This week's post comes courtesy of Group 4: Carlos, Janice, Neil, Nishneet, and Sana. A round of applause to group 4 for adapting to this new format. There are several links throughout the post, so I encourage you to explore.
Respond to discussion questions and pose your questions for the group in the comments. (Aim to comment before Monday.)
Dub Poetry
Dub poetry is a type of performance poetry which has Caribbean roots, it evolved out of Jamaica in the 1970s. The word “dub” in Dub Poetry refers to the action of adding or removing sound/s. This type of poetry is influenced by the rhythms of reggae music, a type of music that is found in Jamaica. In Dub Poetry the poet often performs a piece of work that is being guided by a band playing music. Sometimes the dub poet may perform without any music and they emphasize the rhythm and incorporate gestures into their performance. Some influencers of dub poetry say that the reggae rhythm can be heard even when the poet does not include music. Dub poetry has been used for political and social commentary regarding issues happening around the world. Most of the work is concerned with politics and social justice.
One of the best known dub poets is Oku Onuora. He was a notorious radical and had criminal records but presented work that symbolized the voice of the people. He fought against racism and raised a voice against police violence. What led him to participate in dub poetry was his time in prison and when he was released he was eager to record his work over music. During this time, Onuora’s community was affected by political division. In prison he attended a creative writing course because he wanted to become a journalist so he can write about the negatives he sees in society. His first single was Reflections in Red
and his debut album was Pressure Drop. Many record that his voice would shake during his performance and a reason may be to exemplify the power in his words. Another famous work of his is a poem he had also written in prison, Last Night (Last Night). He had written this poem about how he had not seen the moon for years and was making assumptions about the moon. When he was finally able to see the moon, he felt a different rush of energy. Seeing the moon he saw a reflection of who he has become and was able to make sense of his current situation.
Spoken Word
Spoken word is a broad area of poetry intended for performance that is word-based. It is an oral art that can encompass or contain elements of hip-hop, rap, blues, jazz, folk music, storytelling, and prose monologues. Although spoken word can include any kind of poetry read aloud, it is different from written poetry in that how it sounds is one of the main components. Unlike written poetry, it has less to do with physical on the page aesthetics and emphasis is placed on phonaesthetics, or the aesthetics of sound.
Stemming from its roots in ancient history, spoken word developed and was popularized in the United States, influenced by the poetry of the Harlem Renaissance, blues, and the Beat Generation of the 1960s. The Nuyorican Poets Café on New York's Lower Eastside was founded in 1973, and is one of the oldest American venues for presenting spoken-word poetry. It gives voice to a diverse group of rising poets, actors, filmmakers and musicians and champions the use of poetry, jazz, theater, hip-hop and spoken word as means of social empowerment for minority and underprivileged artists.
Spoken word still exists as an artform today and much like The Blues and Jazz, Hip Hop as a genre derives much of its themes from it. At its simplest Spoken Word poetry is about expressing one’s emotions and ideas verbally. A performer verbally performing their pieces allowed them to place an emphasis on certain words, allowing certain ideas to resonate more with their audiences.
An example of a highly influential spoken word poet is the New York based poet, Gil Scott Heron. Heron was an African American poet whose spoken word pieces mainly focus on the reality of being black in America. His 1971 album “Pieces of a Man” was a spoken word album that was accompanied by a live band. Since the piece is a recording and can only be heard we lose the sense of emotion that body language and facial expressions provide but we gain that emotion back in a different way with the instrumentation. A good example of this comes from Heron’s title track Pieces of a Man
This piece is an extremely heavy piece which recounts an experience he had as a younger when his father got laid off. As mentioned before we do not get to see Heron’s facial expressions or body language, but the somber piano, and bass emphasize the emotion that is expressed throughout the track. It is common for Heron to rhyme in his spoken pieces, which is why he is often referred to as the godfather of Hip-Hop or the first Emcee. Although early hip hop was diluted with songs that were meant for parties, many tracks although had story telling incorporated into them, an example of this is present in Grandmaster Flash’s “The Message”. In the song Grandmaster Flash speaks about how living in poverty has very pushed him close to his breaking point. At the basics this is extremely similar to what Heron was doing in his pieces. Both artists made poetry out of the situations which they went through. The only difference being where Hip Hop traditionally requires a beat of some sort, spoken word does not always need one. It is undeniable that Spoken Word is still influential today.
