I was having a conversation with a young female college student who mentioned that she “writes poetry slam.” I let it pass, but inside I cringed, and regretted not going into it. I will actually see her at my show tonight, so I may bring it back up. Maybe not.

My reason for cringing is that to me the phrase poetry slam is akin to open mic or festival or horse race — it’s an event format and never a style. Granted, there are surely competitors in poetry slams who sound similar to others, say new poets who mimic other new-ish poets, a style of performance that is acquainted with modern spoken word, but not relegated to poetry slams. It’s a style I refer to as universal poet voice. It is used by all ages, ethnicities, genders, and beliefs, and It bothers me so much that it’s probably the one style specifically attributed to poetry slam.

I bring all this up because I am floored by how many people I run into on the road that know what poetry slam even is. I feel like a surprisingly large amount of Americans have heard the phrase poetry slam. Of those that know the phrase poetry slam:

*a quarter of them have no clue what it is (heard it in the media somehow, i.e. The Simpsons, Rolling Stone)
*a quarter of them have an image in their head of what a poetry slam looks like (usually an poetry reading)
*a quarter of them have attended one
*a quarter of them have participated in one (at least as a judge)

I suppose I just want to get a detailed view from people inside and outside of poetry slams.

What is YOUR definition of a poetry slam?

Also, what do you call all the other aspects of spoken word and performance poetry? Like styles, genres, strategies, and anything deserving of a definitive name? This is your chance to say all you’ve wanted to about poetry slam.

I have my thoughts on it, but I want to leave my full description out of this as to not influence the views of others. I think most might agree with my views, but I’ve given enough detail above.

ADDITION: Does any of this matter? Why or why not? Does a poetry “slammer” exist off stage?

ALSO: Read Tony Brown’s extensive review/definition of poetry slam here at GotPoetry.com
———
Word to the nerd.
Bunny up.

I was having a conversation with a young female college student who mentioned that she “writes poetry slam.” I let it pass, but inside I cringed, and regretted not going into it. I will actually see her at my show tonight, so I may bring it back up. Maybe not.

My reason for cringing is that to me the phrase poetry slam is akin to open mic or festival or horse race — it’s an event format and never a style. Granted, there are surely competitors in poetry slams who sound similar to others, say new poets who mimic other new-ish poets, a style of performance that is acquainted with modern spoken word, but not relegated to poetry slams. It’s a style I refer to as universal poet voice. It is used by all ages, ethnicities, genders, and beliefs, and It bothers me so much that it’s probably the one style specifically attributed to poetry slam.

I bring all this up because I am floored by how many people I run into on the road that know what poetry slam even is. I feel like a surprisingly large amount of Americans have heard the phrase poetry slam. Of those that know the phrase poetry slam:

*a quarter of them have no clue what it is (heard it in the media somehow, i.e. The Simpsons, Rolling Stone)
*a quarter of them have an image in their head of what a poetry slam looks like (usually an poetry reading)
*a quarter of them have attended one
*a quarter of them have participated in one (at least as a judge)

I suppose I just want to get a detailed view from people inside and outside of poetry slams.

What is YOUR definition of a poetry slam?

Also, what do you call all the other aspects of spoken word and performance poetry? Like styles, genres, strategies, and anything deserving of a definitive name? This is your chance to say all you’ve wanted to about poetry slam.

I have my thoughts on it, but I want to leave my full description out of this as to not influence the views of others. I think most might agree with my views, but I’ve given enough detail above.

ADDITION: Does any of this matter? Why or why not? Does a poetry “slammer” exist off stage?

ALSO: Read Tony Brown’s extensive review/definition of poetry slam here at GotPoetry.com
———
Word to the nerd.
Bunny up.

Originally published at Mike McGee Town. You can comment here or there.