What is Slam Poetry?
Slam poetry takes poetry back to its roots in oral tradition. It emphasizes performance poetry, and is sometimes known as “spoken word” or spoken word poetry. Movements such as the Beats focused on performing their poetry, which helped cement performance poetry’s place in the culture of the United States.
Slam poetry gained popularity with poetry slams, which allow performances to showcase original spoken poems either individually or in teams. These events are often known simply as “slams”, and people, especially young adults, of all races and backgrounds are known for their participation in these events. In the event, performers and not judged simply on the content of the poem, but also how it is presented and the style the performer chooses to utilize.
Many spoken word poets discuss issues such as race, gender, politics and injustice in their poems, and these poems can be controversial.
(Maggie McKune / s14.mmckune@wittenberg.edu)