Spoken word continues to be a channel for artists today to communicate their opinions on issues such social justice, politics, race, and community using rhyme, repetition, improvisation, and wordplay. One example of a piece that discusses a social gender struggle is Sarah Kay’s “The Type”.
Throughout her performance, she uses body motions, facial expressions, and pauses in her voice to effectively convey her message to the audience. Her empowering poem is a call against the objectification and mistreatment of women while simultaneously encouraging women to define their own identity and to make their own choices without relying on anyone else.
Slam
Slam poetry is a type of poetry in which are generally publicly-displayed events in which poets orally present their works in front of an audience and/or a group of critics. Slam came to fruition sometime during the 1980s/1990s and, upon its arrival, poetry as a whole saw a resurgence, quickly becoming a drive that would be fundamental and vigorous. It has never been made clear who or what kickstarted the arrival and rising popularity of slam, with some pointing to Marc Smith, who may have held the first poetry slam at a bar in Chicago in ‘85. Since then, the popularity of slam grew due to its approachable nature and vast communal interest in sharing works. Poetry that is written for slam events is written with a spoken rhythm in mind, with additional focus on how the work sounds when spoken out loud as opposed to how it looks on the page. However, when it comes to slam poetry, there is no one dominating practice or any particular guideline, as it instead adopts a free-write style that encourages artists to be creative and write about whatever they desire. This is one of many reasons for its growing popularity, as artists feel free to pour their thoughts and feelings onto the page, and then openly express them to the world. What this has produced is a form of poetry that feels current, intimate, and genuine in terms of artists interacting with their audience.
Today, the argument regarding whether or not slam is a welcomed part of poetry still rages on. Some argue that the form feels shallow when compared to poetry classics. What’s more, slam poets are viewed as non-creative or non-inventive when compared to poetic icons of the past century. Another point made against slam poetry is the form’s limitations. Most works presented in slams consist of feelings such as rage or anxiety, usually meant to exercise the audience. However, more accepted forms of poetry usually tackle the entire spectrum of emotions, enabling artists to write freely about whatever they desire. Last but not least, poetry enthusiasts argue that slam poetry is not special or exceptional by any means. Due to the fact that a slam audience does not have prior insight of the poetic arts to get something out of the slam, some believe that this softens its value as a poetic form. However, not everyone shares these distasteful views. The progressive part of the poetic community believes that slam contains value as a genuine and even inventive figure in the long history of poetry. Not only has slam reinvigorated rhythmic writing, but it has also accepted the fiber of music to create some rather noteworthy pieces, such as the following: Kif Kif: Rousing slam poetry and guitar
When taking into account the positive and negative consequences of slam on the legacy of poetry, there is no doubt that the form has disrupted the very meaning of what it means to be a poet today. The form is still widely popular today, discussed heavily by the poetic community, and talked about in schools as a legitimate form of poetry and as a critical part of poetic history. It’s wide reach amongst current generations, due to its approachable nature and simplistic form is both noteworthy and undeniable. This mainly due to the fact that teenage angst and issues faced by today’s generation of children can freely express their burdens to an audience, sharing the burden in an almost symbiotic relationship between the speaker and the audience. However, like all things that are subjective in a free world, slam poetry will always face the challenge of those who prefer the more old-fashioned poetry forms, though that is unlikely to slow down the growing popularity of slam.
Discussion Questions
(1) Has slam poetry slowed down the evolution of poetry as a genre of writing or has the genre ascended to new heights due to the existence of slam?
(2) On the topic of performance poetry and its purpose, what are some parallels/differences you can make with our past readings of “Speech Sounds” and “Nation Language” in terms of the importance of expressing sentiments through sound or the absence of sound?
(3) Dub Poetry involves the use of music as we have seen with other types of literature. How does music play a part in Onu Onuora’s Reflection In Red? How does it differ from the other pieces of literature we have read in class?
(4) As some of modern Hip Hop has evolved from spoken do the two genres coexist or are they really the same genre?
Sources:
1. Slam Poetry shows the way evolution of culture can come into conflict with people who are traditionalists, in that evolution of culture can be rejected by those traditionalists who take the values of those before them as absolutes. In the case of slam poetry, it does not follow the traditional rules of poetry and often has this feel of pure emotion and symbolism. Sarah Kay, the feeling of her emotion exemplified into raw words that follow no specific literary rules only adds to the goals of poetry in the first place. Emotions and feelings of people follow no specific rules and why should poetry if that is poetry's goal in the first place. if anything, slam poetry helps evolve the very culture of poetry as poetry is meant to be art displaying feelings that can't be explained with mere words in a literary form.
