Ah,
the poetry reading. A place where gentlefolk can go to politely observe stuffy
old men in sweater vests mumble their way through sonnet after sonnet behind
the safety of a podium as musty as they are.
 |
| Look at how poetic he is. |
This, sadly, has become the image in
most people’s minds when they envision a “poetry reading,” and is likely to
blame for the distaste for poetry that is so common among students from
elementary all the way through high school. What should be the equivalent of a Black
Flag concert has the amount of energy equivalent to an hour long performance of
elevator music. The poetry reading in its current, most popular form is sterile.
It is pompous. It is self-absorbed.
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| Infamous old man Henry Rollins (of Black Flag). Note the lack of sweater vest. |
But
there is hope. In 2002, Bruce George, Danny Simmons and Deborah Pointer
co-founded an HBO series by the name of Def
Poetry. The show, which ran for six seasons, featured numerous well-known
poets reciting in a more unrestrained setting, a style by the name of “slam
poetry.” Slam poetry readings are done in a high-energy, engaging, and almost
competitive style. Podiums are nowhere to be found. The pieces are often short
and to the point, but longer pieces can be read very effectively in this style
as well. Take Saul Williams’ “Coded Language” for example:
Def Poetry may have gone off the air a
number of years ago, but perhaps it lit just enough of a spark. If poetry
readings, or, hell, poetry itself has any chance of retaining the popularity of
its past, slam poetry is the way to go about it. There is still room for the
more toned down readings of a Billy Collins, but poetry needs its fire back.
Slam poetry is that fire.
Below
are some more clips from Def Poetry.
A lot of people forget that poetry is not just an art for the page, it is meant to performed and shared. Look at Ginsberg's 'Howl', it can seriously and wholly be enjoyed until its read aloud. Poetry readings do have a bad rep but I agree that Slams, especially impromtu ones (like what Titus does) will help reset the standard of the performance of poetry. Awesome choice of clips: Saul got started and I was blown away. Cool subject choice! Can't wait to read your next blog.
ReplyDeletePlus, the venues that host slam poetry competitions are often bars or other loud, fun places. Such venues encourage non-slammers give poetry a shot, when they otherwise would never have attempted it. Like Angie said, the impromptu method of performance only sweetens the deal. Thanks, Chad!
ReplyDeleteI am with you, Chad, though that Welsh guy's cardigan and luxuriously flowing 'burns are boss...
ReplyDeleteIf you ever find yourself in NYC, make sure to check out The Nuyorican Cafe in the East Village for some raw slamming.
It's awesome that Def Poetry ran for six seasons! I'm sure some people heard the pitch and immediately wrote it off. But six years later, it aired 46 episodes and inspired a boatload of slam poetry. It's inspiring, and as a not so much a lover of poetry, a great way to hear poetry in its rawest (and most interesting) form. Thanks for reminding me about Def Poetry, Chad! I'm off on a nostalgia fest!
ReplyDelete