Why slam poetry

While undeniably some sort of art form, Slam seems to be closer to other modes of artistic expression than to poetry. For example, the only element that separates rap from spoken word is the addition of background music to rap, which is sometimes even present in Slam as well. Also, the performance aspects that are necessary for Slam pieces to make an impact are more similar to acting and practically non-existent within poetry.

A distinctive quality of Slam poetry is its clever use of rhyme and wordplay. With this in mind, one could argue that Slam is actually a step back into more traditional kinds of formal poetry, as opposed to the rhyme-less free verse that is commonly used today.

It was they — Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, and other household names — who focused on the vocal and performed aspects of their work, which ultimately led to the birth of poetry slams around America. While the modern poetry slam has changed somewhat and adapted over time, its roots are firmly entrenched in the works created by some of the most famous poets in recent history.

From finally telling your parents what you really feel or think of them to communicating your delicate feelings about Trump , slam poems supply the same outlet to unleash your inner convictions and random musings as does written poetry. For example, Grand Slam Poetry Champion Harry Baker performs a powerful and amusing piece about prime numbers , while sticking to all the elements of spoken word. Yet, there are many written poems expressing a fascination for prime numbers as well; both modes of expression are able to convey similar ideas, albeit by using different tools.

The Bottom Line : Some feel that Slam is a wonderful form of art as it is an offshoot of poetry, while others believe it lacks depth.

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February 9, August 11, Share this: Twitter Facebook. Like this: Like Loading Writing Collaborative Performance Poems.

Another good post, Katie — and more scholarly! Leave a Reply Cancel reply Enter your comment here Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:. Email required Address never made public. Name required. Follow Following. Katie Ailes Join 2, other followers. Sign me up. Have you always been curious about slam poetry? How does one perform or write a slam poem and why do they feel like rap battles?

Well then, we have worked hard on understanding it in totality and hope that you learn something from this post! Slam poetry is the competitive version of spoken poetry where performers are required to recite their piece within a given time in front of a crowd.

But good news! You can be accompanied by a couple of friends as well. Performing slam poetry is like story-telling, but shorter. There is a time limit of three minutes per performance in each round. Usually, there are three rounds where performers with the top scores for each round are qualified to continue the match to the next round.

They move up the ranks of the competition until a slam poetry champion is chosen. The spirit of any slam poetry event is generally encouraging and supportive so do not be too intimidated by the other competitors. After all, poetry is all about sharing and connecting with one another through beautiful words and emotions. Great energy, crowd presence, performance skills, and confidence will take you far.

Rules of slam poetry can differ from one competition to the other but there are general ones that most people follow. Among the basic rules are:. Another unique thing about slam poetry competitions is that the judges are chosen among the audience. You, as the performer, would not know who is judging and giving you scores and that adds the element of surprise! The judges would usually score on a scale from one to ten based on your performance and poem and you would know your result at the end of each round.

Topics that are meaningful and relatable. One of the things that attract people to watch slam poetry other than the powerful performance brought by poets is the issues covered. Writing is easy but the difficult part of writing that is how you weave your words into a great slam poem.

Slam poems should convey strong messages or lessons that teach your audience or are able to change their perspectives. When you sign up for a slam poetry competition, analyze who your competition is. Study what are the frequent topics they normally go to and write poetry that is able to counter that. They might have videos online. Make sure there are as few blind spots as possible. Most topics that are possible for slam poetry competitions range from love to social issues like climate change, racism, bullying, and gender inequality.

Do a lot of pre-reading on all types of genres and topics so that your mind can be as sharp as a tack. Just like writing any other materials, you should do your research to produce a well-thought-out piece. Slam poems must be attention-grabbing and they must take your audience through a journey, similar to story-telling. That is why you should constantly write and practice while doing research on slam poems to enhance your skills.

Spoken word poetry is a type of oral art that transcends poetry on pages. A great performance of spoken poetry can touch the soul of the listeners and connect with them on an emotional level.