ReplyDeleteMatthew Gessner
I definitely agree with you here to some extent but have a question for you (rhetorical). Although you mention that slam poetry opposes the idea of a traditionalist by not following "traditional" rules, can't slam poetry have it's own set of "traditional" rules? It's also quite hard as to what you consider traditional in this example, but for example blues having its own general sequence, or haikus with 5-7-5. Slam poetry's rules are a little different but consistent in the fact that they all express their identity, emotions, and feelings. Also, can't other forms of poetry express pure emotion and symbolism?
Delete4. I believe that Hip Hop and spoken are two separate genres that coexist however, they both use aspects of each other to become more moving and to provoke more emotion from their audience. For example, I know this piece of media was not mentioned in group 4’s post above, but I listen to an artist named Shane Koyczan who does spoken word and in his most famous piece “To this day,” he starts his spoken word without any accompaniment however, as his story within spoken word hit the climax and the emotion in his voice changed, there is backing vocals and music. Though he does not change into a rap, his words flow like a rap. He has the same passion, same change in diction, voice, and volume, the same emotion, and the same purpose. Spoken word and hip hop maybe similar but they are not the same. The major difference between Hip Hop and spoken word is that there is no fight between the vocalist and the music, in spoken word, the words always win the battle.
ReplyDeleteHere is the link to the spoken word if you are interested. It’s really good and I highly recommend it.
https://youtu.be/ltun92DfnPY
Hey Gianna!
DeleteI definitely agree that hip hop and spoken word are two genres that coexist, utilizing different aspects from one another in order to connect better with an audience. These connections between music and poetic form can be found not just in hip hop and spoken word, but between written forms of poetry and other genres of music as well! The video that you linked was great, and the artistry in the video really adds another layer to the spoken word - especially when the violin and piano comes in.
1. Slam poetry had not necessarily slowed down the evolution of poetry, but instead added a new layer to the traditional genre of poetry. Despite not following the same traditional rules as other poets, slam poetry successfully utilizes raw emotion and power to comment on different issues that society (or individual people) go through today. Slam poetry is a form of deep expression, one that - on a surface level might seem to highlight nothing more than a couple emotions (things such as anger or fear), but on a deeper level, emphasizes a wide variety of emotions. I believe that, in calling slam poetry something that has "slowed the evolution of poetry," people are silencing a beautiful form of expression that many people (myself included) use in order to tackle certain issues. That being said, Rutgers does have a slam poetry team, and a poetry collective - both can be seen at Verbal Mayhem (in person, it's in Milledoler Hall, Room 100, every Wednesday at 9pm, or online at @verbalmayhem on instagram)!
ReplyDelete1.Poetry is a literary genre that has many facets, it is always changing and adapting to its environment. Like most things in our society, poetry conforms to its poet, allowing them to articulate their ideas without confusion. This is why many believe the addition of slam poetry does not hinder the ascension of poetry as a genre. There is a raw element that is added to slam poetry that audiences can empathize with due to its relatability. Additionally, in most slam poetry, the audience can feel the poet’s emotions because their words do not have to abide by specific rules to be considered real. Although slam poetry seems different from traditional poetry, they do share a few similarities. One of them being, how both genres use rhythm to emphasize their ideas. This is shown in the Kif Kif video, where his repetition of, “I have a doubt,” is accentuated by the consistency of the guitar. Allowing him to convey, his anxiety about believing people can accept and treat each other as equal. Additionally, this can be seen in Shakespearean poetry with iambic pentameter, where Shakespeare uses the syllables within the line to amplify his emotions. Ultimately, slam poetry takes a different approach than traditional poetry yet still manages to convey a conflict, story, or message to the audience furthering the evolution of poetry.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, I enjoyed the way group four eloquently explained the debate around the validity of slam poetry. A question I have for the group is how did they choose what slam poets they wanted to showcase and why they did choose that particular poet?
Caroline Prophete
(1) Has slam poetry slowed down the evolution of poetry as a genre of writing or has the genre ascended to new heights due to the existence of slam?
