considered a "hip-hop poet", and the 2005 National Poetry Slam individual championship was shared by Anis Mojgani, another poet who doesn't generally use the "hip-hop style". At the 2006 Individual World Poetry Slam, none of the top four finalists (Jared Paul, Andrea Gibson, Joaquin Zihuatanejo, and Mighty Mike McGee) typically engage in the hip-hop lyrical style." This seems self-contradictory to me: first it says hh is used by virtuallz all slam winners, then it says that the 2005 WORLD winner and the top four in 2006 were non hh-ers.Kdammers 11:14, 20 August 2006 (UTC)
There is some conflict between traditional performance poets and hip-hop slammers who often perform with music, trying to compete with a DJ who changes the rythmn and pace of a spontanious little rehearsed rhyming delivery. True performance poetry slams will refuse to allow a poet the luxury of musical backing, fancy dress costumes, slapstick routines, or in many cases, reading from notes. Time will be limited to a strict three minutes (more or less depending on the length of the show and numbers of poets involved). (User:arthurchappell
[edit] hiphop
Kdammers--sorry, I made that edit some months back. The pre-edit article left the impression that only "hip-hop poets" succeed, but this seems contrary to fact as well as offensive to both hip hop and Slam. Hadn't checked on the talk page, so another apology, but I sharpened some "weasel words" today.Shamanic 22:07, 4 December 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Competition Types
The National Poetry Slam, Individual World Poetry Slam are event held by PSI as opposed to types of poetry slams. In addition to those, there exists the Youth National Poetry Slam, and ACUI National Poetry Slam. These events should be listed and described separately from competition types or genres such as Prop Slams which are simple sub-classes of poetry slam.