ReplyDeleteI feel that slam poetry is very new. It has not slowed down the evolution of poetry because poetry is ever evolving and slam is just a new branch of it growing out. Poetry is defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary as: "writing that formulates a concentrated imaginative awareness of experience in language chosen and arranged to create a specific emotional response through meaning, sound, and rhythm". So there is no way that slam could be slowing does the evolution of poetry because it still follows the definition of poetry. It is indeed writing that creates a sort of "imaginative awareness of experience" through the way that people chose to word their inner emotions. It has crazy patterns and weird pathways in which sentences can be formed. This is what makes it so unique. The only problem is that slam is not yet accepted by everyone as a form of poetry. This can be mainly due to the fact that many think that it doesn't required talent to just spew out words and thoughts in that manner. However, I believe the opposite. Because it is a new way for many people to creatively spew out words in a meaningful way without any specific rules or guidelines, it is expanding the borders of poetry for many. It is definitely ascending poetry to new heights.
I see eye to eye with you on your post. I feel that there is genuine talent involved when it comes to the ability to spew out information without having any of it be pre-rehearsed. That right there is the true ability of a poet to not be bound by a set of ideals and principles, but to be able to challenge them to his/her liking and in the end develop a beautiful piece of writing.
DeleteFor my second comment, I would like to direct it towards the group. I have noted while reading through the presentation that performance of Dub Poetry, Slam poetry, and spoken word is detrimental to the delivery and the overall emotion of the piece. So, how is the process of Slam, Dub, and Spoken Word compare and contrast with one another? Does each internal process and external performance differ in some way or are they all the same when it comes to performance?
ReplyDeleteHi Gianna,
DeleteI also had these same questions. In reading about Dub, Slam, and Spoken word, I would like to learn more about the creative process. Do the poets write their poem first and then add in sound or vice versa? I think that the performance aspect of this poetry is really different from traditional poetry but after reading Group 4's blog post, I think for my final project, I may even add a recording of a spoken word piece.
I don't think slam poetry has slowed down the evolution of poetry as a genre, instead I think slam poetry is just another type of poetry that adds to the many different kinds of types there are. There are many different styles of poetry as we have seen in class and I think slam poetry is just another style to add to the list. Poetry has evolved throughout time and it is always changing to conform with the trends of society. I don't think poetry should have any rules and one should be able to express themself in poetry how they'd like and slam poetry is just another way for someone to do that. Although slam poetry is presented differently than the way one might think a poem may be presented it still is a style of poetry in its own way.
ReplyDeleteAlso, a question for the group I have is, from dub, spoken, and slam poetry do you guys have a favorite out of the three or find one that is significantly different than the other two or do you think they're all pretty much the same within each other?
Hi Abby,
DeleteI agree with you that slam poetry does not stifle the genre, but gives poetry the chance to be reached by all types of people. I agree that it relates to the trend of society. As our group earlier discussed, as group 2, there are various forms of poetry and this fits into a newer form. I think it's compelling and its relationship to speech and music draws people in.
On the behalf of group 4,
DeleteI think that dub, spoken word and slam poetry do differ with each other to an extent. However, one may get confused with each other, especially between dub and spoken word. My personal favorite is slam poetry because the performance plays a big part in the overall poem. The way it is delivered provides context on the poem and it shows power in the poet too. A similarity that I see in all of them is that they all have a performance attribute to them.
2. I think that performance poetry tells a story in a more immersive way than reading a poem on paper. The purpose of performance poetry combines words, tone, body language, music, and sounds which is creative and unique. “Speech Sounds” and “Nation Language” reflect a meaning hidden below the surface by using sounds like those in performance poetry. Both those poems show how expressing sentiments through sound and words help us connect with one another. I’m also really impressed with Group 4’s work.
ReplyDeleteMatthew Gessner
Deletehey Hannah, I agree with what you say but would you also say the same thing about something like Slam Poetry? is it possible that something like Slam poetry accomplishes the same expressive tone that something like performance poetry does?
You're right, but I think it's important to point out that reading a poem allows for a more individual and personal interpretation and reaction to the poem. In a performance, every one in the audience is probably having a similar reaction. Reading a poem is just between the poem and the reader.
DeleteComment by Elizabeth Keck:
ReplyDeleteHas slam poetry slowed down the evolution of poetry as a genre of writing or has the genre ascended to new heights due to the existence of slam poetry?
I believe slam poetry has allowed for the growth of poetry as a genre. As seen in the presentation, slam poetry goes beyond the textbook definition of poetry and encourages artists to write freely with complete creativity. Slam poetry is a representation of the changing of poetry into new and different forms, not just writing. Slam poetry proves that boundaries should be pushed to work towards new forms of expressing emotions artistically. It has broadened the concept of what is considered poetry, and therefore evolutionized the forms in which poetry can take. It has also allowed for a more modernized approach to poetry, as Americans have come to appreciate the voicing of raw emotion. Americans have become very vocal about their true opinions and emotions, which I believe reflects many of the principles of slam poetry. I find it very interesting that there has been debate over whether slam poetry is truly a form of poetry. I view slam poetry as proof that they’re new forms of poetry that are able to arise, which is where the real progress lies. If poetry was tied down to a definition to just being about the genre of writing or sticking to certain literary principles or rules, then it wouldn’t be able to progress.
This is a question aimed towards the group. I was wondering, if each group member had to choose one of these three forms to write a poem in, what would it be and why? All three forms are very interesting to me and I wanted to see if one of the forms appealed to a group member more than the other two and the reasons why.
This is another question aimed towards the group. Within the dub poetry section you discuss how performers incorporate gestures into their performance. I also saw this in the spoken word section in the video “The Type” spoken by Sarah Kay. In the video, there were a lot of hand gestures that matched what she was verbally speaking down. I know hand gestures while I am talking are very natural for me, but they aren’t for everyone. Did the hand gestures just develop naturally as poets were performing which then became a characteristic of these kinds of performances, or is dub and/or spoken word poetry intentionally supposed to have hand gestures to better display the raw emotion within their poem.
1. To someone who might label themselves as or be labeled as a “traditional” poet, whatever that might mean, they might say that slam poetry as slowed down the evolution of poetry as a genre of writing. They might say that slam poetry is not as creative or not as beautiful as traditional poetry because of its style and typical subject matter. However, I would argue that any new or divergent form of something can contribute, and often does contribute, to the overall evolution of it. In this case, slam poetry shows that you can write as freely as you want. Poetry already encourages this, but slam encourages even more. It also shows that there really is no one dominating style or practice in poetry. Traditional poets who don’t like slam could look at its popularity and use some of its aspects in their own “traditional work”. I think it definitely ascends it to new heights.
ReplyDeleteI agree to what you have to say about this. Personal expression is at higher value than any other form of expression. I feel that any attempt to break barriers and drift away from the societally accepted form is a bold move. In most cases, this creates something more beautiful than could have ever been composed (had they stuck to the orignal form) and transcends it into the "new heights" you mention.
Delete1. Slam poetry has allowed poetry to ascend to new heights. Slam poetry is a form of spoken word poetry that tells stories to audiences through performance. This type of oral poetry gives poets a wider range of medium. It allows them to not only write the poetry on paper, but also perform and utilize sound, music, pauses, clicking, snapping and other oral techniques to emphasize a point. The ability to use slam poetry to call out different issues or relate to problems, creates a community aspect to poetry. Unlike some types of poetry, where the stories are elevated and specific to a certain lifestyle, slam poetry often connects to larger groups of people. Topics that may not normally be discussed out loud, such as mental health, anxiety, depression, and trauma are discussed. Slam poetry aims to "slam" or challenge an institution, idea, or societal reality by calling it out. Personally, I find it very effective as audiences seem to connect with slam poets over a variety of topics. It gives people a cathartic way to release pain and also open up discussion.
ReplyDeleteIn response to critiques of slam poetry, it is possible that this modern form of spoken poetry does slow down the evolution of poetry. However, it is more accessible to those who do not read poetry. Therefore, it is more effective in other ways.
For group 4, my question is: which type of poetry are you individually most drawn to? Dub, spoken, or slam? And do you think some performances intertwine all of these forms? How do you think the Jamaican and blues influences have infiltrated the genre and how it is perceived by literary critics at large? Thanks for an awesome discussion! I love this topic and found the history of dub poetry really interesting.
ReplyDelete1. If slam poetry would have had any impact on the category of poetry itself, it would be a positive and unique impact, not something that is slowing down the progression of an already popular form. What I find so incredibly interesting about poetry is that the different forms that make it up. With this, one cannot simply form a defintion as to what concretely defines poetry because it is so open-ended. Different forms are invoking different feelings and emotions which to some extent, can and should not be centralized into one category. Those that choose not to label it as a form of poetry are stuck on the idea that it requires minimal effort to just spew out information from the dome rather than attaching a secondary meaning to it beforehand. What I find unique about this ability is that by no means is unrehearsed poetry an easy thing to recite and so for slam poets to break away from general guidelines of poetry and created another art form from its influence, is far more creative than anything someone can create simply by abiding by rules.
ReplyDelete1. No I do not believe that slam poetry has slowed down the evolution of poetry as a genre because I think all poetry is different especially to an individual and should be expressed the way that they feel as it should. I think it has helped gain awareness to how powerful poetry is. I think that there will always be different forms of poetry that creative minds will think of which does not necessarily mean that it'll "slow down the evolution" however, it will probably let it grow into bigger and more modern styles.
ReplyDeleteMy question for group 4 is, what are the most significant differences that you believe separate poetry from slam poetry?
ReplyDeleteOn the behalf of group 4,
DeleteA significant difference between poetry and slam poetry is the way it is preformed. The performance of slam poetry plays a big part in it. Another difference that I noted was that the audience can actually participate in the performance of slam poetry rather than just listening to it. They are able to engage with the poem and poet.
1. Slam poetry has not slowed down the evolution of poetry as a genre of writing; instead, it has elevated the genre to new heights. With the incorporation of slam poetry, poetry now becomes a means of expression for today's generational youth. This widespread use of slam amongst the youth exposes them to the world of poetry as an entire genre, and removes the exclusivity of poetry that some might prefer to maintain. In parallel to language as discussed in the previous blog post, poetry gives power and meaning in its expression. The words carry value, and slam poetry allows this value to be amplified. In that sense, slam poetry is similar to nation language in empowering a new group of individuals. In addition, by incorporating music, slam poetry uses a feature of other forms of poetry such as spoken word and dub poetry to portray itself as part of the poetry genre. With more similarities than dissimilarities, slam poetry continues to lead in the evolution of poetry.
ReplyDeleteHi,
DeleteI completely agree with your point on how slam poetry elevates the genre of poetry to new heights. The reasons you pointed out are correct because now days a lot of artists in the rap and hip hop industry use slam in their music. And because of this a lot more people are being exposed to the genre and are pushing a lot more people into expressing their thoughts and opinions using poetry. Also, slam poetry having the traditional techniques of poetry such as musical tone, definitely elevates the genre overall.
For my second comment, I address a few questions to the group. In researching these different forms of poetry (slam, spoken word, dub), do you find that they are on more of a spectrum in the sense that dub, slam, and spoken word are in the form of a three-circle venn diagram, with cross-mixtures of forms filling the remaining gaps? Also, would you agree with the claims of Heron being the grandfather of hip-hop, or do you consider it a reach-statement?
ReplyDelete1) I believe looking at Slam Poetry as somehow evolving or changing Poetry is a flawed way of seeing it. In my view, Slam Poetry simply unlocks a branch of Poetry we are not familiar with. It’s clear that from ancient times, Poetry has existed as a medium for humans to pass on stories. Since then, it has sort of restricted itself (I’m thinking of during the 17th and 18th century specifically) to be this prim and proper thing; and performing live in front of an audience, and involving that audience in the performance might be seen as “beneath” that of a “true” Poet. So, in this regard, it could be seen as having “elevated” Poetry; however, I don’t think that is the correct word to be using the describe its impact on the Art Form. It’s more like a resurgence of something we lost in the passage of time, rather than something completely new.
ReplyDeleteMy question for the group is: How do you see Slam Poetry as being different than what humans (specifically, the drama of Ancient Greeks) have been doing for thousands of years? Is it in the permeability of it, or is there some other layer at work which makes Slam truly unique?
DeleteGreat question--and I think the matter of audience is relevant here, too. What does it mean to perform for a court of nobles, vs. an audience of working class immigrants on the Lower East Side.
Delete(1) Has slam poetry slowed down the evolution of poetry as a genre of writing or has the genre ascended to new heights due to the existence of slam?
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think regardless whether slam poetry is popular or not, it revolutionized poetry and English as a whole. Slam must've brought and attracted many people into the area [of poetry] because of it's unique style. For certain, many people often think of poetry as this modest, higher class English structure. I, too, am new to slam poetry and am genuinely intrigued with it's unique style of performance. Although poetry can be a form of performance such as blues poetry, slam poetry elevates the genre by making it much more personal and unique to one's personal style. So, I strongly believe that slam poetry significantly elevated poetry as a genre to new heights and horizons.
I also agree with this take. I feel that slam poetry has allowed poetry to become much more unique and "loud", and has helped to lessen the stigma that poetry is only for a certain kind of person. I also feel that it has elevated poetry in that it helps to incorporate a performance aspect and its casualness, further adding to its place in our more modern society. Slam allows people to express themselves in an even more casual manner, which brings out a much wider audience, specifically with the younger crowd like us.
DeleteSlam poetry has for sure elevated the genre of poetry to new heights. I see poetry as an ever changing rule book whereas generations go by, different forms of expressionism are adopted and hence used to tweak the modern day definition of poetry. Slam poetry includes a more raw and “out-there” approach that we do not typically see everyday. This medium has become especially popular with the younger generation as it seems they are using it to voice everyday problems in society and life. Seeing as how slam poetry is a relatively new form and although it may not be the newest, it sheds light on the fact that it does not have to stop here. Being that it has an entirely different form of expressionism connected to it which as of now, I have yet to notice anything of its kind in modern-day poetry. There are far more expressive ways of poetry that have yet to be discovered and the widespread approval of slam should be fuel for people to get out there and explore.
ReplyDelete4. With spoken word having been accredited for the emergence of hip-hop, these two forms of expression can be categorized by some as a single genre. However, in modern day, hip-hop and spoken word coexist as two different genres. Although hip-hop stems from spoken word, it itself has evolved beyond its origins into the genre it is today. Influenced by genres like pop, reggae, and sometimes even country, modern hip-hop has strayed from its heavy reliance on spoken word and has begun incorporating elements of other genres. Nonetheless, spoken word maintains its core of lyricism at the heart of modern hip-hop, allowing both genres to coexist.
ReplyDeleteQuestions for the group: Does the incorporation of sound into poetry performance impact the meaning behind the written words, or can the words alone carry the same weight as the speaker? Is dub poetry limited to social and political issues or can it portray simple thoughts like observations of nature, for example?
ReplyDeleteOn behalf of group 4,
DeleteI believe that the incorporation of sound into poetry enhances the meaning behind it. Sound takes what is written and finds a way to embed itself into it while increasing the understanding. It can also be used to gain context of the poem's history. However, by not adding sound it does not take away from the meaning, words can carry the same weight. I think it all depends on how it is presented. Moreover, dub poetry is not limited to just social and political issues. It was mostly used for those purposes but other topics can be explored.
4. I believe that the two genres coexist, rather than being the same genre. However, I do believe that some Hip Hop can still be classified as both genres. While a lot of modern Hip Hop is considered “party music” and arguably has lost its lyrical value, this is not considering the wide scope of Hip Hop as a genre. There is still some Hip Hop that has very deep connotations and emphasizes its use of words in order to convey its message. Many of these still invoke the same empowerment messages that your group mentioned. However, I do still believe the two genres are separate, especially since the more mainstream Hip Hop has (in my opinion) veered off the spoken word road.
ReplyDelete1. In my opinion the genre of slam poetry has enhanced the genre of poetry and pushed more people to get into poetry. The reason being is that many people in the Hip Hop industry utilize slam in hip hop which attracts more audience to try slam to express their feelings and themselves in general. In addition, it also gets more people in poetry because usually when people hear poetry they thing it has to be cliche, but slam shows people that poetry can be free flowing and does not have to follow a certain format.In conclusion, i believe that slam has not slowed the evolution of poetry genre as a whole but enhanced it.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth Keck
ReplyDelete1. Has slam poetry slowed down the evolution of poetry as a genre of writing or has the genre ascended to new heights due to the existence of slam poetry?
I believe slam poetry has allowed for the growth of poetry as a genre. As seen in the presentation, slam poetry goes beyond the textbook definition of poetry and encourages artists to write freely with complete creativity. Slam poetry is a representation of the changing of poetry into new and different forms, not just writing. Slam poetry proves that boundaries should be pushed to work towards new forms of expressing emotions artistically. It has broadened the concept of what is considered poetry, and therefore evolutionized the forms in which poetry can take. It has also allowed for a more modernized approach to poetry, as Americans have come to appreciate the voicing of raw emotion. Americans have become very vocal about their true opinions and emotions, which I believe reflects many of the principles of slam poetry. I find it very interesting that there has been debate over whether slam poetry is truly a form of poetry. I view slam poetry as proof that they’re new forms of poetry that are able to arise, which is where the real progress lies. If poetry was tied down to a definition to just being about the genre of writing or sticking to certain literary principles or rules, then it wouldn’t be able to progress.